Cited by 323Geology and Paleoclimatology ResearchGeological and Geochemical AnalysisPaleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils

A Unified Clumped Isotope Thermometer Calibration (0.5–1,100°C) Using Carbonate‐Based Standardization

Open access
Anderson, N. T., Kelson, J. R., Kele, S., Daëron, M., Bonifacie, M., Horita, J., Mackey, T. J., John, C. M. +6 more·2021·Geophysical Research Letters

Abstract

The potential for carbonate clumped isotope thermometry to independently constrain both the formation temperature of carbonate minerals and fluid oxygen isotope composition allows insight into long‐standing questions in the Earth sciences, but remaining discrepancies between calibration schemes hamper interpretation of temperature measurements. To address discrepancies between calibrations, we designed and analyzed a sample suite (41 total samples) with broad applicability across the geosciences, with an exceptionally wide range of formation temperatures, precipitation methods, and mineralogies. We see no statistically significant offset between sample types, although the comparison of calcite and dolomite remains inconclusive. When data are reduced identically, the regression defined by this study is nearly identical to that defined by four previous calibration studies that used carbonate‐based standardization; we combine these data to present a composite carbonate‐standardized regression equation. Agreement across a wide range of temperature and sample types demonstrates a unified, broadly applicable clumped isotope thermometer calibration.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1029/2020gl092069

Cites

40 of 40 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 36 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    ANCOVA variably accepts or rejects the null hypothesis depending on how the single protodolomite sample is categorized.

    “ANCOVA variably accepts/rejects the null hypothesis depending on the categorization of the single protodolomite sample.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Calcite-water 18O fractionation calculated from 20 samples with fluid δ18O data agrees closely with the equations of Coplen (2007) and Daëron et al. (2019).

    “Calcite-water fractionation in 18 O calculated from a subset of 20 samples with fluid δ 18 O data (Figure S5) agrees closely with the equations of Coplen (2007) and Daëron et al. (2019).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Coplen, 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Daëron et al., 2019

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingown data

    The data define a linear 1/T2-Δ47 relationship from 0.5°C to 1,100°C.

    “these data define a linear 1/T 2 -Δ 47 relationship from 0.5°C to 1,100°C that is shown in Figure 1.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites York et al., 2004

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingown data

    ANCOVA fails to reject a single regression line for natural and laboratory-precipitated samples at the 95% confidence level (p slope = 0.43, p intercept = 0.17).

    “analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) fails to reject the null hypothesis that both types of samples are characterized by a single regression line at the 95% confidence level at our typical sample precision levels (1SE) of ∼10 ppm (p slope = 0.43, p intercept = 0.17; see Table S1 in supporting information for the full table of ANCOVA analyses).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    Antarctic microbially mediated lacustrine calcites show no discernible offset from the overall trend.

    “The microbially mediated lacustrine calcites from Antarctic show no discernible offset from the overall trend”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 15
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 11
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Natural samples have a weaker correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.96 vs. 0.99) and larger error of the estimate than laboratory-precipitated samples.

    “Natural samples display a weaker correlation coefficient (r 2 = 0.96 vs. 0.99) and larger error of the estimate”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    No statistically significant Δ47 offset exists between passively and actively degassed samples or with the addition of carbonic anhydrase in the reanalysis of Kelson et al. (2017) samples.

    “We observe no statistically significant Δ 47 offset between passively and actively degassed samples (p slope = 0.19, p intercept = 0.79) or with the addition of carbonic anhydrase (p slope = 0.79, p intercept = 0.32; Figure S1).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kelson et al., 2017

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    A single Aqua Borra sample with 15% goethite has individual Δ47 analyses both higher and lower than expected, but its mean Δ47 value closely agrees with the regression presented here.

    “A single sample (Aqua Borra) with minor goethite (15%) has individual Δ 47 analyses both much higher and lower than expected but has a mean Δ 47 value that closely agrees with the regression presented here.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    No statistically significant Δ47 offset exists between sample types, although the calcite versus dolomite comparison remains inconclusive.

    “We see no statistically significant offset between sample types, although the comparison of calcite and dolomite remains inconclusive.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    No significant difference in Δ47 exists between samples precipitated at low versus high pH or between intensive and moderate precipitation rates in the reanalysis of Kele et al. (2015) and Kelson et al. (2017) samples.

    “there is no significant difference between samples precipitated at low (<7) versus high (>7) pH (p slope = 0.4, p intercept = 0.99) or intensive versus moderate precipitation rate (p slope = 0.05, p intercept = 0.11; Figure S2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Kele et al., 2015

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Kelson et al., 2017

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    A third-order polynomial regression through the data falls within the 95% confidence limits of the linear fit over the entire temperature range and does not improve the goodness of fit, with r^2 = 0.97 for both.

