Uranium-lead age of the Bruderheim L6 chondrite and the 500-Ma shock event in the L-group parent body

Measured Pb-Pb whole meteorite data for the Bruderheim L6 chondrite scatter slightly about a line passing above Can?on Diablo lead and yielding an age of 4.482 + 0.017 Ga, using the terrestrial²³⁸U/²³⁵U ratio of 137.88. The measured U isotopic composition for Bruderheim, using the dissolution procedures employed for these U-Pb studies, is near the terrestrial composition. In the concordia diagram the U-Pb data chiefly plot above the concordia curve and define a line which intersects the concordia curve at 4.536 + 0.006 Ga and 0.495 Ga, but the data for Bruderheim cannot be understood at all in terms of the more usual two- or three-stage episodic U-Pb models involving a fixed μ-value in the first stage. Most samples show an apparent excess of radiogenic lead for single-stage (closed system) evolution when Can?on Diablo troilite is used for the initial lead composition. Evidence is presented to show that the apparent excess radiogenic lead cannot be explained by terrestrial contamination alone.A different U-Pb model is presented which describes qualitatively and quantitatively most features of the U-Pb data for Bruderheim. If this model correctly describes the U-Pb evolution of Bruderheim then the “formation” age is given as 4.536 Ga by both U-Pb and Pb-Pb data, the meteorite U-Pb system was disturbed by a later (shock?) event at about 500 Ma ago, and the data are consistent with (though do not require) a Can?on Diablo initial lead composition. This interpretation suggests that the classical phenomenon of apparent excess radiogenic lead reflects the application of a single-stage model to a meteorite that has evidently experienced at least a two-stage history. The explanation of the observation that in the concordia diagram most meteorite samples (corrected for Can?on Diablo lead) plot in the lead excess region remains obscure, though this may be due to the wrong choice of initial lead for Bruderheim.     

Approximation of terrestrial lead isotope evolution by a two-stage model

Parameters on which models for terrestrial lead isotope evolution are based have recently been revised. These parameters are the isotopic composition of troilite lead, the age of the meteorite system and the decay constants of uranium and thorium. As a result, the normal single-stage model in which the age of the earth is taken to be that of the meteorite system is now untenable.A two-stage model has been constructed which permits the age of the earth to be that of the meteorite system and which also yields good model ages for samples of all ages. The new model postulates that lead developed initially from a primordial composition assumed to be that of troilite lead beginning at 4.57 b.y. ago. The average values of ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb for this first stage were 7.19 and 32.21 respectively. At approximately 3.7 b.y. ago differentiation processes brought about the conditions of a second stage, in which ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb ≈ 9.74 and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb ≈ 37.19 in those portions of the earth which took part in mixing events, giving rise to average lead.     

Distribution of lead and thallium in the matrix of the Allende meteorite and the extent of terrestrial lead contamination in chondrites

Selective chemical dissolution has been used to study the distribution of Pb and Tl in an ultrafine ?20-μm matrix separate of Allende. The matrix was exposed to high-purity reagents ranging from H₂O, then HCl of increasing concentration and finally HF-HCl mixtures. A total of 17 extractions were obtained, each for a minimum period of 10 days. The isotopic compositions of the Pb released during the slow dissolution of the matrix fall into four distinct groups. The first, consisting of four extractions, released a component of terrestrial Pb isotopic composition with a total abundance of about 1 ppb. The next six extractions, which contained the bulk of the indigenous Pb and Tl corresponding to 96% and 94%, respectively, of the total matrix abundance, was of a reasonably homogeneous Pb isotopic composition with mean ratios of²⁰⁶Pb²⁰⁴Pb= 10.00and²⁰⁷Pb²⁰⁴Pb= 10.74. In the final seven extractions, the released Pb falls into two higher isotopic groupings and probably results from the dissolution of debris from chondrules and inclusions. The apparent age of the internal matrix isochron is4562 ± 14 My. The release of Pb and Tl shows a reasonable correlation with the matrix dissolution. This indicates that the Pb and Tl reside predominantly within the matrix phases rather than as a localised phase. The Tl isotopic composition of two matrix fractions and whole meteorite were measured and found to be indistinguishable from the terrestrial²⁰⁵Tl/²⁰³Tl ratio. Measurement of a terrestrial reagent standard in the range 1–10 ng Tl gave, for 20 analyses, a mean²⁰⁵Tl/²⁰³Tl ratio of2.38907 ± 0.00102 (2σ).The estimate of terrestrial Pb contamination is considerably lower than the 6–300 ppb assumed in some recent studies in order to explain the phenomenon of apparent excess radiogenic Pb in chondrites. The problem of terrestrial Pb pollution and the evidence which argues against a relatively severe and homogeneous Pb contamination of meteorites, is briefly considered. The apparent initial isotopic composition of the bulk of the indigenous Pb in the Allende matrix was found to be²⁰⁶Pb²⁰⁴Pb= 9.57and²⁰⁷Pb²⁰⁴Pb= 10.47. This is of a higher composition than the Pb in the Can?on Diablo troilite phase and further indicates that the phenomenon of apparent excess radiogenic Pb in chondrites is real.     

