Improving U-Th-Pb electron microprobe dating using monazite age references

This article proposes an improved approach to monazite dating by electron microprobe that includes a “monazite age reference correction” (MARC). During analysis, a set of differing monazite standard reference materials with established isotopic ages are measured at the start of the session. These measurements are used to test the analytical set-up and, if necessary, to calculate MARC factors that can be applied to monazite samples. The MARC is...