High-precision thermal ionization mass spectrometry dating of young volcanic rocks by using U-series method

A high precision thermal ionization mass spectrometric (HP-TIMS) technique is used to determine238U,234U,232Th,230Th concentrations and their ratios in whole rocks and minerals separated from Quaternary Maanshan, Dayingshan and Heikongshan volcanic rocks of Tengchong volcanic field, Yunnan Province, China. The238U-230Th isochrons are given, yielding four age values (227±20) ka (D-1, Dayingshan), (79.6±5.5) ka (D-7, Dayingshan), (21.9±3.0) ka (h-1, Heikongshan), and (7.5±1.0) ka (M-1, Maanshan). The result is not only consistent with but also preciser than those measured by the K-Ar method and the alpha spectrometry U-series method, indicating that the HP-TIMS method is reliable and has high precision. Besides, a procedure of HP-TIMS analysis of young volcanic rocks in China is set up preliminarily.