Energetics of radiation damage in natural zircon (ZrSiO4)

Transposed temperature drop calorimetry at 1000 °C was performed on natural zircons (ZrSiO₄) from Sri Lanka that were partially to completely metamict due to α-decay event damage (0.06 to 11.7×10¹⁵ α-decay events/mg). The enthalpy of annealing at room temperature (ΔH_anneal) varies sigmoidally as a function of radiation dose. ΔH_anneal reaches a saturation plateau at radiation doses greater than 5×10¹⁵ α-decay events/mg. The annealing of several samples to a crystalline structure with broadened diffraction peaks does not significantly affect the enthalpy of annealing. The large magnitude of the enthalpy of annealing plateau, ?59±3 kJ/mol, suggests that the damage to the structure is pervasive on the scale of Angstroms, consistent with the loss of mid-range order characteristic of a glass. The energetics are consistent with, but do not require, chemical heterogeneity caused by micro-domains of amorphous SiO₂-rich and ZrO₂-rich regions in the metamict state.     

Leaching and differential recrystallization of metamict zircon under experimental hydrothermal conditions

We report results of hydrothermal experiments on four alluvial zircons from Sri Lanka, which cover a wide range of radiation damage, at 450 °C and 1.3 kbar for 744 h with 2 M CaCl₂ solution as reactive fluid. After the hydrothermal treatment, the most metamict samples show micrometer-thick reaction rims, which surround apparently unreacted zircon, as revealed by cathodoluminescence (CL) and Nomarski differential interference contrast (NDIC) images. These rims have sharp, curved, and transgressive boundaries with unreacted zircon and are, in some cases, spread out along cracks. The thickness of reaction rims increases with increasing cumulated !-dosage of the starting materials. The reaction rims are strongly enriched in Ca (up to 7000 ppm) and a water species and depleted in radiogenic Pb, Zr, and Si, as revealed by electron microprobe analyses. A significant Th loss from the reaction rims was detected in the case of the most metamict sample, whereas U remained in the structure. FT-infrared spectrometry and X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the bulk run products were recrystallized. Using micro-Raman spectrometry, we were able to demonstrate that differential recrystallization took place. The reaction rims are strongly recrystallized, whereas the unreacted grain interiors underwent only minor recrystallization. Recrystallization of the rims is accompanied by an enhancement of the integral CL intensity. It is suggested that recrystallization in the reaction rims was catalyzed by water infiltration and ion exchange and prevented significant congruent zircon dissolution under the given experimental conditions. Previous zircon studies have shown that (1) a transgressive morphology, (2) a reduced Th-U ratio, and (3) an enhanced CL emission are also characteristics of rims in zircons from high-grade metamorphic rocks. Based on these similarities between natural and experimentally produced rims, it is suggested that leaching-catalyzed recrystallization is an important alteration process in zircon under wet geological conditions and can account for many complex core-rim structures found in natural zircons. Furthermore, the strong enrichment of Ca in the reaction rims supports previous assumptions that high Ca concentrations in natural zircons are of secondary origin. It is suggested that lower U-Pb concordia intercept ages obtained from single-phase zircons with high Ca contents date a leaching event.     

Thermal annealing characteristics of fission tracks in natural zircons of different ages

Fission track (FT) thermochronometry using zircon has widely been applied to the resolution of a variety of geologic problems, for which the understanding of FT annealing behaviour is essential. Thermal annealing experiments were conducted on FTs in natural zircons having different ages (ranging from ~0.6 to ~70 Ma) and radiation damage levels. We measured horizontal confined track lengths on nine zircon concentrates separated from rapidly cooled volcanic rocks, after 1 hr annealing at 400–700°C. As the annealing temperature increases, the observed tracks show a consistent and systematic length reduction in all samples, and the mean track lengths are hardly distinguishable among the nine samples for the same annealing step. Our results suggest that the thermal annealing characteristics at laboratory time‐scale are concordant among the zircons, regardless of their ages, and that identical annealing kinetics may work for Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic zircons.     

