Types and Correction Methods of Matrix Effect during Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Dating

Matrix effect primarily impacts the accuracy and precision of zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb data.This paper describes three types of matrix effect in zircon LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating,i.e.,the element matrix effect,high Ddpa or uranium matrix effect and alpha dose matrix effect,and illustrates the correction of these three effects.In addition,we point out the limitation and possible problems of the existing correction methods.

Dating sediments on several lakes inferred from radionuclide profiles

In this paper, several sediment cores from three lakes (Gucheng Lake, Dianchi Lake and Dabusopao Lake) in the different regions of China were dated radiometrically by 210 Pb, 137 Cs and in Dianchi also by 241 Am. The study shows that the profiles of 137 Cs in lake sediment of China generally have 2—4 distinct chronological markers, i.e. the onset of fallout in 1954 and peak fallout in 1963, 1974 and 1986. As many places of the northern hemisphere, the peak fallout in 1963 was the result of the atmospheric atomic weapons test. But in some areas of China, there may be have one or two other peaks of 137 Cs fallout, one can derive from Chernobyl fallout in 1986 and the other is caused by the nuclear testing fallout in early 1970s. So in these areas, the profiles of 137 Cs can have 2 or 3 peaks as the time markers. 241 Am, which is another fallout product from nuclear weapons testing, also provides a useful dating marker in Dianchi. These time markers are of considerable value to confirm 210 Pb dates in the three lakes. Despite there are some questions remain concerning the interpretation of these radionuclide records in lake sediments, coupling with 210 Pb and 137 Cs (and/or 241 Am) is suggested to be a valuable limnological tool for establishing sediment chronologies for the lake sediments in China.

Structure,Timing,and Mechanism of the Pliocene and Late Miocene Uplift Process of the Ailao Shan-Diancang Shan,SE Tibet,China

The uplift of the Ailao Shan-Diancang Shan （ASDS） along the Ailao Shan-Red River （ASRR） shear zone is an important geological event in the southeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau tectonic domain in the Late Cenozoic, and it preserves important information on the structures, exhumationai history and tectonic evolution of the ASRR shear zone. The uplift structural mode and uplift timing of the ASDS is currently an important scientific topic for understanding the ASDS formation and late stage movements and evolution of the ASRR shear zone. The formation of the ASDS has been widely considered to be the consequence of the strike-slip movements of the ASRR shear zone. However, the shaping of geomorphic units is generally direct results of the latest tectonic activities. In this study, we investigated the timing and uplift structural mechanism of the ASDS and provided the following lines of supportive evidence. Firstly, the primary tectonic foliation of the ASDS shows significant characteristic variations, with steeply dipping tectonic foliation developed on the east side of the ASDS and the relatively horizontal foliation on the west side. Secondly, from northeast to southwest direction, the deformation and metamorphism gradually weakened and this zone can be further divided into three different metamorphic degree belts. Thirdly, the contact relationship between the ASDS and the Chuxiong basin-Erhai lake is a normal fault contact which can be found on the east side of the ASDS. 40^Ar/^39 Argeochronology suggests that the Diancang Shan had experienced a fast cooling event during 3-4 Ma. The apatite fission track testing method gives the age of 6.6-10.7 Ma in the Diancang Shan and 4.6-8.4 Ma in the Ailao Shan, respectively. Therefore the uplift of the ASDS can be explained by tilted block mode in which the east side was uplifted much higher than the west side, and it is not main reason of the shearing movements of the ASRR shear zone. The most recent uplift stages of the ASDS happened in the Pliocene （3-4 Ma） and Late Miocene （6-10 Ma）.

Preliminary study on ESR method for dating age of Hexian Man

The fossil skull of Homo erectus hexianens was excaved in Longtan Cave, Taodian Vil-lage. Hexian County. Anhui Province in 1980. It is an important event since the fossilskulls of Peking Man. Bejing and Lantian Man. Shaanxi Province were found. The skullof Homo erectus was first discovered in South China. The age of Hexian Man has