华北南缘中元古界高山河群碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学及其地质意义*

为了探讨华北板块南缘中元古代沉积地层的时代归属和物质来源、区域古地理格局和大地构造特征,对豫西灵宝福地地区的高山河群进行碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和锆石微量元素特征研究。获得的高山河群年龄最小(年轻)的单颗碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄值为1685±39 Ma,从而限制了高山河群最早沉积年龄不早于1700 Ma。结合上覆的龙家园组年代学标定(1594±12 Ma),将高山河群的形成年代限定为1700—1600 Ma,即中元古代长城纪的中晚期,属国际地质年表的“固结纪”。高山河群中碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄范围为1685—2751 Ma,呈现1850 Ma、2150 Ma、2300 Ma和2500 Ma共4个年龄峰值,对应于华北克拉通古元古代重要的地质事件,并且高山河群以1850 Ma和2500 Ma峰值年龄段的地质体为主要的物源区。根据高山河群与云梦山组碎屑锆石年龄频率对比,推测在豫西地区西侧存在以往报道较少的年龄为2500 Ma的地质体。根据熊耳群火山岩及其对应锆石的地球化学特征和熊耳期盆地动力学性质,并结合高山河群沉积相特征和沉积盆地构造属性,认为熊耳群形成于与“岛弧”共生的拉张性质的弧后盆地地区,而其上覆的高山河群为弧后盆地靠近大陆一侧的具有被动大陆边缘性质的滨浅海沉积。     

豫西汝阳群、洛峪群碎屑锆石年代学特征及其地质意义

华北克拉通南缘"豫陕裂陷槽"发育大量中—新元古代地层,其中汝阳群和洛峪群分布于渑池—确山地层小区,其形成时代一直存有争议.本文针对汝阳群和洛峪群沉积岩进行了系统的碎屑锆石年代学研究工作,结合地层发育和岩石组合分析,为建立华北克拉通南缘中—新元古代地层框架提供依据.根据云梦山组下部碎屑锆石中获得年轻锆石年龄平均值1723.6 Ma,结合前人从洛峪群凝灰岩夹层中获得的年代学资料(1611±8 Ma、1640±16 Ma、1638±9 Ma、1634±10 Ma),将汝阳群-洛峪群的沉积时限限定在1720～1600 Ma之间.本文所采集的云梦山组、白草坪组和崔庄组样品中碎屑锆石207Pb/206Pb年龄分别在2657～1739 Ma、2712～1780 Ma和2654～1819 Ma之间,说明三个组沉积物质主要来源于古元古代地质体,部分为新太古代地质体.鲁山地区发育的新太古代—古元古代的太华杂岩,登封地区发育的新太古代登封群以及古元古代嵩山群和花岗质岩石等,均可为中—新元古代沉积岩提供物源.豫西地区汝阳群-洛峪群碎屑锆石中～2.7 Ga、～2.5 Ga、2.1～2.0 Ga和1.85～1.8 Ga的年龄谱峰值分别对应华北克拉通早前寒武纪发生地壳生长、克拉通化、裂谷和造山等重要地质事件.越来越多资料显示华北克拉通在2.2～2.0Ga时期存在强烈的岩浆活动,豫西地区～2.1 Ga的岩浆作用也逐渐被识别出来.     

