U-Th-He dating of pyrite from the Uzelga Copper-Zinc massive sulfide deposit (South Urals, Russia): first application of a new geochronometer

Based on a study of pyrite from the Uzelga Cu–Zn volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit (South Urals) the age of ore mineralization was first determined with the direct age dating method, based on the fraction of radiogenic helium, incorporated into the pyrite crystal lattice from submicron inclusions of U and Th minerals. Taking into account the measurement errors, the obtained age of 377 ± 8 Ma (MSWD = 1.2) is quite consistent with the independent age dates available for the ore mineralization (Late Eifelian–Early Givetian, 385–390 Ma).