Fission track dating of zircon: Improved etching techniques

A simple new technique for the etching of fission tracks in zircon has been developed which overcomes the practical difficulties of previously described techniques. The etchant is a low melting-point binary eutectic of KOH and NaOH which is used at 200–220°C. As for previous etchants the etching time is strongly dependent on the spontaneous track density. The etched tracks have very similar characteristics to those produced by the earlier 100N NaOH etchant.     

Fission track evidence on thermal history of Jiama polymetallic ore district,Tibet

It is a new attempt to study thermal evolution related to mineralization using the fission track (FT) method. Apatite and zircon fission track data are reported for 6 samples collected from Jiama ore district as well as its periphery. The FT ages of apatites in the ore district are (16.1±0.9) Ma and (18.8±1.1) Ma and reflect the age of late period of hydrothermal mineralizing event. Apatite FT age of (22.0±4.3) Ma and zircon FT age of (20.9±2.0) Ma are related to the early period of mineralization. Another zircon FT age of (341.6±79.1) Ma, inheriting mineral source characteristic, has no connection with the mineralization. Based on the thermal history analysis, the mineralization began before 25–22 Ma. Cooling rate in the ore district is 5–6°C/Ma averagely, in which a slow cooling occurred at 90–80°C. About 2.7 km has been denuded and the denudation rate is higher than the uplifting rate.

     

Thermal effects of Caledonian foreland basin formation,based on fission track analyses applied on basement rocks in central Sweden

Increasing evidence from fission track studies in Sweden indicate that large parts of the Fennoscandian Shield have been affected by a large-scale thermotectonic event in the Palaeozoic. In this study the results of 17 apatite fission track analyses from central Sweden are presented collected along three NW–SE transects trending from the Bothnian Sea to the Caledonides. On the Bothnian coast samples have been collected directly from the Sub-Cambrian Peneplain. The sedimentary cover protecting this surface until recently is responsible for the thermal increase detected through apatite fission track (FT) thermochronology.The apatite FT ages range between 516 ± 46 Ma (±1σ) on the Bothnian coast around sea level to 191 ± 11 Ma in the Caledonides (～500–1500 m.a.s.l.). The mean track lengths vary from 11.3 ± 2.2 μm (±1σ) in the east to 14.2 ± 2.8 μm in the west, indicating a longer stay in the PAZ in the east, versus a continuous cooling pattern in the west. This pattern in combination with other geological constraints indicates that the crystalline basement rocks near the Caledonian deformation front in the west experienced higher temperatures after the formation of the Sub-Cambrian Peneplain followed by denudation, compared with the basement rocks in the east near the Bothnian coast.The apatite FT data near the Caledonian deformation front indicates prevailing temperatures of more than 110 ± 10 °C prior to the Mid Palaeozoic, causing a resetting of the apatite fission track clock. The temperatures were progressively lower away from the deformation front. Apatite fission track analysis of samples collected from the Sub-Cambrian Peneplain along the Bothnian coast indicate maximum temperatures of 90 ± 15 °C during Late Silurian–Early Devonian time. This heating event is argued to be the result of burial beneath a developing foreland basin in front of the Caledonian orogeny. Assuming a geothermal gradient of 20 °C/km, this temperature increase can be converted to a total burial of the samples. The resulting geometry of this basin can be described as an asymmetrical basin at least 3.5 km deep in the vicinity of the Caledonian deformation front decreasing to about 2.5 km on the Bothnian coast, continuing further onto Finland. The width of this basin was in thus in the order of 600 km. Whether this was formed completely synorogenic or partly synorogenic, broadening after cessation of the orogeny, could not be revealed.The Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic thermal evolution of this area is related to the extensional tectonics in the North Atlantic Domain.     

