Wetherill diagram

plural Wetherill diagrams · alternative Wetherill concordia diagram

1. geographyA type of concordia diagram, used in the context of uranium–lead dating, whose axes are the ratios ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U and ²³⁷Pb/²³⁵U.

   In the Wetherill diagram, no isotope is found on both axes, allowing the two decay schemes to be evaluated independently.

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   The "x" and "y" axes of the Wetherill diagram are the quantities of the respective end (lead) isotopes of the actinium series and uranium series decay chains, each adjusted and expressed as a ratio to the amount remaining of the corresponding start (uranium) isotope.

   However, these workers suggest that the age of the Amitsoq gneisses is closer to the true one when determined by the U-Th-Pb method on zircons, and the zircon isochron on the Wetherill diagram crosses the concordia in the point corresponding to 3600 m.y.

   1983, Lazarus J. Salop, translated by V. P. Grudina, Geological Evolution of the Earth During the Precambrian, Springer, page 50

   The fifth analysis shows signs of Pb loss and plots below the concordia line on the Wetherill diagram.

   2014, K. Stephen Hughes et al., “2: Geology, Geochemistry and Geochronology of the western Piedmont of northern Virginia”, in Christopher M. Bailey, Lorrie V. Coiner, editors, Elevating Geoscience in the Southeastern United States, Geological Society of America, page 57

   2020, Myint Myat Phyo, et al., U—Pb Dating of Zircon and Zirconolite Inclusions in Marble-Hosted Gem-Quality Ruby and Spinel from Mogok, Myanmar, Frederick Lin Sutherland, Khin Zaw (editors), Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Ruby, MDPI Books, page 115, Figure 4. Wetherill diagrams showing wide range of U-Pb age of (a) zircon inclusion in gem-quality ruby and spinel, (b) accessory zircon in Bawlongyi marble, (c) zirconolite inclusion in ruby from Mansin and (d) zirconolite intergrown with zircon in Bawlongyi marble.