There are many geologic problems that can not be solved by dating using minerals well-established in dating, either as such minerals are not present in the rock, are inherited from precursor rocks, or are genetically not linked with the process of interest. For such dating problems, it may be advisable to search for datable minerals previously (only little or) not used in geochronology. Over the years I have explored the geochronological potential of columbite-tantalite (and related niobates), hübnerite, and vesuvianite.
Romer, R.L. and Lüders, V. (2006) Direct dating of hydrothermal W mineralization: U-Pb age for hübnerite (MnWO4), Sweet Home Mine, Colorado. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 70: 4725-4733.
Lindroos, A., Romer, R.L., Ehlers, C. and Alviola, R. (1996): Late-orogenic Svecofennian deformation in SW Finland constrained through pegmatite emplacement ages. Terra Nova, 8: 567-574.
Romer, R.L. and Smeds, S.-A. (1996): U-Pb columbite ages of pegmatites from Sveconorwegian terranes in southwestern Sweden. Precambrian Research, 76: 15-30.
Romer, R.L and Smeds, S.-A. (1994): Implications of U-Pb ages of columbite-tantalites from granitic pegmatites for the Palaeoproterozoic accrection of 1.90-1.85 Ga magmatic arcs to the Baltic Shield. Precambrian Res., 67: 141-158.
Romer, R.L. and Wright, J.E. (1992): U-Pb dating of columbites: a geochronologic tool to date magmatism, metamorphism, and ore deposits. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 56: 2137-2142.
back to topic