U-Th-Pb Dating by Electron Microprobe and Its Application in Structural Analysis

This paper systematically introduces the basic principle, sample preparation, analytical procedure, age and error calculation in U-Th-Pb dating by electron microprobe and also gives the prospect of application in the structural analysis. The development and application of the electron microprobe dating show that this method is rapid, reliable, inexpensive and suitable for both simple monogenetic and polygenetic monazite and zircon undergone metamorphic events involving fluid interaction and recrystallization. Electron microprobe dating is an efficient reconnaissance tool for evaluating metamorphic and deformational age domains. But more importantly, its in-situ nature and high spatial resolution can be used to constrain on the absolute time and rates of metamorphic and deformational processes. Thus it has a wide application prospect in the structural analysis.