The main error propagation algorithm in iolite was first published by Paton et al. (2010). Its purpose is to estimate the additional uncertainty to be added to the internal uncertainty calculated by iolite and is most often used in U-Pb studies.

A common question we are asked about U-Pb geochronology in iolite is: “Why is the mean age calculated by iolite different to the age calculated from the mean ratio?