Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2011, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (6): 347-357.

• Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

 Restriction on the application of thermochronologic agetemperature and ageelevation relationships: Some insights into sampling strategies and age interpretation.

  

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
    2. Faculty of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
    3. Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, Grenoble 38041, France
  • Received:2010-12-22 Revised:2011-03-03 Online:2011-11-25 Published:2012-12-05

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Abstract:

Thermochronologic agetemperature and ageelevation relationships are commonly used to quantitatively constrain the longterm tectonic evolution of an orogen. In contrast to the agetemperature relationship, the ageelevation relationship has more advantages in calculating exhumation rates of rocks without the imposed geothermal gradient. However, the potential functions of the ageelevation relationship in extracting cooling and exhumation signals of rocks need the presupposition of stable geothermal gradient.But the complicated effects (e.g. the relief change, exhumation rate, magma emplacement, etc.) will unpredictably perturb the geothermal field, producing the unstable geothermal gradient. As such, aiming at some specific projects, it is essential to adopt suitable sampling strategies and promising methods to unveil the information hidden in the thermochronologic ages.

Key words:  thermochronology, agetemperature relationship, ageelevation relationship, geothermal gradient, sampling strategies

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