Global zircon U-Th-Pb geochronology database

We present here a database of zircon U−Th−Pb geochronology, which samples the global continental crust and spans nearly the entire Earth's history. This database collects ~2,000,000 geochronology records from ~12,000 papers and theses over a period exceeding 50 years and is by far the largest geochronology database to our knowledge. The lithology of the host rock of the zircon samples includes sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. The source references are from the following academic publishers: Elsevier, Cambridge, Geological Society of London, Oxford, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Here, the zircon data compilation contains "Database" files and a "References" file. The "Database" files contain about two million zircon U−Th−Pb dating records, including four isotope ratios (206Pb/238U, 207Pb/235U, 207Pb/206Pb, and 208Pb/232Th) and errors, four corresponding ages and errors, as well as sample information, dating instrument, dating reference material, host rock lithology, sampling location, and reference number. The "References" file contains the information of the source references corresponding to zircon geochronology records, including reference number, author, year, and other publication information. For each record in the "Database" files, its reference can be found in the "References" file through the reference number. This collection not only provides us with a comprehensive platform to study zircon chronological data in deep time and space but also makes it possible to explore the underlying geodynamic mechanism and the evolution of the Earth system.

This database is a supplement to the following article:

Wu, Y., Fang, X., & Ji, J. (2023). A global zircon U–Th–Pb geochronological database. Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15(11), 5171-5181. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5171-2023