华北南缘中元古代地层归属及大地构造演化：来自碎屑锆石U- Pb年代学和锆石微量元素的证据

华北板块南缘中元古代沉积地层的时代归属以及区域古地理格局和构造演化等是近年来地质界探讨的热点问题。本文对豫西鲁山下汤地区的汝阳群云梦山组和黄连垛组进行了碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和锆石微量元素研究,获得云梦山组年龄最小(年轻)的一批碎屑锆石年龄加权平均值为1658±63Ma,从而限定了汝阳群最早沉积年龄不早于1700Ma。结合洛峪群(上覆于汝阳群)上部洛峪口组近年的年代学标定(1611～1638Ma),将汝阳群—洛峪群的形成年代限定为1700～1600Ma,即中元古代长城纪的中晚期,对应于国际地质年表的固结纪。云梦山组与黄连垛组中碎屑锆石~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄范围为1644～3179Ma,呈现1850Ma、2100Ma、2300Ma、2500Ma、2670Ma和2900Ma六个年龄峰值,对应于华北克拉通中太古代-古元古代重要的地质事件。云梦山组与黄连垛组分别以1850Ma峰值年龄段与2500Ma峰值年龄段的地质体为主要的物源区。根据云梦山组沉积组合性质及形成背景、熊耳群火山岩及其对应锆石的地球化学特征、熊耳群沉积岩夹层的沉积特征和盆地构造属性,综合分析认为熊耳群及其上覆的汝阳群形成于与"岛弧"共生的弧后盆地地区。并且根据云梦山组"同沉积锆石"具"岛弧"地球化学特征,暗示云梦山组沉积时期附近的岛弧火山仍在持续活动中。     

赞皇杂岩官都岩群时代与物源——来自黑云变粒岩与石英岩碎屑锆石U-Pb-Hf同位素与稀土元素组成的约束

官都岩群是华北克拉通中部造山带赞皇杂岩中重要的变质火山-沉积岩系,经历了高绿片岩相-高角闪岩相变质,准确限定其沉积时代与物质来源对探究中部造山带新太古代-古元古代构造演化过程具有重要意义。利用LA-MC-ICP-MS(多接收激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子质谱仪)与TIMA(矿物自动分析系统)对官都岩群中黑云变粒岩与石英岩进行了锆石矿物包体、U-Pb-Hf同位素与稀土元素原位分析。根据碎屑锆石内部矿物包体组成、阴极发光图像特征与U-Pb年龄结果,认为黑云变粒岩与石英岩中碎屑锆石中最年轻一组的²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb谐和年龄分别为2 544 Ma或2 536 Ma,大致限定了其原岩的最老沉积时代,结合区内黄岔花岗岩岩体侵入官都岩群的野外地质关系,推测官都岩群沉积时代为新太古代末期,并非古元古代。官都岩群黑云变粒岩与石英岩碎屑锆石年龄图谱十分相似,最主要的峰值年龄为2 512 Ma,结合碎屑锆石内部矿物包体与结构特征,认为官都岩群主要物源为新太古代晚期中酸性岩浆岩。两阶段锆石Hf模式年龄揭示2 850～2 700 Ma为赞皇杂岩最强烈的地壳生长阶段。综合本文...     

中国东北额尔古纳地块新太古代岩浆事件钻孔片麻状二长花岗岩锆石LA-ICP-MS测年证据

额尔古纳地块基底岩石时代与构造属性一直颇受争议。笔者对额尔古纳地块南部比列亚铅锌多金属矿区ZK6301钻孔226 m片麻状二长花岗岩岩心进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS定年。测试结果显示,24个测试点的数据均在谐和线上,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄包括4个不同年龄区段,分别为:2 549~2 562 Ma(加权平均年龄为(2 555±19) Ma,MSWD=0.17,n=3),2 596~2 624 Ma(加权平均年龄为(2 606±17) Ma,MSWD=0.032,n=17),2 688~2 715 Ma(加权平均年龄为(2 702±18) Ma, MSWD=0.70,n=3),2 786 Ma(n=1)。通过锆石的Th,U质量分数与Th/U值分析,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄((2 606±17) Ma)代表了该片麻状二长花岗岩的结晶年龄;²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄((2 549~2 562) Ma)很可能代表了构造热事件的作用年龄;本次报道的岩石结晶年龄,揭示了额尔古纳地块上存在新太古代的结晶基底。结合前人研究资料分析可知,额尔古纳地块上该期变质结晶基底可能在该地块的南、北部均有分布,并且得尔布干断裂可能并非该地块的南部边界。综合分析前寒武纪古老地块的演化历史可得出,额尔古纳地块经历了全球大陆构造旋回演化的完整过程。     

