Detrital apatite <scp>Lu–Hf</scp> and <scp>U–Pb</scp> geochronology applied to the southwestern Siberian margin

Apatite is increasingly used in sedimentary provenance studies. However, detrital apatite U–Pb geochronology can be challenging due to the presence of non-radiogenic Pb, its intermediate closure temperature (~350–550°C) and/or age-resetting by metamorphic/metasomatic processes. The Lu–Hf system has a higher (~675–750°C) and is, therefore, more robust thermal resetting. Here we present first age spectra. We have developed laser-ablation dating technique, using reaction-cell mass spectrometry, that allows rapid cost-effective analysis, required for method best suited Precambrian detritus, permitting greater radiogenic Hf ingrowth. Using samples from Siberia, demonstrate: (1) excellent correlations between dates apatites igneous protoliths; (2) detect primary information metamorphic grains. Hence, when tandem with zircon geochronology, provides powerful new tool