Isotopic lead ages of chondritic meteorites

The isotopic composition of lead was determined for two carbonaceous, two H, and two L chondrites. All are falls. The²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios cover a range from 9.45 to 37.33; the²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios range from 10.39 to 26.10. The isotopic data define a²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 4.635 AE. Uranium and lead concentration data indicate that the isotopic lead ages for the Bruderheim chondrite are concordant within approximately 20%. This contrasts with lead data in the literature for chondrites, which consistently indicate discordant isotopic lead ages due to large excesses of radiogenic lead by factors of two or more. The isotopic lead ages for Pultusk may be concordant; those for a sample of Richardton are not. The lack of concordance for Richardton is not due to the analytical procedures, rather it is likely a result of the handling history of the chondrite prior to analysis.The L-3 chondrite, Mezo-Madaras contains such a high concentration of lead - 5.27 PPM - that accurate ratios for primordial lead can be obtained. These are ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 9.310;²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 10.296, values which are in close agreement with a recently reported measurement on lead in troilite from the Canyon Diablo iron meteorite.     

Oceanic island Pb: Two-stage histories and mantle evolution

Leads in basaltic suites from seven oceanic islands form linear arrays on²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb diagrams. These arrays are more reasonably interpreted as secondary isochrons than as mixing lines, because of their systematic relationship. Separate two-stage histories calculated for the leads from each island indicate that the source materials for the magmas were derived from a single primary reservoir with present²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb of 7.91 ± 0.04 by secondary enrichment in U/Pb at different times from 2.5 to 1 Ga ago. This is confirmed by a plot of isochron slope versus intercept, on which the points describing each island's Pb-Pb array all lie very near a single straight line. The isochrons for the Canary Islands and Hawaii, at least, are significantly different. The²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb relationships are less coherent. The lead isotopic characteristics are consistent with a model in which lead in the oceanic island magmas is derived from ancient subducted oceanic crust. In particular, this explains the close relationship between lead in mid-ocean ridge and oceanic island basalts without invoking mixing.     

40Ar/39Ar and U-Th-Pb dating of separated clasts from the Abee E4 chondrite

Determinations of⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and U-Th-Pb are reported for three clasts from the Abee (E4) enstatite chondrite, which has been the object of extensive consortium investigations. The clasts give⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages and/or maximum ages of 4.5 Gy, whereas two of the clasts give average ages of 4.4 Gy. Within the range of 4.4–4.5 Gy these data do not resolve any possible age differences among the three clasts.²⁰⁶Pb measured in these clasts is only ～1.5–2.5% radiogenic, which leads to relatively large uncertainties in the Pb isochron age and in the²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb model ages. The Pb data indicate that the initial²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb was no more than 0.08±0.07% higher than this ratio in Can?on Diablo troilite. The U-Th-Pb data are consistent with the interpretation that initial formation of these clasts occurred 4.58 Gy ago and that the clasts have since remained closed systems, but are contaminated with terrestrial Pb. The⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages could be gas retention ages after clast formation or impact degassing ages. The thermal history of Abee deduced from Ar data appears consistent with that deduced from magnetic data, and suggests that various Abee components experienced separate histories until brecciation no later than 4.4 Gy ago, and experienced no appreciable subsequent heating.     