福建长乐—南澳断裂带南务里变质岩碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学及其地质意义

福建南务里变质岩位于长乐—南澳断裂带北段,主要由矽线石二云母石英片岩和矽线石黑云母石英片岩组成,超覆于片麻状花岗岩之上。岩石学特征表明:南务里变质岩的原岩为陆源碎屑岩。 LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄谱出现2个峰值:第一峰值为189.6±5.7 Ma,²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄集中于199～182 Ma; 第二峰值为1 899±4 Ma,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄集中于1 922～1 831 Ma。前者锆石自形晶较好,环带明显,Th/U值为0.4～0.96,稀土元素明显分异,属于岩浆锆石; 后者锆石磨圆度较高,环带不明显,Th/U值为0.03～0.3,稀土元素分异不明显,属于变质锆石; 部分为岩浆锆石,Th/U值>0.3,稀土元素分异明显。189.6±5.7 Ma代表该区变质岩原岩的沉积时代,原岩层位相当于早侏罗世梨山组。     

大别山东部花岗片麻岩的锆石U-Pb年龄

花岗片麻岩是大别山区除超高压变质杂岩外的另一种重要岩石类型,本文测得南大别二长花岗片麻岩中单颗粒锆石U-Pb不一致线的上交点年龄为789±43 Ma.位于五河一水吼韧性剪切带南缘的糜棱岩化二长花岗片麻岩中锆石的²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb表面年龄接近一致年龄,为715～777 Ma,平均757 Ma,U-Pb不一致线的上交点年龄为815±70 Ma,下交点年龄为482±167 Ma.北大别石英二长片麻岩中锆石²⁰⁷Pb/206表面年龄的变化范围较广,介于594～700 Ma,平均为649 Ma,U-Pb不一致线的上、下交点年龄分别为814±97 Ma和477±77 Ma.这说明这些正片麻岩的侵位时间范围大致为750～850 Ma的晚元古代;南、北大别正片麻岩中的锆石年代学显示它们可能具有相似的形成与演化历史;约480 Ma前后的加里东运动对大别山地区可能也有影响.     

五台地区滹沱群时代与地层划分新认识:地质学与锆石年代学证据

本文从五台地区滹沱群豆村亚群四集庄组、东冶亚群纹山组和郭家寨亚群西河里组地层中共采集了5件浅变质砂岩样品,并对其进行了La-MC-ICPMS锆石U-Pb年龄测定。分析结果显示,四集庄组2件砂岩样品碎屑锆石²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄主要集中于~2.5Ga和2.1~2.2Ga两个峰值,其中~2.5Ga碎屑锆石来自新太古代五台群和五台地区花岗质杂岩;2.1~2.2Ga碎屑锆石获得²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb加权平均年龄2134±5Ma,限定了四集庄组砂岩沉积下限为2134Ma。结合四集庄组火山岩形成时代(2140±10Ma)和四集庄组底部发育厚层砾岩,我们认为滹沱群初始形成时代为~2.2Ga,即早元古代中期。东冶亚群纹山组底部砂岩中碎屑锆石²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄主要集中于2050~2122Ma之间,其中64粒相对年轻的锆石获得²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb加权平均年龄2068±3Ma,代表了东冶亚群形成时代下限为2070Ma左右。综合豆村亚群青石村组火山岩形成时代2087±9Ma,我们认为东冶亚群初始形成于2070Ma左右。郭家寨亚群中最年轻碎屑锆石²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb年龄为1958±10Ma,表明郭家寨亚群开始沉积时代小于1.95Ga,为早元古代晚期/末期。区域上,早元古代末期是华北最终克拉通阶段,而郭家寨亚群与东冶亚群呈明显的角度不整合接触关系,两者记录了明显不同的地质过程。因此,我们建议郭家寨亚群应从滹沱群中解体出来并独立命名为郭家寨群,且郭家寨群可能沉积于华北克拉通化过程中/之后,开始沉积的时代为1.9~1.8Ga。     

滇西腾冲-梁河地区花岗岩锆石稀土元素组成和U-Pb同位素年龄

在详细的区域地质调查基础上,对滇西腾冲-梁河地区花岗岩的锆石进行了阴极发光观察,并通过LA-ICP-MS分析了其稀土元素组成和U-Pb同位素年龄。花岗岩中大部分锆石具有振荡环带,锆石稀土元素表现为亏损轻稀土、阶梯式富集重稀土、强烈正Ce异常及强烈负Eu异常,表明锆石为典型的岩浆锆石。花岗岩（D0053）锆石的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为（127.9±1.0） Ma (MSWD=2.9,27个点),花岗岩（D4310）锆石的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为（58.3±0.5） Ma (MSWD=1.8,21个点),表明腾冲-梁河地区存在大量早白垩世和早第三纪花岗岩浆活动,它们是特提斯演化过程的岩浆响应。     

