System and method for performing geochronology

摘要

Systems and methods for determining geologic age are provided. A method includes separating a sample into species of interest; supplying the species of interest to a mass spectrometer; generating an intensity-versus-time data set for two or more elemental masses, identifying a set of intensity peaks having members from each of at least two of the intensity-versus-time data sets; and determining the geologic age of the sample using ratios of the members of the set of intensity peaks. A system includes a species generator for receiving a sample and generating species of interest; a mass spectrometer for receiving the species of interest and generating an intensity-versus-time data set for each of two or more elemental masses; and a processor configured to identify a set of intensity peaks, and to determine the geologic age of the sample using ratios of the members of the set of intensity peaks.