The age of SNC meteorites and the antiquity of the Martian surface

We report new Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, and Pb-Pb mineral and whole-rock isotope data for the basaltic shergottite Zagami, as well as Pb-Pb whole-rock isotope data for the basaltic shergottite Los Angeles, the lherzolitic shergottite Dar-al-Gani 476 (DaG 476), and the clinopyroxenite Nakhla. In agreement with previous findings, our new Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf mineral ages on the Martian meteorite Zagami are young (155 and 185 Ma, respectively). The ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb-²⁰⁴Pb/²⁰⁶Pb compositions of the insoluble fractions of shergottites (Zagami, Los Angeles, and literature data for Shergotty and EETA79001) form an excellent alignment indicative of a 4.0 Ga crystallization age. The range of Pb isotope compositions observed in the leachates of these samples attests to negligible contamination of the shergottites by terrestrial Pb and argues against mixing relationships. The age of 4.048 ± 0.017 Ga (MSWD = 1.5) provided by the Pb isotope compositions of the Zagami whole-rock and residues is therefore taken to date the crystallization of this rock, which, so far, was believed to be only ∼ 180 Ma old. Based on this result, we argue that the lithosphere of Mars is extremely old and that most mineral ages were reset recently by acidic aqueous solutions percolating through the Martian surface. This interpretation is consistent with photographic interpretations of erosional features on Mars. It also relieves the constraint imposed by the presence of anomalies of ¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁸²W (both products of extinct radioactive nuclides) that the Martian mantle should have preserved primordial isotopic heterogeneities, thus allowing for the planet interior to be actively convecting.     

Lead isotope study of basic-ultrabasic layered complexes: Speculations about the age of the earth and primitive mantle characteristics

In order to explore mantle heterogeneity through geological time, Pb isotopic compositions have been determined for 8 differentiated-layered intrusions whose ages are between 2.7 and 0.05 b.y.. The Pb-Pb ages of these intrusions and the U-Pb characteristics of their parent sources are discussed.The Pb-Pb dating method is found to be applicable for this type of basic or ultrabasic rocks and agrees satisfactorily with other available methods. Significant differences are found between the calculated values for the parent bodies of these intrusions. This could reflect either mantle heterogeneity since Archean times, or contamination of some of the bodies by continental crust. Discrimination between these hypotheses can be proposed from the positions of the initial Sr ratios of these massives in respect to the supposed “terrestrial” evolution line. The two intrusions which plot on that closed system Sr evolution line (Muntsche Tundra, U.S.S.R., and Skaergaard, Greenland) belong also to a simple two-stage evolution model for Pb, with a low first-stage μ value of 7.8. If these two bodies are considered as pieces of a “primitive” closed-system mantle, a4.55 ± 0.01 age of the earth can be calculated from their Pb initial ratios.     

Lead isotopes in island arcs

New lead isotope data for calc-alkaline volcanic rocks from New Zealand and the Lesser Antilles, combined with published data for Japan and the Andes, show that the spread of isotopic composition in each volcanic arc region is small (2–4% range in Pb206/Pb204) compared to the range of values observed (8%). Pb207 and Pb206 increase systematically from Japan to the Andes to New Zealand to the Caribbean. Likewise Pb208 and Pb206 are positively correlated, but there is evidence of long term (10⁸ m.y.) differences of Th/U between the regions studied. The apparent U/Pb ratios of Peruvian, New Zealand and Caribbean calc-alkaline volcanics do not differ greatly from the apparent ratio for the single stage growth curve for stratiform Pb ores. In contrast the apparent U/Pb ratios for Japanese calc-alkaline volcanics are distinctly lower. Although the Japanese Pb has model ages near zero, the other volcanic arcs have negative (future) model ages, the Caribbean samples being most extreme in this respect. Published oceanic volcanic and sediment lead isotopic composition data and the new results are consistent with a model of volcanic arc evolution in which oceanic sediments are dragged into the mantle, mixed to some degree with mantle material, and partially melted to form calc-alkaline magmas. Either constant continental volume or continental growth are compatible with this process. The mixing of two separate « frequently mixed » leads is the minimum complexity required to explain volcanic are leads. Mathematically there are probably no single-stage leads but isotopic homogenization during earth history has caused lead isotopes to closely approximate a single stage growth. The use of lead isotopic composition as a « tracer » suggests that mantle — crust geochemical evolution involves an exchange of material and is not simply a one-way process. The Pb isotopic composition of the Auckland, New Zealand alkali basalts is apparently the result of incomplete mixing of two leads to give a linear array of Pb207/Pb204-Pb206/Pb204 data with negative slope.     