坦桑尼亚乌本迪活动带西北部元古宙沉积盆地碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

坦桑尼亚西北部卡拉戈维-安科连活动带和玛拉嘎拉西台地发育一系列元古宙沉积盆地,由于沉积岩性和变质程度相近,地层层序的界定存在争议。本文通过对原划分的卡盖拉超群和玛拉嘎拉西超群乌哈群上部马攸攸组碎屑锆石铀铅年龄的测试,获得了坦桑尼亚西北部基戈马附近中元古代沉积盆地碎屑锆石~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄集中分布于1 276～1 562 Ma、1 735～2 156 Ma和2 505～2 836 Ma三个年龄区间;坦桑尼亚西北部基戈马附近玛拉嘎拉西台地乌哈群上部马攸攸组碎屑锆石~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄集中分布于735～1 400 Ma、1 793～2 094 Ma和2 554～2 934 Ma三个年龄区间;坦桑尼亚西北部卡雷马附近玛拉嘎拉西台地乌哈群上部的马攸攸组两个样品碎屑锆石U-Pb不一致线上交点年龄分别为2 654±29 Ma和2 671±13 Ma。结合已有的地质资料可以推断坦桑尼亚西北部基戈马附近中元古代沉积盆地沉积时代不早于1 400 Ma;坦桑尼亚西北部基戈马附近玛拉嘎拉西台地乌哈群上部马攸攸组沉积时代不早于735 Ma;坦桑尼亚西北部卡雷马附近乌哈群上部的马攸攸组与基戈马附近的马攸攸组碎屑成分来源存在明显差异,建议重新划分。     

华北陆块北缘哈毕力格铀矿床S、Pb同位素组成及对成矿作用的指示

哈毕力格铀矿床位于华北陆块北缘中段,主要受乌兰哈达—猴儿山背斜和区内断裂控制。铀矿化主要产于新太古界乌拉山群第二岩段石英岩中,一直被认为是变质成因铀矿床。在分析该矿床成矿地质背景和矿化特征的基础上,系统研究了矿石与围岩中黄铁矿的硫、铅同位素特征。数据表明,硫同位素组成变化于-4.7‰~12.9‰之间,暗示成矿流体主要来自岩浆热液,同时遭受了地层物质的混染。铅同位素组成(²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=36.147~42.968,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.919~34.268, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=19.488~168.032)远高于单阶段演化模式组成,不同样品的²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb线性关系良好,为典型的二阶段铅同位素演化体系,表明变质地层为成矿作用提供了铀源。通过放射性²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb计算,结合区域岩浆演化,认为古元古代(~1 805 Ma)区域变质作用促使乌拉山群铀发生初步富集,晚古生代(374 Ma)花岗闪长质岩浆分异出大量流体活化萃取变质地层中的铀,在有利构造空间富集成矿。     

三江盆地绥滨断陷基底花岗岩的锆石U-Pb年代学及其构造意义

根据三江盆地绥滨断陷滨参1井基底花岗岩锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果,探讨了盆地基底的性质。滨参1井基底花岗岩中的锆石呈自形-半自形晶,并具有典型的岩浆生长环带;锆石的Th/U值为0.22~0.82,表明其岩浆成因。花岗岩中锆石22个测点的²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄值为427~502 Ma,其加权平均年龄分为2组,分别为（430±8） Ma和（496±6） Ma。（430±8） Ma的年龄代表了三江盆地绥滨断陷基底花岗岩的形成时代为早志留世晚期;而（496±6） Ma可能是花岗岩浆形成或侵位过程中的捕获锆石年龄,并且它与佳木斯地块麻山群和泛非期片麻状花岗岩的形成时间一致。上述结果表明：三江盆地绥滨断陷基底中存在加里东期花岗岩,三江盆地西部基底与佳木斯地块的属性相同。     

