U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronology
Abstract U-Pb carbonate geochronology can directly constrain the timing and rates of important geological processes. However, the mechanisms and controls on U incorporation, distribution, and retention in carbonate minerals remain unclear, limiting geological interpretations. Here X-ray absorption s...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02194-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849389327301214208 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarah Bowie Catherine Mottram E. Troy Rasbury Paul Northrup Ryan Tappero Dawn Kellett |
| author_facet | Sarah Bowie Catherine Mottram E. Troy Rasbury Paul Northrup Ryan Tappero Dawn Kellett |
| author_sort | Sarah Bowie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract U-Pb carbonate geochronology can directly constrain the timing and rates of important geological processes. However, the mechanisms and controls on U incorporation, distribution, and retention in carbonate minerals remain unclear, limiting geological interpretations. Here X-ray absorption spectroscopy (µXAS) and in-situ U-Pb carbonate geochronology are combined to temporally track U distribution and redox state in a porphyry-epithermal system. In this setting, multiple generations of carbonate minerals record fluid conditions and processes which control the solubility and deposition of metals, including U. This novel approach provides the first evidence of both oxidized UO2 2+ and reduced U4+ species in temporally distinct generations of carbonate within a single sample. Preservation of two different U oxidation states during discrete precipitation events requires U retentivity within older domains, demonstrating that the U-Pb carbonate geochronometer is robust under hydrothermal conditions. Furthermore, crystal zones with abundant fluid/vapour inclusions linked to boiling processes coincide with relatively high levels of U and favourable U/Pb. Targeting carbonate domains with these textures may therefore increase success in U-Pb geochronology. U-Pb carbonate dating combined with µXAS can track the temporal evolution of processes critical for metal deposition in long-lived and multistage hydrothermal-magmatic ore deposit settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d0ff9b2ef014cf7803b37a59a057546 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d0ff9b2ef014cf7803b37a59a0575462025-08-20T03:42:00ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-05-01611910.1038/s43247-025-02194-4U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronologySarah Bowie0Catherine Mottram1E. Troy Rasbury2Paul Northrup3Ryan Tappero4Dawn Kellett5School of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of PortsmouthSchool of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of PortsmouthStony Brook UniversityStony Brook UniversityStony Brook UniversityGeological Survey of Canada-AtlanticAbstract U-Pb carbonate geochronology can directly constrain the timing and rates of important geological processes. However, the mechanisms and controls on U incorporation, distribution, and retention in carbonate minerals remain unclear, limiting geological interpretations. Here X-ray absorption spectroscopy (µXAS) and in-situ U-Pb carbonate geochronology are combined to temporally track U distribution and redox state in a porphyry-epithermal system. In this setting, multiple generations of carbonate minerals record fluid conditions and processes which control the solubility and deposition of metals, including U. This novel approach provides the first evidence of both oxidized UO2 2+ and reduced U4+ species in temporally distinct generations of carbonate within a single sample. Preservation of two different U oxidation states during discrete precipitation events requires U retentivity within older domains, demonstrating that the U-Pb carbonate geochronometer is robust under hydrothermal conditions. Furthermore, crystal zones with abundant fluid/vapour inclusions linked to boiling processes coincide with relatively high levels of U and favourable U/Pb. Targeting carbonate domains with these textures may therefore increase success in U-Pb geochronology. U-Pb carbonate dating combined with µXAS can track the temporal evolution of processes critical for metal deposition in long-lived and multistage hydrothermal-magmatic ore deposit settings.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02194-4 |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Bowie Catherine Mottram E. Troy Rasbury Paul Northrup Ryan Tappero Dawn Kellett U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronology Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronology |
| title_full | U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronology |
| title_fullStr | U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronology |
| title_full_unstemmed | U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronology |
| title_short | U redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for U-Pb geochronology |
| title_sort | u redox state tracked in mineralized hydrothermal carbonate with implications for u pb geochronology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02194-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahbowie uredoxstatetrackedinmineralizedhydrothermalcarbonatewithimplicationsforupbgeochronology AT catherinemottram uredoxstatetrackedinmineralizedhydrothermalcarbonatewithimplicationsforupbgeochronology AT etroyrasbury uredoxstatetrackedinmineralizedhydrothermalcarbonatewithimplicationsforupbgeochronology AT paulnorthrup uredoxstatetrackedinmineralizedhydrothermalcarbonatewithimplicationsforupbgeochronology AT ryantappero uredoxstatetrackedinmineralizedhydrothermalcarbonatewithimplicationsforupbgeochronology AT dawnkellett uredoxstatetrackedinmineralizedhydrothermalcarbonatewithimplicationsforupbgeochronology |