Single Spot Rb-Sr Isochron Dating of Biotite by LA-MC-ICP-MS/MS

Laser ablation tandem mass spectrometry is a burgeoning field for in situ Rb-Sr geochronology. Here, we determined simultaneous isotope ratios of Sr-87/Sr-86 and Rb-87/Sr-86 in metamorphic biotite from western Maine, using an ESL (TM) imageGEO (TM) 193 excimer laser ablation system coupled to a Thermo Scientific (TM) Neoma (TM) MC-ICP-MS/MS. Measurements were made on Faraday cups with Rb+ at mass 87; Sr isotopes were reacted with SF6 gas and measured as SrF+ at masses 103-107. Twenty-two laser spots in biotite from a single sample yield a traditional Rb-Sr isochron date of 289 +/- 6 Ma. Time-resolved signals reveal significant zoning in Sr-87/Sr-86 and Rb-87/Sr-86 within single spot analyses, which were used to construct single spot isochrons. Individual laser spots contain multiple isochronous subpopulations; some spots contain up to three distinct Rb-Sr isochrons that are decoupled from variations in Rb/Sr. Thirty-five isochron dates were determined using this sub-spot approach, with Sr-87/Sr-86 intercepts that systematically vary with Rb-Sr date; two-point isochrons were calculated for individual integrations (n = 780) based on these variable intercepts. Both methods yield age peaks at 303, 270 and 240 Ma. These data suggest that the Rb-Sr system has the potential to record multiple heating, cooling or fluid-alteration events spanning similar to 100 My within small domains in single biotite crystals.

Automated summary

Laser ablation tandem mass spectrometry is a growing field for in situ Rb-Sr geochronology. In this study, we used an ESL(TM) imageGEO(TM) 193 excimer laser ablation system coupled to a Thermo Scientific(TM) Neoma(TM) MC-ICP-MS/MS to determine the isotope ratios of Sr-87/Sr-86 and Rb-87/Sr-86 in metamorphic biotite from western Maine. Our results show significant zoning within single spot analyses, suggesting the potential for recording multiple heating, cooling, or fluid-alteration events within small domains in single biotite crystals.