DQPB: software for calculating disequilibrium U-Pb ages

Abstract

Initial radioactive disequilibrium amongst intermediate nuclides of the U decay chains can have a significant impact on the accuracy of U-Pb ages, especially in young samples. For samples that can reasonably be assumed to have attained radioactive equilibrium at the time of analysis, a relatively straightforward correction may be applied. However, in younger materials where this assumption is unreasonable, it is necessary to replace the familiar U-Pb age equations with more complete expressions that account for growth and decay of intermediate nuclides through time. DQPB is software for calculating U-Pb ages while accounting for the effects of radioactive disequilibrium among intermediate nu..