Thermal history and origin of the Tanzanian Craton from Pb isotope thermochronology of feldspars from lower crustal xenoliths

Common and radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions of plagioclase and anti-perthitic feldspars from granulite-facies lower crustal xenoliths from the Labait Volcano on the eastern margin of the Tanzanian Craton have been measured via laser ablation MC-ICP-MS. Common Pb in plagioclase and a single stage Pb evolution model indicate that the lower crust of the Tanzanian Craton was extracted from mantle having a ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb of 8.1 ± 0.3 and a ²³²Th/²³⁸U of 4.3 ± 0.1 at 2.71 ± 0.09 Ga (all uncertainties are 2σ). Since 2.4 Ga, some orthoclase domains within anti-perthites have evolved with a maximum ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb of 6 and ²³²Th/²³⁸U of 4.3. The spread in Pb isotopic composition in the anti-perthitic feldspars yields single crystal Pb–Pb isochrons of ～ 2.4 Ga, within uncertainty of U–Pb zircon ages from the same sample suite. The Pb isotopic heterogeneities imply that these granulites resided at temperatures < 600 °C in the lower crust of the Tanzanian Craton from ca. 2.4 Ga to the present. In concert with the chemistry of surface samples, mantle xenoliths, and lower crustal xenoliths, our data imply that the cratonic lithosphere in Tanzania formed ca. ～ 2.7 Ga, in a convergent margin setting, and has remained undisturbed since 2.7 Ga.     

Geochemistry, K–Ar geochronology and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope compositions of pitchstone in Gohado, southwestern Okcheon Belt, South Korea

Abstract Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope characteristics, as well as K–Ar geochronology of a massive pitchstone (volcanic glass) stock erupted into Late Cretaceous lapilli tuff and rhyolite in the Gohado area, southwestern Okcheon Belt, South Korea, are reported. The pitchstones are highly evolved with SiO₂ contents ranging from ～72 to 73 wt%, K₂O/Na₂O ratios of 1.04–1.23 and low MgO/FeO^t values (0.17–0.20). The pitchstones are weakly peraluminous and the ASI (molar Al₂O₃/Na₂O + K₂O + CaO) values are significantly lower than 1.1. The pitchstones also display a general calc‐alkaline nature with significant alkali contents. The rare earth elements (REE) compositions show moderately fractionated nature with (La/Yb)_N ranging from 11 to 16. Chondrite normalized REE patterns show relative enrichment of light REE over heavy REE and moderate Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* ratio varies from 0.53 to 0.57). A distinct negative Nb anomaly is observed for all pitchstones on a primitive mantle normalized trace element diagram, typical of subduction‐related magmatism and crustal‐derived granites. All these features are characteristic of I‐type granites derived from a continental arc. The pitchstones have Zr contents of 98.5–103.5 ppm with zircon thermometry yielding temperatures of 749–755°C (mean 752°C). The K–Ar analyses of representative pitchstone samples yielded ages of 58.7 ± 2.3 and 62.4 ± 2.1 Ma with a mean age of 61 Ma. The rocks show nearly uniform initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratios of 0.7104–0.7106 and identical ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd initial ratio of 0.5120. The rocks display negative εNd (61 Ma) values of ?12. The depleted mantle model ages (T_DM) range from 1.54 Ga to 1.57 Ga. The Pb isotope ratios are ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.522–18.552, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.642–15.680 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.794–38.923. These ratios suggest that the Gohado pitchstones were formed in a continental arc environment by partial melting of a 1.54 Ga to 1.57 Ga parental sources of lower crustal rocks probably of mafic or intermediate compositions.     