特提斯喜马拉雅构造带雅拉香波穹隆构造热事件LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄证据

雅拉香波穹隆位于特提斯喜马拉雅构造带东部,出露显生宙不同时期的岩石地层,发育强烈韧性剪切变形和多期岩浆热事件,良好地记录了印度大陆俯冲导致的构造变形和岩浆热历史。对雅拉香波穹隆不同构造部位的花岗质岩石进行LAICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素测年,获得4期构造岩浆事件的高精度测年数据。早期锆石年龄520.4±6.3Ma与536±12Ma指示喜马拉雅地块结晶基底泛非期岩浆侵位时代,晚期锆石年龄揭示新生代碰撞造山不同阶段构造热事件的发生时代。其中,45.6±1.2~44.16±0.88Ma反映印度大陆向北俯冲的起始时代,35.00±0.48Ma对应于始新世晚期增厚地壳深部构造热事件年龄,15.67±0.50Ma指示雅拉香波核部花岗岩侵位及穹隆的形成时代。     

Impact of hydrothermal alteration on the U-Pb isotopic system of zircons from the Fangcheng syenites in the Qinling orogen,Henan Province,China

Disturbance of the zircon U-Pb isotopic system has been investigated extensively, but mostly in lab, in the last decades. Here, we reported a field-based study on intensive sericitization, K-feldsparthization and the impacts of mylonitization on zircons from the Fangcheng syenites. The Fangcheng syenites occur in the eastern part of the Qinling orogen and consist mainly of aegirine-augite syenite, aegirine nepheline syenite, biotite syenite and hornblende nepheline syenite. Zircons from the slightly sericitized aegirine augite syenite are colorless, transparent crystals and exhibit well-developed oscillatory and sector zoning on the cathodoluminescence (CL) images which are typical of magmatic zircons from alkaline rocks. Zircon U-Pb determinations by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) showed that the syenite was formed in Neoproterozoic time, the weighted average of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages is 844.3±1.6 Ma (MSWD=0.86). In contrast, the hydrothermally altered zircons (hydrothermal zircon) from the intensively sericitized, K-feldsparthized, and weakly mylonitized aegirine augite syenite are conglomerates, yellowish to brown in color, generally translucent and internally textureless. The CL and backscatter electron (BSE) images of hydrothermal zircons exhibit fractured, textureless or mosaic textures, and occasionally show “sponge texture” with the veinlets and inclusions of K-feldspar; however, relicts of magmatic oscillatory zoning can still be discerned locally in individual grains. LA-ICPMS analyses of the hydrothermal zircons demonstrated that the zircons are chemically inhomogeneous, with enhanced and widely varied Pb, U, and Th contents. The U and Th contents of the hydrothermal zircons are estimated to be 32×10⁻⁶−1550×10⁻⁶ and 188×10⁻⁶−4059×10⁻⁶, respectively, with Th/U ratios within the range of 0.7–44.9. ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U apparent ages of the hydrothermal zircons are negatively correlated with the contents of U, and radiogenic and common Pb. As the U and Th concentrations of the magmatic zircons are rather low, the α-decay doses (3.65×10¹⁴−2.04×10¹⁵ α-decay events/mg) are much lower than those at the first percolation point (3.5× 10¹⁵ a-decay events/mg), thus, Pb mobility resultant from diffusion could be safely neglected. Disturbance of the U-Pb isotopic system of zircons is most likely to be attributed to the intensive sericitization and K-feldsparthization coupled with mylonitization, the hydrothermal fluids reacted with zircons along the rims and fractures of the distorted zircon crystals, giving rise to the chemically inhomogeneous hydrothermal zircons through a series of complicated mechanisms such as dissolution-reprecipitation. The significance of the U-Pb age (the lower intercept age on the discordia U-Pb plot) of hydrothermal zircons is uncertain. We argued that interpretations of the hydrothermal zircon data as the age of hydrothermal events or hydrothermal ore-forming processes are questionable and hence cautions must be taken.     

大别山高压-超高压片麻岩锆石的拉曼光谱学研究

对大别山高压-超高压片麻岩的锆石进行了激光拉曼探针、阴极发光(CL)、U-Pb年龄和U、Th等微量元素的测定分析.研究结果表明:锆石拉曼光谱1008cm-1峰的半高宽普遍小于20cm-1,指示锆石结晶程度较好到中等程度的蜕晶化;早期继承锆石在三叠纪高压-超高压变质作用中经历了退火和重结晶作用,所受的放射性通量是从200Ma的早侏罗纪开始积累的,表明高压-超高压岩石在这一时间已出露地表;北大别白垩纪岩浆热事件对高压-超高压岩石的影响很小;大多数锆石数据都落在天然锆石的放射性破坏趋势(RDT)中,表明锆石在高压、超高压过程中基本发生了完全的重结晶.     

