Lu–hf garnet geochronology: closure temperature relative to the Sm–Nd system and the effects of trace mineral inclusions

The highly elevated Lu/Hf of garnets with respect to other minerals, coupled with the new capability of routinely analyzing small samples (25 ng of Hf) by multiple-collector ICP-MS (MC–ICP–MS), makes the Lu–Hf garnet system a viable geochronometer. The robustness of Lu–Hf garnet-whole rock (gt-wr) ages, however, needs to be evaluated, and their closure temperature (TC) and potential effects of trace mineral inclusions need to be established. To...