Possible origin of K-rich volcanic rocks from Virunga,East Africa,by metasomatism of continental crustal material: Pb,Nd and Sr isotopic evidence

The isotopic compositions of Sr, Nd and Pb together with the abundances of Rb, Sr, U and Pb have been determined for mafic and felsic potassic alkaline rocks from the young Virunga volcanic field in the western branch of the East African rift system.⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr varies from 0.7055 to 0.7082 in the mafic rocks and from 0.7073 to 0.7103 in the felsic rocks. The latter all come from one volcano, Sabinyo. Sabinyo rocks have negative ε_Ndvalues ofε_Nd = ?10. Nd and Sr isotopic variations in the basic potassic rocks are correlated and plot between Sabinyo and previously reported [1] compositions (ε_Nd = +2.5;⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr≈ 0.7047) for Nyiragongo nephelinites. The Pb isotopic compositions for Sabinyo rocks are nearly uniform and average²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb≈ 19.4,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.79–15.84,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb≈ 41.2. The basic potassic rocks have similar²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values but range in²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from the Sabinyo values to less radiogenic compositions.Excellent correlations of⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr with Rb/Sr, 1/Sr and²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb for Sabinyo rocks suggest these to be members of a hybrid magma series. However, the nearly uniform Pb compositions for this series points to radiogenic growth of⁸⁷Sr in the magma source region following an event which homogenized the isotopic compositions but not Rb/Sr. The Rb-Sr age derived from the erupted Sabinyo isochron-mixing line is consistent with the ～500 Myr Pb-Pb age from Nyiragongo [1], which suggests that this event affected all Virunga magma sources. The event can again be traced in the Pb-Pb, Pb-Sr and Nd-Sr isotopic correlations for all Virunga rocks, including Nyiragongo, when allowances are made for radiogenic growth subsequent to this mixing or incomplete homogenization event. Inferred parent/daughter element fractionations point to a metasomatic event during which a mantle fluid invaded two lithospheric reservoirs: a +ε_Nd reservoir sampled by the Nyiragongo nephelinites and suggested to be the subcontinental mantle and a ?ε_Nd reservoir sampled by the mafic and felsic potasssic volcanism. Whether this ?ε_Nd reservoir is the crust, continental crustal material in the mantle or anomalous mantle cannot be decided from the data. The simplest answer, that this reservoir is the continental crust, seems to be at variance with experimental evidence suggesting a subcrustal origin for basic potassic magmas. Partial melting of the ancient metasomatised lithospheric domains and ensuing volcanism seems to be entirely a response to decompression and rising geotherms during rifting and thinning of the lithosphere.     

Development of Archaean lithosphere deduced from chronology and isotope chemistry of Scourie Dykes

