Activity of Changbaishan Tianchi Volcano Since Late Pleistocene——The Constrain From Geochronology of High Precision U-Series Tims Method

samples of lava and pumice from the cone of Changbaishan Tianchi Volcano, Jiling, China, were dated by using high precision U-series TIMS method. We conclude that the bottom of the cone formed before 350 ka, the middle part in 70～80 ka, the upper during 20～1ka, and the top less than 1ka, and the age based periods of the volcano eruption since Late Pleistocene is given as follows: >350ka,70ka,18～25ka,10ka, 4C5ka, 1～0.75ka, which may offer the basis for the study of volcanic disaster in future. In addition, the principle of dating young volcanic rocks by using U-series TIMS method is introduced briefly. Differentiation characteristics of U and Th in different minerals of the volcanic rocks are discussed, and the ability producing isochrons, based on U and Th differentiation, are discussed. In the last part of the paper, the closure of samples to the elements U and Th, which is important for age results, is discussed by using ( 234 U/ 238 U) radioactivity ratio which can be used to monitor if the samples have been weathered or eroded or leached since the time they formed. In this study, all samples have ( 234 U/ 238 U) activity ratios within 1% of secular equilibrium (( 234 U/ 238 U) radioactivity ratios are unity), indicating no disturbance of the 234 U～ 238 U system. All of these discussions show that the TIMS method is good to date Tianchi volcanics and the results are reliable.

High-precision thermal ionization mass spectrometry dating of young volcanic rocks by using U-series method

A high precision thermal ionization mass spectrometric (HP-TIMS) technique is used to determine 238U,234U,232Th,230Th concentrations and their ratios in whole rocks and minerals separated from Ouaternary Maanshan, Dayingshan and Heikongshan volcanic rocks of Tengchong volcanic field .Yunnan Province, China. The 238U-230Th isochrons are given, yielding four age values (227 ? 20) ka (D-1, Dayingshan), (79.6 ±5.5) ka (D-7, Dayingshan), (21.9 ± 3.0) ka (h-1, Heikongshan), and (7.5 ± 1.0) ka (M-1, Maanshan). The result is not only consistent with but also preciser than those measured by the K-Ar method and the alpha spectrometry U-series method, indicating that the HP-TIMS method is reliable and has high precision. Besides, a procedure of HP-TIMS analysis of young volcanic rocks in China is set up preliminarily.

Downcutting and uplifting in the middle part of Qinling orogenic belt during the late Quaternary

Layered cave passages formed on the walls of the Qianyou River valley in the middle part of the Qinling Mountains since the Pleistocene due to the intermittent uplifts. 12 speleothem samples near ruins of palaeowater tables in 3 cave passages are dated by using the Th method. The results show that the 3 caves began to uplift (358±38) ka, (247±28) ka, (118±19) ka ago respectively. Given the differences of elevation between the caves, we could obtain the downcutting rates of the valley: (0.23±0.02) mm/a during 358 -247 ka, (0.19±0.03) mm/a during 247-118 ka, and (0.51(0.08) mm/a since 118 ka. This implies that more and more strong uplifting sustained in the middle part of Qinling since 358