    “A third-order polynomial regression through our data falls within the 95% CL of our linear fit over the entire temperature range (Figure 3a) and does not improve the goodness of fit (r 2 = 0.97 for both)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The composite calibration regression in Equation 1 differs from the study by Petersen et al. (2019) by 3°C near 25°C and by 7°C near 100°C.

    “the composite calibration regression shown in Equation 1 differs from the study by Petersen et al. (2019) by 3°C near 25°C and by 7°C near 100°C (Figure 1a).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Petersen et al. (2019)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Δ47 can be used to calculate both mineral formation temperature and the δ18O of the precipitating fluid.

    “Because Δ 47 reflects an internal state of isotope distribution within the carbonate mineral phase, it can be used to calculate mineral formation temperature ( Δ 47 T ) as well as the δ 18 O of the precipitating fluid.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Ghosh et al., 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Schauble et al., 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    IUPAC parameters were used to correct raw data.

    “IUPAC parameters were used to correct raw data”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The low number of rapid precipitates, especially at low temperatures, makes the precipitation-rate comparison inconclusive.

    “The low number of rapid precipitates (particularly at low temperatures) makes the above claim inconclusive”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premiseown data

    Calibrations given by Jautzy et al. (2020) and Petersen et al. (2019) differed by 5°C near 25°C and by 20°C near 100°C.

    “calibrations given by Jautzy et al. (2020) and Petersen et al. (2019) differed by 5°C near 25°C and 20°C near 100°C”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Jautzy et al. (2020)

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Petersen et al. (2019)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    No pressure baseline correction was applied.

    “No pressure baseline correction was applied.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    In total, 0.81% of cycles and 0.42% of analyses were removed.

    “In total, 0.81% of cycles and 0.42% of analyses were removed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The clumped isotope calibration reported here replicates measurements several times.

    “replicates measurements several times”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Reprocessing past calibration data with a consistent data reduction scheme and IUPAC parameters reduced but did not eliminate differences between calibrations.

    “By reprocessing past calibration data with a consistent data reduction scheme and IUPAC parameter set (Brand et al., 2010;Daëron et al., 2016;Schauer et al., 2016), Petersen et al. (2019) reduced but did not eliminate differences between calibrations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Petersen et al., 2019

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Analytical uncertainty and uncertainty associated with creation of the reference frame were propagated throughout the dataset.

    “analytical uncertainty and uncertainty associated with creation of the reference frame was propagated throughout.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The sample-to-standard ratio was 1:1.

    “sample to standard ratio was 1:1”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    IAEA-C1 was treated as an unknown and used as an internal consistency check (n = 16, mean = 0.292‰, 1SE = 0.098‰).

    “IAEA-C1 was treated as an unknown and used as an internal consistency check (n = 16, mean = 0.292‰, 1SE = 0.098‰).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The weaker correlation and larger error for natural samples are likely due to greater variability of fluid temperature in natural settings.

    “likely due to the greater variability of fluid temperature in natural settings.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    Small sample numbers and limited temperature range prohibit formal analysis of the Antarctic lacustrine calcites.

    “but small sample numbers and limited temperature range prohibit formal analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Each sample was replicated at least six times, with a mean of nine measurements.

    “measurement of each sample was replicated at least six times (mean = 9)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The near-perfect agreement of these calibrations, with offsets of about 0.2°C near 25°C and 100°C despite differences in sample material and measurement method, indicates the strength of carbonate-based standardization and the potential of a unified clumped isotope calibration.

    “The near-perfect agreement of these calibrations (∼0.2°C offsets near 25°C and 100°C) despite differences in sample material and measurement method points to the strength of carbonate-based standardization and the potential of a unified clumped isotope calibration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    At high temperatures, theory predicts a non-linear 1/T2-Δ47 relationship.

    “At high temperatures, theory predicts a non-linear 1/T 2 -Δ 47 relationship (e.g., Guo et al., 2009;Hill et al., 2014)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Guo et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Hill et al., 2014

      Not checked in the free run.

23 of 23

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The Anderson et al. (2021) calibration is based on reanalysis of original materials with tightly controlled precipitation temperatures, standardized using I-CDES best practices, spanning 0.5-1,100°C with n=91 samples and >1,400 replicates from 5 laboratories.

    “The calibration of Anderson et al. (2021) is based on a reanalysis of original materials with tightly controlled precipitation temperatures, standardized using I-CDES best practices, and spanning a temperature range of 0.5-1,100°C with n = 91 samples (>1,400 replicates) from 5 laboratories.”