The chronology and isotope geochemistry of a selection of Proterozoic Scourie dykes has been investigated in order to specify both their time of emplacement within the thermal history of the Archaean crust of N.W. Scotland, and to attempt to characterise the evolution of continental lithosphere. SmNd, RbSr and UPb isotope analyses are presented. Primary, major igneous minerals separated from four well preserved dykes yield SmNd ages of 2.031 ± 0.062Ga, 2.015 ± 0.042Ga, 1.982 ± 0.044Ga and 2.101 ± 0.078Ga, which are interpreted as crystallisation ages.The initial Nd isotope compositions in the dykes at their emplacement age of 2.0 Ga, range from +3.4 to −6.8, indicating the presence of an older lithospheric component. SmNd whole-rock isotope data for fifteen dykes, if interpreted to have age significance, yield an “age” of 3.05 ± 0.27 Ga. SmNd crustal residence ages for the same dykes average 2.95 Ga, which is interpreted as the time that small melts were added to the Lewisian lithosphere. The possibility that correlated¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios are an artifact of mixing between depleted mantle melts generated at 2.0 Ga, and an older enriched lithospheric component is not eliminated by the data, but the relationship between 1/Nd and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios rules out any simple mixing. UPb isotope data for plagioclase feldspars and whole-rock samples of dykes provide useful estimates of initial Pb-isotope composition of the dykes at the time of their emplacement. Initial²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios vary considerably and range from 13.98 to 15.78, and 14.72 to 15.56 respectively, and suggest that the UPb fractionation responsible must have occurred at least 2.5 Ga ago.The Scourie dykes have inherited a trace element enriched component from the Lewisian lithosphere, which has resided there since ca. 3 Ga ago. Whether the dykes inherited this material from the crust or the mantle portions of the lithosphere or both, it seems likely that small basaltic melts derived from asthenospheric mantle were ultimately responsible for the enrichment. The simplest view is that these small melt fractions had been resident in the mantle part of the Lewisian lithosphere. In this case the Archaean trace-element enrichment and element fractionation in the Lewisian lithospheric mantle sampled by the dykes was closely associated in time with the generation of the 2.9 Ga old crustal portion of the lithosphere [36,37].     

Pb isotope geochemistry of lead,zinc, gold and silver deposit clustered region,Liaodong rift zone,northeastern China

As one of the important deposit-clustered regionsof China, the Liaodong (eastern Liaoning Province)rift zone contains many large lead, zinc, gold, boron,magnesite and talc ore deposits with a long mininghistory. Recently, large-scale Xiaotongjiapuzi gold andGaojiapuzi silver deposits were discovered in the re-gion. Much work on the origin of these deposits hasbeen carried out, however, the discrepancy on the ageand the metal source of the deposits still rem- discu…     

Lead and strontium isotopes in Cretaceous kimberlites and mantle-derived xenoliths from Southern Africa

Concentrations of lead, uranium and thorium and isotopic compositions of lead are reported for twelve Cretaceous kimberlites and five Cretaceous nucleated autoliths. The samples are from Lesotho and from the area around Kimberley (Cape Province, South Africa). In the case of the autoliths potassium, rubidium and strontium concentrations and⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios were also measured.Work reported on clinopyroxenes from mantle-derived xenoliths in kimberlites includes lead isotopes for twelve samples and strontium isotopes for nine of these.The autoliths have initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios between 0.7035 and 0.7095. A large spread in initial lead isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 17.6–20;²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 37.7–39.5) was found in the matrix kimberlites and autoliths. In the²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb vs.²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb plot, the initial lead isotope ratios of the kimberlite and autolith samples roughly define a slope of 0.10, corresponding to an age of 1575 m.y. With respect to the spread of initial ratios as well as with respect to this slope, the kimberlite and autolith lead isotopic pattern is comparable to patterns obtained from carbonatites and ocean island volcanics.The xenoliths studied include coarse-granular and porphyroclastic material from the Kimberley area and coarse-granular samples from Lesotho. Their⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are generally between 0.704 and 0.706 but a value of 0.713 was found in one sample. They show a surprisingly large spread in lead isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 17.5–20;²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 37.3–39.4).The isotopic patterns of the xenolithic material and of the kimberlites and autoliths are considered to provide a strong indication that the upper mantle beneath Southern Africa is isotopically heterogeneous on a regional scale.     

Source heterogeneity for the major components of ∼ 3.7 Ga Banded Iron Formations (Isua Greenstone Belt,Western Greenland): Tracing the nature of interacting water masses in BIF formation