特提斯喜马拉雅构造带雅拉香波穹隆构造热事件LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄证据

雅拉香波穹隆位于特提斯喜马拉雅构造带东部,出露显生宙不同时期的岩石地层,发育强烈韧性剪切变形和多期岩浆热事件,良好地记录了印度大陆俯冲导致的构造变形和岩浆热历史。对雅拉香波穹隆不同构造部位的花岗质岩石进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素测年,获得4期构造岩浆事件的高精度测年数据。早期锆石年龄520.4±6.3Ma与536±12Ma指示喜马拉雅地块结晶基底泛非期岩浆侵位时代,晚期锆石年龄揭示新生代碰撞造山不同阶段构造热事件的发生时代。其中,45.6±1.2--44.16±0.88Ma反映印度大陆向北俯冲的起始时代,35.00±0.48Ma对应于始新世晚期增厚地壳深部构造热事件年龄,15.67±0.50Ma指示雅拉香波核部花岗岩侵位及穹隆的形成时代。     

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2016.06.013

The Archean continental crusts account for ca.20% of the present volume,but the thermal history of the Earths' mantle suggests much more continental crusts were formed in the early Archean.Because the Archean continental crust underwent severe metamorphism,it is important to avoid influence by the later thermal events.We carried out a comprehensive geochronological work of Cathodoluminescence(CL) observation and U-Pb dating of zircons from orthogneisses and supracrustal rocks over the Saglek Block to obtain their protolith ages.The zircons were classified into three domains of core,mantle and rims,and the cores were further classified into three groups of inherited,altered and zoned cores based on the zonation on the CL images.We estimated the protolith ages from Pb-Pb ages of the zoned-cores of zircons with low U contents.We made a detailed sketch of a small outcrop in St.John's Harbour South(SJHS) area,and classified the orthogneisses and mafic enclaves into seven generations based on the geologic occurrence.The first and second generations comprise mafic rocks and lack magmatic zircons.We conducted CL imaging and U-Pb dating of zircons from the third,sixth and seventh generation of the orthogneisses to estimate the protolith ages at 3902 L 25,3892 ± 33 and 3897 ± 33 Ma for each,supporting the presence of the over 3.9 Ca Iqaluk Gneiss.The geological occurrence that the mafic rocks occur as enclaves within the 3.9 Ga Iqaluk Gneiss indicates that they are the oldest supracrustal rocks in the world.Our geochronological and geological studies show the Uivak Gneiss is quite varied in lithology and age from 3.6 to 3.9 Ga,and tentatively classified into six groups based on their ages.The oldest Uivak Gneiss components including the Iqaluk Gneiss are present around the SJHS area,and the orthogneisses become young as it is away.The lines of evidence of overprinting of younger granitoid on older granitoid in small outcrops and geological-map scale as well as presence of inherited zircons even in the oldest suite suggests that crustal reworking played an important role on erasing the ancient crusts.     

Determination of the oxidation state of radiogenic Pb in natural zircon using X-ray absorption near-edge structure

We examined the L_III-edge Pb X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) of three natural zircon samples with different amounts of radiation doses (1.9 × 10¹⁵ to 6.8 × 10¹⁵ α-decay events/mg). The results suggest that the oxidation state of radiogenic Pb in the zircon sample with the highest radiation dose is divalent. The XANES spectra of the two other samples with lower radiation doses suggest that radiogenic Pb(II) is present, and further that some Pb may be tetravalent. This is the first work on the determination of the oxidation state of radiogenic Pb in natural zircon using XANES.     

Radiation damage in natural titanites

Natural titanites which have incurred radiation damage from the decay, over geologic time, of U and Th incorporated in the samples have been studied by powder X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. In agreement with previous studies of ionirradiated synthetic titanite, X-ray diffraction indicated that titanite is two to three times more sensitive than zircon to damage from α-decay processes. Differential thermal analysis of samples which were deduced to have accumulated 10–30 percent of the α-fluence required to render the structure completely X-ray amorphous gave a series of exothermic peaks in the 200–800° C range of temperature. In such samples, X-ray and density measurement showed that atomic displacement damage anneals during heating periods of the order of one h in the temperature range 500–800° C. The density of titanite rendered X-ray amorphous by irradiation was estimated to be ～8 percent lower than that of crystalline titanite.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering measurement of the internal microstructure of natural zircon crystals

