Methods for estimation of uncertainties in geothermobarometry

Abstract

The assignment of a realistic uncertainty in any measured and computed quantity is important in all physical sciences. The advent of large internally consistent thermodynamic data bases and the development of multi-reaction techniques for P-T estimates in metamorphic and igneous rocks have brought revolution in the field of geothermobarometry. Assignment of uncertainties to P-T estimates is important, because these uncertainties have significant effect on the confidence of a tectonic interpretation. It is, therefore, necessary to perform and report error propagation calculations while providing P-T estimates, as without the uncertainty estimates, the results of the P-T calculations in metamorphic and igneous rocks are not complete. In this paper sources of uncertainties, the propagation of these uncertainties and estimation of these values are discussed. Monte Carlo Method, Numerical error propagation and High-Precision Relative Thermobarometry (ΔPT) approach for estimation of uncertainties in pressure-temperature with examples are presented and reviewed. © 2012 Springer India Pvt. Ltd.