We report trace element, samarium (Sm)–neodymium (Nd) and lead (Pb) isotopic data for individual micro-and mesobands of the Earth's oldest Banded Iron Formation (BIF) from the ∼ 3.7–3.8 Ga Isua Greenstone Belt (IGB, West Greenland) in an attempt to contribute to the characterization of the depositional environment and to the understanding of depositional mechanisms of these earliest chemical sediments. Rare earth element (REE)-yttrium (Y) patterns of the individual mesobands show features of modern seawater with diagnostic cerium (Ce/Ce^⁎), presodymium (Pr/Pr^⁎) and Y/holmium (Ho) anomalies. Very low high field strength elements (HFSE) concentrations indicate essentially detritus-free precipitation. Uranogenic Pb isotope data define a correlation line with a slope of 3691 ± 41 Ma, indicating that the uranium (U)–lead (Pb) system remained closed after the formation of this BIF. High ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb relative to ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios compared to average mantle growth evolution models are a feature shared by BIF, penecontemporaneous basalts and clastic volcanogenic metasediments and are indicative of the ultimate high-μ (²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb) character of the source region, an essentially mafic Hadean protocrust. Sm–Nd isotopic relations on a layer-by-layer basis point to two REE sources controlling the back-arc basin depositional environment of the BIF, one being seafloor-vented hydrothermal fluids (εNd (3.7 Ga) ∼ + 3.1), the other being ambient surface seawater which reached its composition by erosion of parts of the protocrustal landmass (εNd(3.7 Ga) ∼ + 1.6). The validity of two different and periodically interacting water masses (an essentially two-component mixing system) in the deposition of alternating iron- and silica-rich layers is also reflected by systematic trends in germanium (Ge)/silicon (Si) ratios. These suggest that significant amounts of silica were derived from unexposed and/or destroyed mafic Hadean landmass, unlike iron which probably originated from oceanic crust following hydrothermal alteration by deep percolating seawater. Ge/Si distributional patterns in the early Archean Isua BIF are similar to those reported from the Paleoproterozoic Hamersley (Western Australia) BIF, but overall Ge concentrations are about one order of magnitude higher in the Archean BIF. This seems consistent with other lines of evidence that the ambient Archean seawater was enriched with iron relative to Proterozoic and recent seawater.     

Cosmogenic neon produced from sodium in meteoritic minerals

Cosmogenic neon in sodium-rich oligoclase feldspar from the ordinary chondrites St. Severin and Guaren?a is characterized by an unusually high²²Ne/²¹Ne = 1.50 ± 0.02. This high ratio is due to the cosmogenic²²Ne/²¹Ne production ratio in sodium which is 2.9 ± 0.3, two to three times the production ratio in any other target element. The relative production rate of²¹Ne per gram sodium is one quarter the production rate per gram magnesium. The striking enrichment of²²Ne relative to²¹Ne in sodium arises from enhanced indirect production from²³Na via²²Na.The unusual composition of cosmogenic neon in sodium and sodium-rich minerals explains the high²²Ne/²¹Ne ratios observed in inclusions of the Allende carbonaceous chondrite, and observed during low-temperature extraction of neon from ordinary chondrites. The isotopic composition of cosmogenic neon released during the stepwise heating of a trapped gas-rich meteorite containing sodium-rich phases can be expected to vary, and use of a constant cosmogenic neon composition to derive the composition of the trapped gas may not be justified. Preferential loss of this²²Ne-enriched cosmogenic neon from meteoritic feldspar can result in a 2–3% drop in the measured cosmogenic²²Ne/²¹Ne ratio in a bulk meteorite sample. This apparent change in composition can lead to overestimation of the minimum pre-atmospheric mass of the meteorite by a factor of two.     

Lead isotopic evidence for evolutionary changes in magma-crust interaction,Central Andes,southern Peru