Fission track dating of kimberlitic zircons

The only reliable method for dating kimberlites at present is the lengthy and specialized hydrothermal procedure that extracts²⁰⁶Pb and²³⁸U from low-uranium zircons. This paper describes a second successful method by fission track dating of large single-crystal zircons, 1.0–1.5 cm in dimension. The use of large crystals overcomes the limitations imposed in conventional fission track analysis which utilizes crushed fragments. Low track densities, optical track dispersion, and the random orientation of polished surfaces in the etch and irradiation cycle are effectively overcome.Fission track ages of zircons from five African kimberlites are reported, from the Kimberley Pool (90.3 ± 6.5 m.y.), Orapa (87.4 ± 5.7 and 92.4 ± 6.1 m.y.), Nzega (51.1 ± 3.8 m.y.), Koffiefontein (90.0 ± 8.2 m.y.), and Val do Queve (133.4 ± 11.5 m.y.). In addition we report the first radiometric ages (707.9 ± 59.6 and 705.5 ± 61.0 m.y.) of crustal zircons from kimberlites in northwest Liberia. The fission track ages agree well with earlier age estimates. Most of the zircons examined in this study are zoned with respect to uranium but linear correlations are established (by regression analysis) between zones of variable uranium content, and within zones of constant uranium content (by analysis of variance). Concordance between the fission track method and the U/Pb technique is established and we concluded that track fading from thermal annealing has not taken place. Kimberlitic zircons dated in this study, therefore, record the time of eruption.     

Age and intensity of thermal events by fission track analysis: The Ries impact crater

A thermal event reduces the number of previously registered fission tracks in a mineral dependent upon the track retention properties of the individual mineral. Apatite, sphene and zircon have retention properties over a wide range of temperatures (from 100° to 550°C); apatite data reveal information at lowest temperatures while sphene and zircon data are useful for higher temperatures.Thermal events within this temperature range of 100°C to about 550°C are suitable for study with this technique. The age of the event is determined from samples in which the fission tracks are completely erased, while minerals containing partially removed (erased) tracks provide information on the temperatures occurring during the thermal event.As a test case, the analysis of the temperatures developed by the meteorite impact which produced the Ries crater at 14.7 m.y. ago is presented.     

Fission track and U–Pb zircon ages of psammitic rocks from the Harushinai unit,Kamuikotan metamorphic rocks,central Hokkaido,Japan: constraints on metamorphic histories

Accurate pressure–temperature–time (P–T–t) paths of rocks from sedimentation through maximum burial to exhumation are needed to determine the processes and mechanisms that form high‐pressure and low‐temperature type metamorphic rocks. Here, we present a new method combining laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) U–Pb with fission track (FT) dates for detrital zircons from two psammitic rock samples collected from the Harushinai unit of the Kamuikotan metamorphic rocks. The concordant zircon U–Pb ages for these samples vary markedly, from 1980 to 95 Ma, with the youngest age clusters in both samples yielding Albian‐Cenomanian weighted mean ages of 100.8 ± 1.1 and 99.3 ± 1.0 Ma (2σ uncertainties). The zircon U–Pb ages were not reset by high‐P/T type metamorphism, because there is no indication of overgrowth within the zircons with igneous oscillatory zoning. Therefore, these weighted mean ages are indicative of the maximum age of deposition of protolithic material. By comparison, the zircon FT data yield a pooled age of ca. 90 Ma, which is almost the same as the weighted mean age of the youngest U–Pb age cluster. This indicates that the zircon FT ages were reset at ca. 90 Ma while still at their source, but have not been reset since. This conclusion is supported by recorded temperature conditions of less than about 300 °C (the closure temperature of zircon FTs), as estimated from microstructures in the deformed detrital quartz grains in psammitic rocks, and no shortening of fission track lengths in the zircon. Combining these new data with previously reported white mica K–Ar ages indicates that the Harushinai unit was deposited after ca. 100 Ma, and underwent burial to its maximum depth before being subjected to a localized thermal overprint during exhumation at ca. 58 Ma.     

柴达木盆地现今大地热流与晚古生代以来构造-热演化

依据钻孔系统稳态测温、静井温度资料与实测热导率数据分析了柴达木盆地地温场分布特征,建立了柴达木盆地热导率柱,新增了17个大地热流数据.柴达木盆地现今地温梯度介于17.1~38.6℃·km-1,平均为28.6±4.6℃·km-1,大地热流介于32.9~70.4mW·m-2,平均55.1±7.9mW·m-2.盆地不同构造单元地温场存在差异,昆北逆冲带、一里坪坳陷属于"高温区",祁南逆冲带属于"中温区",三湖坳陷、德令哈坳陷及欧龙布鲁克隆起属于"低温区",盆地现今地温场分布特征受控于地壳深部结构、盆地构造等因素.以现今地温场为基础,采用磷灰石、锆石裂变径迹年龄分布特征定性分析与径迹长度分布数据定量模拟相结合,研究了柴达木盆地晚古生代以来的沉积埋藏、抬升剥蚀和热演化史,并结合区域构造背景,对柴达木盆地构造演化过程进行了探讨,研究表明柴达木盆地晚古生代以来经历了六期(254.0—199 Ma,177—148.6 Ma,87—62 Ma,41.1—33.6 Ma,9.6—7.1 Ma,2.9—1.8 Ma)构造运动,六期构造事件与研究区构造演化的动力学背景相吻合.其中白垩纪末期(87—62 Ma)的构造事件导致了柴达木盆地东部隆升并遭受剥蚀,欧龙布鲁克隆起形成雏形,柴达木盆地北缘在弱挤压环境下形成坳陷盆地;中新世末的两期构造事件(9.6—7.1 Ma和2.9—1.8 Ma)使柴达木盆地遭受强烈挤压,盆地快速隆升,构造变形强烈,基本形成现今的构造面貌.     

