Zircon reference materials
This table summaries the zircon reference materials commonly used in geochronology, listed in order of their age. It is based on an earlier compilation by PlasmAge and has been updated to include some more recent characterisations. Tables of titanite/sphene, monazite and apatite reference materials are also available.
Some of these materials have been reported to contain modest but significant levels of Pb-loss. Prior to considering the use of any of these materials for quality control purposes, it is strongly recommended that analysts carefully review the cited publications as well as other reports that may exist in the scientific literature.
| Name | Age (Ma) | Reference | Initial amount | Available grain size* | U conc (µg/g) |
| OG-1 | ~3463 | 1a | <outcr> | 46-393 | |
| KV01 | 3221.2 | 2a | <outcr> | n/r | |
| QGNG | 1842.0 | 3a | <outcr> | 35-1151 | |
| AS3 | 1099.0 | 4a | <outcr> | 220-426 | |
| 91500 | 1062.4 | 5a | 238 g | ≤ 2.0 mm | 71-86 |
| Mud Tank | 701-722 | 6a | multi-grain | 6-36 | |
| GJ-1 | ~600 | 7a | ~4 g | 212-422 | |
| LKZ-1 | 572.6 | 8a | 0.8 g | chips | 183-818 |
| SL13 | 572.2 | 9a | n/r | n/r | |
| M257 | 561.3 | 10a | 5.14 g | chips | 578-1001 |
| BB | ~560 | 11a | multi-grain | chips | 227-368 |
| Z6266 / BR266 | 559.27 | 12a | 2.5 g | 871-958 | |
| SLZx | 553-561 | 13a | multi-grain | 551-1106 | |
| GZ8 | 543.92 | 14a | 3.8 g | chips | ~1305 |
| SA01 | 535.08 | 15a | 25 g | 100-500 µm | n/r |
| GZ7 | 530.26 | 14a | 3.8 g | chips | ~680 |
| M127 | 524.36 | 16a | 2.5 g | chips | ~923 |
| Temora2 | 416.78 | 17a | <outcr> | <rock> | 61-398 |
| Plešovice | 337.13 | 18a | <outcr> | < 5 mm | 465-3000 |
| Qinghu | 159.38 | 19a | <outcr> | 80-500 µm | ~500-3000 |
| GHR1 | 48.106 | 20a | <outcr> | < 250 µm | ~600-1600 |
| AusZ2 & Aus Z5 | 38.90 | 21a | ~1.5 g | chips | ~240-319 |
| Penglai | 4.393 | 22a | <outcr> | < 10 mm | 26-48 |
| * Only reported where the material is described as intended for distribution |
| <outcr> = multi-grain material from outcrop |
| <rock> = Hand specimens distributed for zircon extraction |
| n/r = not reported |
References
| 1a. Stern et al. (2009). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 33, 145-168 |
| 2a. Wie et al. (2020). Science China Earth Sciences, 63/11, 1780-1790 |
| 3a. Black et al. (2003). Chemical Geology, 200, 171-188 |
| 4a. Paces and Miller (1993). Journal of Geophysical Research, 98, 13997– 14013 |
| 5a. Wiedenbeck et al. (1995). Geostandards Newsletter, 19/1, 1-23 |
| 6a. Black and Gulson (1978). BMR Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics, 3, 227–232 |
| 7a. Jackson et al. (2004). Chemical Geology, 211, 47-69 |
| 8a. Cheong et al. (2019). Minerals, 9, 325 |
| 9a. Claué-Long et al. (1995). SEPM Special Publication No. 54, 3-21 |
| 10a. Nasdala et al. (2008). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 32/3, 247-265 |
| 11a. Santos et al. (2017). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 41/3, 335-358 |
| 12a. Schoene et al. (2006). Geochemica et Comsochemica Acta, 70, 426-445 |
| 13a. Hu et al. (2023). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 47/3, 509-533 |
| 14a. Nasdala et al. (2018). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 42/4, 431-457 |
| 15a. Huang et al. (2020). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 44/1, 103-123 |
| 16a. Nasdala et al. (2016). Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 40/4, 457-475 |
| 17a. Black et al. (2004). Chemical Geology, 205, 115-140 |
| 18a. Sláma et al. (2008). Chemical Geology, 249, 1-2, 1-35 |
| 19a. Li et al. (2009). Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 10/4, Q04010 |
| 20a. Eddy et al. (2017). Geostandards and Geoanalytcal Research, 43/1, 113-132 |
| 21a. Kennedy et al. (2014). The Canadian Mineralogist, 55, 409-421 |
| 22a. Li et al. (2010). Geostandards and Geoanalytcal Research, 34/2, 117-134 |