Determination of Pb/Pb ages on zircon and monazite by laser-ablation ICPMS and application to a study of sedimentary provenance and metamorphism in southeastern Brazil

The recently developed method of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) allows the determination of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of single zircon grains. The main advantages of the method are minimal sample preparation, low cost, and high throughput. In this work we present an analytical routine for geochronological analyses of zircon and monazite by LA-ICPMS and its application to the Ribeira Belt of the Brazilian Orogen in southeastern Brazil. The ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of one hundred and thirty-seven detrital zircons from amphibolite facies quartzites from three lithotectonic domains in the central Ribeira Belt indicate that they are derived mainly from Paleoproterozoic crust of Transamazonian age (2.0−2.3 Ga). A small number of zircons originated in 2.6−2.9 Ga Archean crust. These results are coherent with 2.1−2.2 Ga and 2.6−3.0 Ga U---Pb ages previously obtained for basement gneisses. The viability of the method to date monazite is also assessed. Monazites from the same quartzite samples yield ages between 2.1 Ga and 0.57 Ga. indicating variable resetting of the U---Pb system during amphibolite facies metamorphism. In contrast, monazite from a basement migmatite and syn-metamorphic granitoids yields ages in the 500–700 Ma range, in general agreement with U-Pb ages of 590-565 Ma for the main metamorphic event.

The LA-ICPMS ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages are coherent and agree with expected results based on previous U---Pb geochronology, and show that the method has immediate applicability. At present, the most significant limitations of the method are the inability to yield reliable U/Pb values, analytical precision in the 1–10% range, and the requirement of grains larger than 80 gmm The method may be advantageous for provenance studies of Precambrian detrital sequences.     

A Back-arc Palaeotectonic Setting for the Augaro Neoproterozoic Magmatic Rocks of Western Eritrea

The Augaro volcano-sedimentary assemblages of western Eritrea are part of the Neoproterozoic, N-S trending belt of low-grade volcano-sedimentary and associated plutonic rocks. In contrast to the volcanic-dominated oceanic-arc assemblages in central Eritrea, the predominant rock types in the west are supracrustal sequences of sedimentary origin with subordinate volcanic rocks. These Augaro supracrustal rocks are overlain, unconformably, by a basin-fill metasedimentary succession known as the Gulgula Group. The Augaro metavolcanic rocks are tholeiitic and range in composition from basalt to basaltic andesite. Comparison of trace element characteristics and N-MORB-normalised spidergrams of these rocks with those of modern volcanic environments and age-comparable metavolcanic rocks of known tectonic association from the Arabian-Nubian Shield suggest that the volcanic assemblages from western Eritrea were generated in a back-arc tectonic setting.

Single zircon Pb-Pb evaporation and vapour-transfer U-Pb analyses of magmatic zircons from pre/syn-tectonic granites yield a mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 849±20 Ma and an upper concordia intercept age of 849±26 Ma. These ages are interpreted to represent the time of major magmatism in western Eritrea and are comparable to ages of early arc magmatism in central and northern Eritrea and in the southern Nubian Shield. Initial eNd values and initial Sr isotope ratios of whole-rock samples of magmatic rocks calculated for an age of 850 Ma range from +4.0 to +7.1 and 0.7026 to 0.7037, respectively. Single zircon ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, initial eNd value and Sr isotope ratio for a granitic clast in the Gulgula metaconglomerate suggest that the source area for the Gulgula metasedimentary rocks is similar to the surrounding Neoproterozoic rocks of western Eritrea.     

