Quadrupole LA-ICP-MS U/Pb geochronology of baddeleyite single crystals

Abstract

We present a straightforward method for accurate and precise U/Pb dating of baddeleyite using quadrupole LA-ICP-MS. To establish the validity of our ICP-MS data we used FC-4b baddeleyite from the Duluth complex as external standard, whereas baddeleyite from the Phalaborwa (South Africa) and the Sorkka (SW Finland) intrusions were treated as unknowns. The analytical protocol includes the use of a matrix matched standard, which allows for an accurate downhole-fractionation and laser-induced interelement fractionation correction. The quadrupole ICP-MS results for the Phalaborwa and Sorkka samples analyzed are accurate within error of the published ID-TIMS U/Pb ages and with a precision of 0.3–0.7% (2σ) from concordia ages of ten to twenty analyses per sample. No orientation effects were observed.