Zircon crystals change their physical properties significantly over time in response to the radiation damage (metamictization) induced in the lattice by the presence of radionuclides U and Th. Crystalline zircon has extremely low diffusion rates of the radiogenic daughter product, Pb. Lead diffusion is enhanced in metamict volumes, but the observed lack of correlation between Pb loss and metamictization in natural zircons requires that other mechanisms control the incidence of Pb migration. The proposition that self-induced stress and elasticity contrasts in zoned natural crystals create fast-track Pb migration pathways, in response to time-integrated radiation damage, requires a means of detecting the microstructures within zircons at the interatomic scale at which Pb migration takes place. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is introduced as a means of detecting candidate microstructures including subgrain boundaries, defect networks and microfractures produced by differential metamictization. It is shown that a classical X-ray source yields measurable SAXS response from contrasting metamict and crystalline domains within a crystal, and these properties are quantified for a metamict zircon megacryst. Detection of the weaker SAXS response expected from microfractures and networked defects requires the more intense X-rays of synchrotron-source radiation.     

赞比亚伊索卡南部Kachinga长石砂岩碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及地质意义

赞比亚东北部伊鲁米德带是一个北东向延伸的中元古代构造活动带,起自赞比亚中部,向北东一直延伸至赞比亚-坦桑尼亚边境,并进入马拉维北部;其东北部以古元古代乌本迪构造带为界;西北部以班韦乌卢地块为界;西部和西南部受新元古代的达马拉-卢菲利安弧-赞比西构造事件的影响.Kachinga长石砂岩位于伊鲁米德带的东北部伊索卡南部.本文获得Kachinga长石砂岩的416颗碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄多集中在1749±25～1920±23Ma之间,Kachinga长石砂岩的形成时代可能晚于1331±26Ma,属于中元古代.Kachinga长石砂岩碎屑锆石CL图像表明,大部分锆石为岩浆结晶锆石,少部分锆石颗粒为增生-混合型锆石,表明其经历了多期构造-热事件的改造.锆石中存在有一部分磨圆度较好的颗粒,表明其经历了多次搬运和沉积过程,从而指示了古老沉积岩为Kachinga长石砂岩提供了物源.主量元素、微量元素和稀土元素构造环境判别及物源分析表明了Kachinga长石砂岩物源主要为上地壳大陆长英质源区,并且可能混有古老沉积物成分,物源区构造背景为大陆岛弧环境.     

U-Pb zircon and Rb-Sr whole-rock dating of low-grade metasediments example: Montagne Noire (Southern France)

Three detrital, Proterozoic zircon suites extracted from siltstones progressively metamorphosed between chlorite- and staurolite-grade independently date the major Caledonian metamorphism within the gneiss dome of the Montagne Noire (Southern France). From this, the following conclusions concerning U-Pb systematics of zircons in low-, medium- and highgrade metamorphic rocks can be drawn:

1. Temperatures of at most 350–400 °C are sufficient to open U-Pb systems of metamict zircons or domains within zircons.
2. The observed open U-Pb system behaviour during metamorphism of the host rocks was found to be due to a low-temperature recrystallisation of highly radiation damaged zircon lattices, probably enhanced by high concentrations of fluid phases in the dehydrating rock volumes.
3. Recrystallisation of metamict zircons under low temperatures causes maximum U-Pb ages for the thermal climax of metamorphism of medium-and high-grade metamorphic rocks, as annealing and accompaning closing of U-Pb systems took place before the maximum temperatures of metamorphism were reached.
4. Low-temperature recrystallisation of old — generally Proterozoic—zircons can readily help to explain the fact that the numerous zircon suites from ancient shield areas yield “lower intercept ages” which are not correlated to any known geological event. Thus, either a weak thermal pulse, not necessarily registered by the mineral assemblage of the host rock, and/or elevated temperatures during burial in the crust might supply enough energy for a structural reordering and simultaneous lead loss of at least the most disordered lattice domains.

In contrast to the U-Pb zircon method, no unambiguous dating of the Caledonian main metamorphism was possible using the Rb-Sr whole-rock technique for phyllites and mica schists sampled in the same metamorphic profile from which the zircon samples were taken. The scatter of data points can best be explained by their rotation around a probable Caledonian isochron. This rotation very probably took place during the later Hercynian orogeny, not significantly affecting the slope of the least square regression line through the scattered data points.     

