Triple Dating Method Development and Application in Apatite and Zircon from the Carajás Mineral Province, Pará, Brazil

• Grant number: 24/20042-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alberto Tello Sáenz
• Grantee: Camila Durães Ferreira dos Santos
• Supervisor: Pieter Vermeesch
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University College London (UCL), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/18307-7 - Crystallographic and isotopic characterization of apatite mineral for age determination through Fission Track (FT) and U-Pb methods: Geochronology of the São José de Campestre region, Natal, RN, Brazil., BP.MS

Abstract

This project aims to integrate advanced geochronological techniques, including Fission Track (FT), U-Pb, and U-Th-He dating, to improve age determinations for apatite and zircon samples from the Carajás Mineral Province (CMP) in Brazil. By employing isotopic analysis with Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), this research will reveal insights into the region's thermal history and exhumation processes. The main methodological goal is to implement a triple-dating approach to better understand the samples' geochronology. Each method captures different thermal events, providing a comprehensive view of the mineral ages and geological processes. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Pieter Vermeesch at University College London (UCL), the project will utilize LA-ICP-MS for precise isotopic measurements, essential to determine FT, U-Pb and U-Th-He ages. The project will optimize these techniques to improve accuracy and analytical workflows. Upon returning to Brazil, the knowledge will be shared through publications, conferences, and training sessions, benefiting the Nuclear Tracks Detectors Research Group (DETRAN) at UNESP. Additionally, efforts will be made to secure funding for LA-ICP-MS acquisition, enhancing research capabilities in Brazil in the future.