湖南白马山龙潭超单元、瓦屋塘花岗岩锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

运用阴极发光技术,对湖南白马山龙潭超单元2个样品和瓦屋塘花岗岩1个样品的锆石进行了内部结构分析,在此基础上利用锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年方法进行了同位素年代学测定。其中,白马山龙潭超单元2个黑云母二长花岗岩样品分别给出了(215.9±1.9) Ma和(212.2±2.1) Ma的主体谐和年龄。同时还测得了一组较年轻的谐和年龄((201.0±2.8) Ma)和一组较老的锆石核部年龄(230.3~227.0 Ma),表明研究区印支晚期存在多期花岗质岩浆的侵入活动。瓦屋塘岩体黑云母二长花岗岩1个样品给出了(217.7±1.8) Ma的谐和年龄。这2个岩体的形成进一步佐证了华南大陆印支晚期岩浆活动于210~225 Ma,达到岩浆活动的峰期。地球化学测试结果显示,白马山和瓦屋塘岩体均为弱过铝-强过铝质花岗岩,具壳源型花岗岩的特征,形成于后碰撞期或碰撞晚期的构造环境,源于早元古代变质杂砂岩的部分熔融。结合区域大地构造背景认为,这2个岩体形成于秦岭-大别和松马2条印支期缝合带碰撞结束后的印支晚期伸展构造背景下,为热-应力松弛阶段,板内挤压加厚的地壳减压熔融作用的产物。     

Zircon U–Pb age and trace element evidence for Paleoproterozoic granulite-facies metamorphism and Archean crustal rocks in the Dabie Orogen

Zircon U–Pb ages and trace elements were determined for granulites and gneiss at Huangtuling, which are hosted by ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Dabie Orogen, east-central China. CL images reveal core–rim structure for most zircons in the granulites. The cores show oscillatory zoning, relatively high Th/U ratios, and HREE enriched patterns, consistent with a magmatic origin. They gave a weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 2766 ± 9 Ma, interpreted as dating magma emplacement of the protolith. The rims are characterized by sector or planar zoning, low Th/U ratios, negative Eu anomalies and flat HREE patterns, consistent with their formation under granulite-facies metamorphic conditions. Zircon U–Pb dating yields a weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 2029 ± 13 Ma, which is interpreted to record a metamorphic event, possibly during assembly of the supercontinent Columbia. The gneiss has a protolith age of 1982 ± 14 Ma, which is younger than the zircon age of the granulite-facies metamorphism, suggesting a generally delay between HT metamorphism and the intrusion of post-collisional granites. A few inherited cores with igneous characteristics have ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 2.90, 3.28 and 3.53 Ga, suggesting the presence of Mesoarchean to Paleoarchean crustal remnants in the Yangtze Craton. A few Cretaceous metamorphic ages were also obtained, suggesting the influence of post-collisional collapse in response to Cretaceous extension of the Dabie Orogen. It is inferred that the recently discovered Archean basement of the Yangtze Craton occurs as far north as the Dabie Orogen.     

Measurement of SIMS Instrumental Mass Fractionation of Pb Isotopes During Zircon Dating

An igneous zircon reference material (OG1) was characterised for U-Pb isotopes by ID-TIMS, and utilised to evaluate SIMS (SHRIMP) instrumental mass fractionation (IMF) of radiogenic Pb isotopes (²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb*). The TIMS ²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb* reference value for OG1 was 0.29907 ± 0.00011 (95% confidence limit), 3465.4 ± 0.6 Ma. The high ²⁰⁷Pb* (∼ 30 μg g⁻¹), negligible common Pb, and isotopic homogeneity permitted precise (± 1–2‰) ²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb* measurements within the analytical sessions. External reproducibility of mean ²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb* ratios between sessions was demonstrated for one instrument, yielding a mean IMF of +0.87 ± 0.49‰. The mean ²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb* ratios between instruments were dispersed beyond uncertainties, with session IMF values from +3.6 ± 1.7‰ to −2.4 ± 1.3‰, and a grand mean IMF value (twenty-six sessions) of +0.70 ± 0.52‰, indicating a tendency towards elevated ²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb*. The specific causes of variability in IMF are unclear, but generally reflect subtle differences in analytical conditions. The common practice in SIMS of assuming that IMF for Pb⁺ is insignificant could result in systematic age biases and underestimated uncertainties, of critical importance for precise correlation of Precambrian events. Nevertheless, a zircon RM such as OG1 can be readily incorporated into routine dating to improve ²⁰⁷Pb*/²⁰⁶Pb* accuracy and external reproducibility.     

