Technical Note: Benchmark time-temperature paths provide a shared framework for evaluating and communicating thermochronologic data interpretation

Andrea L. Stevens Goddard, Kendra E. Murray, Alyssa Langford Abbey , Mark Wildman

We present a set of six time-temperature (tT) histories, called benchmark paths, that can be used as a shared framework for evaluating the sensitivity of a thermochronologic system to the variables inherent in the interpretation of thermochronologic data (e.g., kinetics models, mineral compositions or geometries, etc.) . These benchmark paths span 100 Myr, include monotonic and nonmonotonic histories that represent plausible geologic scenarios, and have a range of cooling rates through different chronometer partial-retention/annealing temperatures. Here, we demonstrate their utility by presenting a method for tuning these paths to 11 different kinetics models for the apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He (n=5), apatite fission-track (n=2), and zircon (U-Th)/He (n=4) systems. These tuned tT paths provide a practical comparison of the kinetics models for each system and the data patterns they predict, thereby offering anyone performing thermal history analysis the ability to consider how their choice of kinetics model may impact their data interpretation. The adoption of benchmark paths for evaluating kinetics models and other variables provides a practical way for the thermochronology community to evaluate and communicate the decision making processes that are inherent in thermochronologic modeling and data interpretation.