Variations of characteristics of fission tracks in muscovites by thermal effects

The applicability of the method of uranium fission tracks was studied in a number of sheets from a muscovite of about 600 m.y. Diagrams for fission track density (ρ) versus the chemical etching time (t_A), as well as the larger diameter of the transversal section (D) versus t_A curves were constructed, and the uranium concentration and uniformity of distribution were calculated. Some samples were heated at different constant temperatures for various time intervals, and the features presented by the heated and unheated tracks were analysed. The conclusions can be applied to corrections in age determination of muscovites that suffered natural annealing effects.     

Laser-ablation ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages for key Pliocene-Pleistocene tephra beds in unglaciated Yukon and Alaska

Tephrochronology is one of the most effective ways to correlate and date Quaternary deposits across large distances. However, it can be challenging to obtain direct ages on tephra beds when they are beyond the limit of radiocarbon dating, do not contain mineral phases suitable for ⁴⁰K-⁴⁰Ar (or ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar) dating, or suitable glass shards for fission-track dating are not available. Zircon U-Pb dating by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is an emerging technique for dating young (<1 Ma) tephra. Here, we demonstrate that LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating can produce reliable ages for key tephra beds found in Yukon and Alaska. We assessed five different techniques for calculating tephra maximum depositional ages from zircon U-Pb ages for eight tephra beds. Our preferred zircon U-Pb ages (reported with 2σ uncertainties), based on a Bayesian model for calculating maximum depositional ages, are broadly consistent with previously established chronology constructed from stratigraphy, paleomagnetism, and/or glass fission track and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages: Biederman tephra (178 ± 17 ka), HP tephra (680 ± 47 ka), Gold Run tephra (688 ± 44 ka), Flat Creek tephra (708 ± 43 ka), PA tephra (1.92 ± 0.06 Ma), Quartz Creek tephra (2.62 ± 0.08 Ma), Lost Chicken tephra (3.14 ± 0.07 Ma), and GI tephra (542 ± 64 ka). We also present newly revised glass fission-track and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages recalculated from previous determinations using updated ages for the Moldavite tektite and Fish Canyon Tuff standards, and updated K decay constants. For Pleistocene age zircon crystals, corrections for ²³⁰Th disequilibrium and common-Pb are significant and must be treated with caution. Similarly, apparent tephra ages are sensitive to the choice of method used to calculate a maximum depositional age from the assemblage of individual crystallization ages. This study demonstrates that LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating can be successfully applied to numerous Pliocene-Pleistocene Alaskan-Yukon tephra, providing confidence in applying this method to other stratigraphically important tephra in the region.     

裂变径迹年龄在断裂构造形迹中的应用

本文通过对苏州金山浜花岗岩岩体中北北东向断裂带取样,选矿及对其重矿物——磷灰石分别进行化学蚀刻和热中子辐射,采用白云母外探测器法分别进行自发裂变径迹与诱发裂变径迹的观察、统计及裂变径迹年龄的计算。认为该岩体形成年代是侏罗-白垩纪,而断层破裂形迹的地质事件是晚第三纪中新世。说明运用裂变径迹的方法来研究活断层的测年工作是可取的     

Zircon and apatite fission track analyses on mineralization ages and tectonic activities of Tuwu-Yandong porphyry copper deposit in northern Xinjiang, China