Pb/Pb age determinations on the Newania and Sevattur carbonatites of India: evidence for multi-stage histories

The ages of Indian carbonatites are still controversial. Most of the earlier datings were done by K/Ar methods. We therefore analysed Pb/Pb ratios in carbonatites from carbonatite-alkalic complexes of Newania (NW India, Rajasthan State) and Sevattur (SW India, Tamil Nadu State) to constrain the age and geological history of these rocks. Newania carbonatites are intrusive into Precambrian Untala granite-gneiss and mainly dolomitic in composition (rauhaugite) followed by a later phase of ankerite carbonatite, while thin calcite carbonatite (sövite) dykelets are the youngest in the sequence. The analysed whole-rock samples are characterised by ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios between 60 and 176 and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios between 22 and 40, which are extremely high in comparison to common igneous rocks and even for carbonatite compositions. One sample, New 37, shows the extreme ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 574 and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 73. This requires a μ-value of about 2000 for the last 1550 Ma. If the samples are classified according to their petrographic/geochemical characteristics this results in an isochron age of 1551 ± 46 Ma for the ankerite carbonatites (six samples). The dolomites (6 samples) yield an isochron age of 2.27 Ga. Although these results fit quite well into the geological evolution scheme of the area, the extreme long age hiatus between dolomite carbonatite and ferrocarbonatite formation events raises severe problems for their petrologic interpretation.

The Proterozoic Sevattur carbonatite complex (SCC, Tamil Nadu) was emplaced contemporaneously with a large number of carbonatite complexes within the Precambrian gneissic terrane of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt. The main mass is composed of dolomite carbonatite (rauhaugite) with a few dikes of calcite carbonatite (sövite) and ankerite carbonatite within it. All eight samples together yield an isochron of 805 ± 10 Ma. This isochron is mainly determined on ankerite carbonatites with μ-values up to 1900 for the last 800 Ma. Taking only ankerite carbonatites into account, the resulting age is 801 ± 11 Ma. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of these samples are similar to the main group of Newania and far beyond the isotopic composition of common igneous rocks.

Our investigations show that in carbonatitic rock systems extremely high lead isotopic ratios can be established due to the crystallization of uranium-rich mineral phases. In both cases the observed high to extremely high initial Pb isotope ratios require the residence of the lead in intermediate high-μ reservoirs either within the upper mantle or the crust prior to the carbonatite formation. A high-temperature event, which completely reset the Rb/Sr and K/Ar isotopic systems of Nevania carbonatites, seems to have no influence on the lead isotopic systematics.     

Extraction of Pb with artificially too-old ages during stepwise dissolution experiments on Archean zircon

Stepwise HF-dissolution experiments on five Archean zircon populations reveal very systematic patterns of Pb discrimination, releasing at one point Pb with artificially too-old ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages. The experiments involved a first HF dissolution step for 1 h at room temperature and evaporation on a hot-plate that produces Pb with young ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages, followed by a 4 1/2 h HF dissolution step in an oven at 190°C that liberates the excessively old Pb. The final residue yields in most cases U–Pb data that are consistent with the results obtained by the normal selection, abrasion, and total dissolution procedure. In these examples, the too-old ages cannot be easily explained by the presence of an inherited core component but are more likely to indicate segregation of Pb in zircon sub-domains during thermal annealing episodes early in its history, as has been proposed by other workers. Aside from shedding light on these particular aspects of zircon U–Pb systematics, the combined results also provide geologically relevant information concerning the regional evolution of the western Superior Province in Ontario. An age of 2718±3 Ma for a gabbroic unit from the Quetico Subprovince shows that this was coeval to 2722–2718 Ma ultramafic to felsic igneous rocks in the adjacent Shebandowan greenstone belt, including a gabbro body dated in this study at 2725+17/−11 Ma. These age relationships suggest that volcanic units of the Shebandowan greenstone belt were tectonically imbricated in younger sedimentary rocks of the Quetico basin during late Archean convergence. The other three samples represent felsic intrusive units from Geraldton in the Wabigoon subprovince. An age of 2699±1 Ma for an Au-mineralized feldspar porphyry dyke and identical ages of 2690±1 Ma for two phases of the syn-tectonic Croll Lake stock put constraints on the timing of major deformation and hydrothermal activity in the belt.