Technical note: on LA–ICP-MS U–Pb dating of unetched and etched apatites

Abstract. The same unetched and chemically etched apatites from five rock samples were dated with U–Pb using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The objective of this study is to demonstrate whether or not the etching, needed for the apatite fission track analysis, impact on the obtaining of apatite U–Pb ages. The results of this experiment indicate that the etching has no effect on the determination of apatite U–Pb ages by the laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. Thus, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry may be used safely for simultaneous apatite fission track in-situ and U–Pb double dating.