Lead isotopic measurements were made on Andean igneous rocks of Jurassic to Recent age in Moquegua and Tacna Departments, southernmost Peru, to clarify the petrogenesis of the rocks and, in particular, to investigate the effect of crustal thickness on rock composition. This location in the Cordillera Occidental is ideal for such a study because the ca. 2 Ga Precambrian basement rocks (Arequipa massif) have a distinct Pb isotopic signature which is an excellent tracer of crustal interaction, and because geomorphological research has shown that the continental crust was here thickened drastically in the later Tertiary.Seven samples of quartz diorites and granodiorites from the Ilo and Toquepala intrusive complexes, and seven samples of Toquepala Group subaerial volcanics were analyzed for Pb isotopic compositions. The plutonic rocks range in age from Jurassic to Eocene; the volcanic rocks are all Late Cretaceous to Eocene. With one exception, the Pb isotopic ratios are in the ranges ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 18.52–18.75, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.58–15.65, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 38.53–38.74. The data reflect very little or no interaction with old continental material of the Arequipa massif type.Lead from four Miocene Huaylillas Formation ash-flow tuffs, two Pliocene Capillune Formation andesites and five Quaternary Barroso Group andesites has lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb than that in the pre-Miocene rocks, but relatively high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 18.16–18.30, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 15.55–15.63, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb= 38.45–38.90). Tilton and Barreiro [9] have shown that contamination by Arequipa massif granulites can explain the isotopic composition of the Barosso Group lavas, and the new data demonstrate that this effect is evident, to varying degrees, in all the analysed Neogene volcanic rocks. The initial incorporation of such basement material into the magma coincided with the Early Miocene uplift of this segment of the Cordillera Occidental [32], and thus with the creation of a thick crustal root. The data strongly imply a relationship between crustal thickness and degree of crustal contamination of magmas in this area, but a rigorous relationship is not yet established.     

Source of lead in Central American and Caribbean mineralization,II. Lead isotope provinces

In an earlier study of Mesozoic and Cenozoic mineralization in Central America and the Caribbean region, we found that lead isotopic compositions of deposits in northern Central America, which is underlain by a pre-Mesozoic craton, ranged to higher²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb compositions than did deposits from elsewhere in the region, where the basement is Mesozoic oceanic material. Using 16 analyses for 12 new deposits, as well as new analyses for 11 of the samples studied previously, we have found that lead isotopic compositions correlate closely with crustal type but show little or no correlation with depth to the M-discontinuity. The deposits are divisible into three main groups including (in order of increasing²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratio): (1) deposits in southern Central America and all deposits in the Greater Antilles except Cuba; (2) all deposits in northern Central America; and (3) the Cuban deposits. Southern Central American and Caribbean lead is higher in²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb than most mid-ocean ridge basalts but could have been derived directly or indirectly from undepleted mantle. Northern Central America can be divided into the Maya block, which belongs to the Americas plate, and the Chortis block, which belongs to the Caribbean plate. Maya block deposits fall along a linear array whereas those of the Chortis block (except the Monte Cristo deposit) form a cluster. These results suggest that the Maya block is underlain by crust or mantle with a large range of U/Pb and Th/U ratios, whereas the Chortis block basement is more homogeneous. Two-stage model calculations indicate an age of about 2280±310 m.y. for the Maya block basement, although no such rocks are known in the region. Comparison of the Chortis block data to our recently published lead isotopic analyses of Mexican deposits shows considerable similarities suggesting that the Chortis block could have been derived from Mexico.     

NanoSIMS imaging method of zircon U-Pb dating

We report an imaging method of zircon U-Pb dating with NanoSIMS 50 L, which overcomes the significant U-Pb fractionation as the pit was sputtered deeper during conventional spot mode analysis and can be applied to irregular small grains or heterogeneous areas of zircon. The U-Pb and Pb-Pb ages can be acquired simultaneously for 2 μm×2 μm(for small grains) or 1 μm×9 μm(for zoned grains), together with Zr, Y and other trace elements distributions. Using zircon M257 as standard, the U-Pb ages of other zircon standards, including Qinghu, Plesovice, Temora and 91500, were measured to(2σ) as158.8±0.8, 335.9±3.4, 412.0±12 and 1067±12 Ma, respectively, consistent with the recommended values within the analytical uncertainties. Tiny zircon grains in the impact melt breccia of the lunar meteorite SaU 169 were also measured in this study,with a Pb-Pb age of 3912±14 Ma and a U-Pb age of 3917±17 Ma, similar to previous results reported for the same meteorite.The imaging method was also applied to determine U-Pb age of the thin overgrowth rims of Longtan metamorphic zircon, with a Pb-Pb age of 1933±27 Ma and a U-Pb age of 1935±25 Ma, clearly distinct from the Pb-Pb age of 2098±61 Ma and the U-Pb age of 2054±40 Ma for detrital cores.