The mineralization ages reported in the past in the Tuwu-Yandong copper district not only are different,but also fall into the Hercynian epoch.This study has achieved 9 zircon and 7 apatite fission track analysis results.The zircon fission track ages range from 158 Ma to 289 Ma and the apatite ages are between 64 Ma and 140 Ma.The mineralization accords with the regional tectonics in the copper district.We consider that the zircon fission track age could reveal the mineralization age based on annealing zone temperature of 140―300℃ and retention temperature of ～250℃ for zircon fission track,and metallogenetic temperature of 120―350℃ in this ore district.Total three mineralization epochs have been identified,i.e.,289―276 Ma,232―200 Ma and 165―158 Ma,and indicate occurrence of the min-eralization in the Indosinian and Yanshan epochs.Corresponding to apatite fission track ages,the three tectonic-mineralizing epochs are 140―132 Ma,109―97 Ma and 64 Ma,which means age at about 100℃ after the mineralization.The three epochs lasted 146 Ma,108 Ma and about 100 Ma from ～250℃ to ～100℃ and trend decrease from early to late.It is shown by the fission track modeling that this district underwent three stages of geological thermal histories,stable in Cretaceous and cooling both before Cretaceous and after 20 Ma.     

NanoSIMS imaging method of zircon U-Pb dating

We report an imaging method of zircon U-Pb dating with NanoSIMS 50 L, which overcomes the significant U-Pb fractionation as the pit was sputtered deeper during conventional spot mode analysis and can be applied to irregular small grains or heterogeneous areas of zircon. The U-Pb and Pb-Pb ages can be acquired simultaneously for 2 μm×2 μm(for small grains) or 1 μm×9 μm(for zoned grains), together with Zr, Y and other trace elements distributions. Using zircon M257 as standard, the U-Pb ages of other zircon standards, including Qinghu, Plesovice, Temora and 91500, were measured to(2σ) as158.8±0.8, 335.9±3.4, 412.0±12 and 1067±12 Ma, respectively, consistent with the recommended values within the analytical uncertainties. Tiny zircon grains in the impact melt breccia of the lunar meteorite SaU 169 were also measured in this study,with a Pb-Pb age of 3912±14 Ma and a U-Pb age of 3917±17 Ma, similar to previous results reported for the same meteorite.The imaging method was also applied to determine U-Pb age of the thin overgrowth rims of Longtan metamorphic zircon, with a Pb-Pb age of 1933±27 Ma and a U-Pb age of 1935±25 Ma, clearly distinct from the Pb-Pb age of 2098±61 Ma and the U-Pb age of 2054±40 Ma for detrital cores.     

Analyses of fission track etching and annealing phenomena in muscovite

Variation of fission track density with etching time has been analysed to standardize the etching conditions. The relations between the etching parameters (i.e., temperature, concentration and time) have been established. The differences in unheated samples and samples heated for different times at a constant temperature have been studied Graphs of thermal annealing vs. optimum etching time and of density reduction vs. length shrinkage have been constructed for applications in fission track geochronology.     

Zircon Hf isotope composition of metamorphic eclogite from Xindian,Dabie Terrain

Hf isotope measurement has been carried out for UHP metamorphic eclogite from Xindian by using LA-MC-ICP-MS technique. The result indicates that metamorphic growth zircon has high 176Hf/177Hf (0.282544―0.282612) and low 176Lu/177Hf (0.000004―0.000211) ratio,inherited and recrystallized proto-lith zircon has low 176Hf/177Hf (0.282266―0.282466) and high 176Lu/177Hf (0.000090―0.002144) composi-tions. The low 176Lu/177Hf of growth zircon comes from its decreasing of Lu and increasing of Hf during UHP process. The high 176Hf/177Hf deduced from high radiogenic 176Hf,which was produced from long-term evolution of high Lu/Hf ratio minerals. Partial recrystallization of protolith zircon would not cause reworking of Lu/Hf isotope in zircon. Compared to U-Pb,zircon Lu-Hf system has better stability. The initial Hf isotope composition of metamorphic growth zircon may represent the Hf isotope compo-sition of whole rock system at the same time. The initial εHf of 3.0 for metamorphic precursor formation of Xindian eclogite indicates that the source material mainly derived from weak depleted mantle or mixing of depleted mantle with old crust.     