The origin of high δ<Superscript>18</Superscript>O zircons: marbles,megacrysts, and metamorphism

The oxygen isotope ratios (δ¹⁸O) of most igneous zircons range from 5 to 8‰, with 99% of published values from 1345 rocks below 10‰. Metamorphic zircons from quartzite, metapelite, metabasite, and eclogite record δ¹⁸O values from 5 to 17‰, with 99% below 15‰. However, zircons with anomalously high δ¹⁸O, up to 23‰, have been reported in detrital suites; source rocks for these unusual zircons have not been identified. We report data for zircons from Sri Lanka and Myanmar that constrain a metamorphic petrogenesis for anomalously high δ¹⁸O in zircon. A suite of 28 large detrital zircon megacrysts from Mogok (Myanmar) analyzed by laser fluorination yields δ¹⁸O from 9.4 to 25.5‰. The U–Pb standard, CZ3, a large detrital zircon megacryst from Sri Lanka, yields δ¹⁸O = 15.4 ± 0.1‰ (2 SE) by ion microprobe. A euhedral unzoned zircon in a thin section of Sri Lanka granulite facies calcite marble yields δ¹⁸O = 19.4‰ by ion microprobe and confirms a metamorphic petrogenesis of zircon in marble. Small oxygen isotope fractionations between zircon and most minerals require a high δ¹⁸O source for the high δ¹⁸O zircons. Predicted equilibrium values of Δ¹⁸O(calcite-zircon) = 2–3‰ from 800 to 600°C show that metamorphic zircon crystallizing in a high δ¹⁸O marble will have high δ¹⁸O. The high δ¹⁸O zircons (>15‰) from both Sri Lanka and Mogok overlap the values of primary marine carbonates, and marbles are known detrital gemstone sources in both localities. The high δ¹⁸O zircons are thus metamorphic; the 15–25‰ zircon values are consistent with a marble origin in a rock-dominated system (i.e., low fluid_(external)/rock); the lower δ¹⁸O zircon values (9–15‰) are consistent with an origin in an external fluid-dominated system, such as skarn derived from marble, although many non-metasomatized marbles also fall in this range of δ¹⁸O. High δ¹⁸O (>15‰) and the absence of zoning can thus be used as a tracer to identify a marble source for high δ¹⁸O detrital zircons; this recognition can aid provenance studies in complex metamorphic terranes where age determinations alone may not allow discrimination of coeval source rocks. Metamorphic zircon megacrysts have not been reported previously and appear to be associated with high-grade marble. Identification of high δ¹⁸O zircons can also aid geochronology studies that seek to date high-grade metamorphic events due to the ability to distinguish metamorphic from detrital zircons in marble.     

A natural long‐term annealing experiment for the zircon fission track system in the Songpan‐Garzê flysch,China

Application of the zircon fission track (FT) method to derive reliable cooling histories requires that rocks have undergone temperatures sufficient to reach full resetting prior to cooling. Zircons commonly show significant variation in accumulated radiation damage and therefore FT annealing behaviour. Twenty‐eight samples of mainly anchizonal to lowermost greenschist facies Triassic sandstones from the Songpan‐Garzê flysch, China, were evaluated for their FT annealing status. Literature data suggest a heating period in the range of 100 myr duration. Our results define a temperature range for partial FT annealing of 270–350°C (based on illite crystallinity data), higher than the proposed range for radiation‐damaged zircons. We suggest that the long residence at high temperature has led to annealing of relevant parts of radiation damage along with FT annealing, so that even for long durations of FT annealing, full resetting requires temperatures in the range of greenschist facies conditions typical for zero‐damage zircons.     

湖北黄土岭麻粒岩锆石拉曼光谱和等离子体质谱研究

对湖北黄土岭麻粒岩中锆石同时进行了激光拉曼探针、阴极发光 (CL)观察和U ,Th及Pb Pb年龄ICPMS测定 ,发现麻粒岩中部分锆石发生的不是固态重结晶作用 ,而是部分熔蚀 /沉淀再结晶过程。结合CL图像结构特征和2 0 7Pb/ 2 0 6Pb年龄初步推断 ,麻粒岩相事件发生在 2 0亿年之后。结构、化学和同位素组成的测定表明 ,大别地区广泛存在的燕山期热事件使锆石发生不同程度的变质重结晶作用 ,使锆石晶格愈合。     

Applications of near-infrared FT-Raman spectroscopy in metamict and annealed zircon: oxidation state of U ions

We report a near-infrared Fourier-transform (FT) Raman spectroscopic method to characterize the electronic transitions of U ions and the alpha-decay damage in natural zircon. The application is demonstrated by analyzing metamict and annealed zircons from Sri Lanka. The data from crystalline zircon reveal a relatively sharp spectral feature appearing near 2733 cm^–1 in Stokes spectra with a laser excitation of 1064 nm. The feature is assigned as signals related to the previously reported U⁵⁺ absorption near 6668 cm^–1. With increasing self-irradiation dose, the feature shows a systematic decrease in intensity, accompanied by a gradual development of a broad feature between 3000 and 3400 cm^–1. On heating for 1 h, the U⁵⁺ feature shows an increase in intensity starting near ~700 K for partially metamict zircon, whereas for highly damaged zircon the first recovery of the feature takes place near 1000 K, accompanied by a decrease in the radiation-induced broad band. The changes observed in the present study reflect the variations of local environments of U ions in natural zircon during metamictization and thermal annealing.     