    From Frontiers of Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometry (2023) · cites this paper as Anderson et al. 2021

    The Abstract and §2.1 support reanalysis of earlier calibration materials, I-CDES carbonate-based standardization, and the 0.5–1,100°C range. But §2.1 includes natural carbonates, so tightly controlled precipitation temperatures do not describe every sample. The cited copy does not substantiate 91 samples from five laboratories, and §2.1.2 reports 362 unknown analyses rather than more than 1,400 replicates. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The Petersen et al. (2019) CDES-referenced T-47 calibration and Anderson et al. (2021) I-CDES-referenced calibration are offset from each other by 3°C near 25°C and 7°C near 100°C and show a similar temperature dependence as the 47 theoretical equilibrium calculations of Schauble et al. (2006) and Hill et al. (2014), with a difference of about 2°C at Earth surface temperatures.

    “These two calibrations are offset from each other by 3°C near 25°C and 7°C near 100°C and show a similar temperature dependence as the 47 theoretical equilibrium calculations of Schauble et al. (2006) and Hill et al. (2014) (difference of ∼2°C at Earth surface temperatures).”

    From Frontiers of Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometry (2023) · cites this paper as Anderson et al. (2021)

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Second, to maintain consistency with the calcite calibration measured using identical analytical conditions (Anderson et al., 2021), Merck was only analyzed once per run of 50 replicates, leading to relatively high uncertainty compared to other carbonate anchors.

    “Second, to maintain consistency with the calcite calibration measured using identical analytical conditions (Anderson etal.,2021), Merck was only analyzed once per run of 50 replicates, leading to relatively high uncertainty compared to other carbonate anchors.”

    From Re-Assessing the Need for Apatite- and Dolomite-Specific Calibrations of the Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometer (2024) · cites this paper as Anderson et al., 2021

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • A reanalysis of samples from five previous calibrations by Anderson et al. (2021) using carbonate standardization revealed no significant differences in temperature dependence of Δ47 between different sample sets.

    “In addition, a reanalysis of samples from five previous calibrations by Anderson et al. (2021) using carbonate standardization revealed no significant differences in temperature dependence of Δ47 between the different sample sets.”

    From InterCarb: A Community Effort to Improve Interlaboratory Standardization of the Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometer Using Carbonate Standards (2021) · cites this paper as Anderson et al. (2021)

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The improvements in interlaboratory comparability that can be achieved with carbonate standardization, coupled with the reductions in the uncertainties of the temperature calibrations, is decreasing the uncertainties in temperature reconstructions to levels comparable or better than other temperature proxies.

    “We emphasize that the improvements in interlaboratory comparability that can be achieved with carbonate standardization, coupled with the reductions in the uncertainties of the temperature calibrations (e.g., Anderson et al., 2021), is decreasing the uncertainties in temperature reconstructions to levels comparable or better than other temperature proxies.”

    From InterCarb: A Community Effort to Improve Interlaboratory Standardization of the Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometer Using Carbonate Standards (2021) · cites this paper as Anderson et al., 2021

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Two samples have fewer than the stated minimum of six measurements

    Minor

    The methods say every sample was measured at least six times, but Table 2 lists four measurements for each of two Lake Fryxell samples.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. 10.1002/essoar.10504430.410.1002/essoar.10504430.3ems · DOI
  2. 10.1002/essoar.10504430.410.1002/essoar.10505298.1 · DOI
  3. Ross S., 2003, Peirce’s criterion for the elimination of suspect experimental data, Journal of Engineering Technology, 20, 1

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Anderson, N. T., Kelson, J. R., Kele, S., Daëron, M., Bonifacie, M., Horita, J., Mackey, T. J., John, C. M., Kluge, T., Petschnig, P., Jost, A. B., Huntington, K. W., Bernasconi, S. M., & Bergmann, K. D.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research (HU)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Texas Tech University (US)
  • University of New Mexico (US)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
  • ETH Zurich (CH)
  • University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Anderson, N. T.
Venue
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2021-04
Volume
48
Issue
7
Pages
e2020GL092069
ISSN
  • 0094-8276 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-8007
OpenAlex
W3119280383
Cited by
323
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 72 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 1
FWCI
17.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Geophysical Research Letters (publishedVersion)
  • Repository for Publications and Research Data (ETH Zurich) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • ETH Zürich Research Collection
Funders
  • David and Lucile Packard Foundation
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NSSC19K0464)
  • Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Keywords
clumped isotope thermometry, carbonate clumped isotopes, thermometer calibration, calcite, dolomite, regression equations

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