Age and nature of eclogites in the Huwan shear zone,and the multi-stage evolution of the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogen,central China

In situ LA-ICPMS U-Pb, trace element, and Hf isotope data in zircon demonstrate a Carboniferous age for eclogite-facies metamorphism in Siluro-Devonian protoliths in the Huwan shear zone, Dabie Mountains, Central China. This age contrasts with the more prevailing Triassic age for high- to ultrahigh pressure (HP to UHP) metamorphism in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogen. Metamorphic zircon in two eclogite samples from Sujiahe is characterized by low Th/U ratios, small negative Eu anomalies, flat HREE patterns, and low ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios. These geochemical signatures suggest that the zircon crystallized in the presence of garnet and in the absence of plagioclase feldspar. Furthermore, temperatures of ~ 655 and ~ 638 °C, calculated using the Ti content of zircon, are consistent with their formation during eclogite-facies metamorphism. The weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 309 ± 4 Ma (2δ) for this zircon improves previous age estimates for eclogite-facies metamorphism in the Huwan shear zone, ranging from 420 to 220 Ma. Metamorphic zircon from one eclogite sample from Hujiawan, most likely formed during prograde metamorphism, yields an equivalent age estimate of 312 ± 11 Ma. Magmatic zircon cores in the three samples yield ages for the magmatic protoliths of the eclogites ranging from 420 ± 7 to 406 ± 5 Ma, and post-dating the middle Paleozoic collision of the North China and the Qinling terrain. The zircon crystals in the three eclogite samples display a large variation of ε_Hf (t) values of ? 4.9 to 21.3. The metamorphic zircon overgrowths show the same range of ε_Hf (t) values as those of the inherited magmatic crystal interiors. This suggests that the metamorphic zircon overgrowths may have formed by dissolution-reprecipitation of pre-existing magmatic zircon thereby preserving their original Hf isotopic composition. The high ε_Hf (t) values suggest that the protoliths were derived from depleted mantle sources, most likely Paleotethyan oceanic crust; while the low ε_Hf (t) values are attributed to crustal contamination. Some eclogites in the Huwan shear zone have a distinctive signature of continental crust most probably derived from the Yangtze Craton. The coexistence of Paleozoic oceanic crust and Neoproterozoic continental crust with similar metamorphic ages in the Huwan shear zone implies that Paleozoic Paleotethyan oceanic crust was produced within a marginal basin of the northern Yangtze Craton. The opening of the Paleo-Tethyan ocean was slightly younger than the collision of the North China Craton and the Qinling terrain during the Late Paleozoic in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogen. Subduction of the Paleo-Tethyan oceanic crust and associated continental basement resulted in the 309 ± 2 Ma (2σ) eclogite-facies metamorphism in the Huwan shear zone. The subsequent Triassic continent-continent collision led to the final coalescence of the Yangtze and Sino-Korean cratons. Amalgamation of the Yangtze and North China cratons was, therefore, a multistage process extending over at least 200 Ma.     

Evidence for244Pu fission tracks in hibonites from Murchison carbonaceous chondrite

We have developed a technique for revealing nuclear tracks in the mineral hibonite (CaAl₁₂O₁₉), found in the refractory inclusions from carbonaceous chondrites. The tracks in hibonitesfrom Murchison carbonaous chondrite are dominated by fission tracks from²⁴⁴Pu (constituting more than 90% of the total). The measured uranium contents in these crystals range from 1.2 to 62 ppb. We deduce that the average value for the²⁴⁴Pu/²³⁸U ratio in most of the Murchison hibonites at the time of track retention is0.022 ± 0.011.     

Oxygen self-diffusion in forsterite: Implications for the high-temperature creep mechanism

The diffusivity of¹⁸O in forsterite Mg₂SiO₄ has been measured in the temperature range 1150–1600°C. The activation energy of oxygen self-diffusion in this silicate is found to equal0.32 ± 0.04MJ/mol(77 ± 10kcal/mol), and there is no dependence of the diffusivity upon the oxygen partial pressure surrounding the samples. The diffusion profiles were analysed either with an ion probe or by means of the¹⁸O(p, α)¹⁵N nuclear reaction. The latter method made use of a resonance in the nuclear cross-section in the case of diffusion profiles shorter than 100 nm (1000Å); for diffusion profiles up to 4 μm the same reaction was used, but in a non-resonant mode. New data on creep in forsterite and natural olivine are also given, including the influence of the oxygen partial pressurep_O2 which is zero for forsterite and proportional to(p_O2)¹⁶ for natural olivine. From this set of data we infer the possible relationship between diffusion and creep for these materials. This relationship may be more complicated than that predicted by simple climb mechanism.     

Microscopy and rock magnetism of fine grain-size titanomagnetite from the Jacupiranga Alkaline Complex,Brazil: unearthing Ti-magnesioferrite nanoparticles

Very fine samples from the mineralized zones of the Jacupiranga complex at the Cajati mine were selected for crystallographic identification of Ti-magnesioferrite (TMf) nanostructures embedded in titanomagnetite (TM) using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A magnetic concentrate obtained of pyroxenite samples (sites 4 to 7) was reduced and divided into fractions of distinct range sizes: 26±2 μm, 19±1 μm, 13±1 μm, 9±1 μm, 6±1 μm and 6-0.1 μm. The mineralized samples of carbonatite and pyroxenite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmitted and reflected light microscope, and scanning electron microscope with multielemental analysis. The finest magnetic concentrate sample (MC₆) was analyzed under high-resolution transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) and high angle annular dark field and Raman spectroscopy. Magnetic properties were measured for the distinct granulometric fractions, showing drastic changes when grain sizes go beyond the frontier from micro to nanometer sizes. Frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility percentage (÷_fd%) report higher values (10.2%) for the finer fractions (6±1 μm and 6-0.1 μm) attributed to dominant fractions of superparamagnetic particles. Nanometer and < 6 μm grain size TMf in TM particles require a magnetic field up to 249 mT to reach saturation during the isothermal remanent magnetization experiment. Coercivity and remanent magnetization of these samples increase when the particle size decreases, probably due to parallel coupling effects. Magnetic susceptibility versus temperature experiments were conducted two times on the same (< 35 nm) sample, showing that the repetition during the second heating is probably due to the formation of new TMf nanoparticles and growth of those already present during the first heating process.     

A new approach for constraining the magnitude of initial disequilibrium in Quaternary zircons by coupled uranium and thorium decay series dating

We have measured ²³⁸U–²⁰⁶Pb, ²³⁵U–²⁰⁷Pb, and ²³²Th–²⁰⁸Pb ages on Quaternary zircons by laser ablation, single-collector, magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). To obtain reliable ages for Quaternary zircons, corrections for initial disequilibrium associated with deficits and excesses of both ²³⁰Th and ²³¹Pa relative to secular equilibrium resulting from differential partitioning during zircon crystallization or source melting must be made. In contrast, the ²³²Th–²⁰⁸Pb decay system is clearly advantageous for samples affected by disequilibrium because the ²³²Th decay system lacks long-lived intermediate daughter isotopes. Conventionally, the initial disequilibrium for the ²³⁸U and ²³⁵U decay series has been determined by the distribution ratio between the melt and zircon (i.e., ƒ_Th/U = (Th/U)_Zircon/(Th/U)_Melt and ƒ_Pa/U = (Pa/U)_Zircon/(Pa/U)_Melt). In our study, these correction factors were determined from comparison of the measured ²³⁸U–²⁰⁶Pb and ²³⁵U–²⁰⁷Pb ages with ²³²Th–²⁰⁸Pb ages obtained for three zircons of known eruption and, in some cases, zircon crystallization ages (Kirigamine Rhyolite, Bishop Tuff, and Toga Pumice). The resulting correction factors are ƒ_Th/U = 0.19 ± 0.14 and ƒ_Pa/U = 3.66 ± 0.89 (Kirigamine Rhyolite), ƒ_Th/U = 0.24 ± 0.20 and ƒ_Pa/U = 3.1 ± 1.2 (Bishop Tuff), and ƒ_Th/U = 0.28 ± 0.17 and ƒ_Pa/U = 3.04 ± 0.99 (Toga Pumice). Although the uncertainties of these f values are relatively large, our results support the adequacy of the conventional approach for correction of initial disequilibrium. A recent study published results that apparently show zircon crystallization ages are younger than the eruption age of Bishop Tuff. It seems to be difficult to eliminate these discrepancies, even if the Th/U partitioning and disequilibrium generated during partial melting are taken into account for recalculation of its zircon age. However, magma chamber process and history of Bishop Tuff are too complex to obtain accurate zircon ages by U–Pb method. To overcome this, therefore, the Th–Pb zircon dating method is a key technique for understanding complex, pre-eruptive magma processes, and further efforts to improve its precision and accuracy are desirable.