Interpretation of discordant U-Pb zircon ages: An evaluation

The most widely used technique for the determination of high precision mineral growth ages in igneous and metamorphic rocks is dating of zircons with the U-Pb method. The interpretation of these ages, particularly in metamorphic settings, is hampered by an incomplete understanding of the common phenomenon of partial Pb-loss in zircon. In principle, this Pb-loss may occur in four very different ways: diffusion in metamict zircon, diffusion in pristine zircon, leaching from metamict zircon and recrystallization of metamict zircon. Here it is argued that, under conditions common in the continental crust, Pb-loss is only possible in partially to strongly metamict zircons. Pb-diffusion in the pristine zircon lattice is insignificant up to temperatures of at least 1000 °C. Pb-loss is only possible if the zircons experienced a time interval below their annealing temperature of about 600–650 °C, because only below this temperature can the lattice damage through α-decay and spontaneous fission accumulate. Zircons that remain above this temperature do not lose Pb by diffusion and will stay closed systems. Complete resetting of the U-Pb system in zircon under crustal conditions is only possible through dissolution and reprecipitation of zircon. Partial resetting results from recrystallization, leaching or diffusion in metamict zircon. As a consequence, special care has to be taken to interpret lower intercepts on concordia diagrams defined by discordant U-Pb data. Lower intercept ages may be significant only if they are defined by zircons with low U-content (<100 p.p.m.) or if confirmed by other geochronological methods. In addition, the accuracy of the lower intercept should be confirmed by abrading the zircon fractions that define the discordia.     

Isothermal annealing of partially metamict zircon: evidence for a three-stage recovery process

 Raman spectroscopy and the powder diffraction technique have been used to monitor the recovery process of two partially metamict zircons (2.6 and 4.8 × 10¹⁸ α-decays g⁻¹) from Sri Lanka during a series of isothermal annealing experiments in the temperature range from 870 to 1622 K. These experiments show for the first time that structural recovery in partially metamict zircon proceeds via three distinct recovery stages, each of which occurs within a distinct time-temperature regime. Whereas the first two stages have previously been recognized (recovery of damaged crystalline remnants and epitaxial recrystallization), the third stage has not yet been identified as a single activated process. It is suggested that anisotropic defect annealing during the first stage at low temperatures, where the structure recovers preferentially along the a(b) plane, produces a geometrical situation where large structural rearrangements are necessary to remove the remaining defects inside the crystalline material. This situation is approximately reached when the amorphous domains start to recrystallize. The reason for anisotropic annealing can be found in a different connectivity between polyhedral linkages in both directions of the zircon lattice. High apparent activation energies, in the range of 6.4 to 7.9 eV, were determined for the third recovery stage from the Raman data, which are interpreted to reflect large structural rearrangements (i.e. polyhedral tilting) associated with the final recovery of the c axis. This explains the occurrence of a distinct recrystallization stage without defect annealing. Finally, it should be mentioned that the first recovery stage is not necessarily expected to occur in less damaged zircon crystals (<∼2 × 10¹⁸ α-decays g⁻¹), since less stable defects along the basal plane might have already been self-annealed during radiation damage accumulation under ambient temperatures. Received: 6 September 2001 / Accepted: 25 February 2002     

山西代县金红石矿床中锆石的内部特征和矿物包裹体研究及其地质意义

对山西代县洪塘矿区富含红色和黑色两种金红石的直闪岩进行岩相观察和矿物成分分析,并就其中锆石在阴极发光下的外部形态、内部结构及矿物包裹体进行研究.所分选出的锆石按其颗粒上的相对位置、形态、阴极发光图像、SHRIMP年龄值以及内部矿物包裹体划分为复杂锆石和单成因锆石,其中复杂锆石由核部、幔部和边部锆石三类锆石组成.第1类锆石无环带,部分边缘可见溶蚀痕迹,为继承锆石.内部包裹富锾矿物组合顽火辉石+金云母,与寄主岩石的组合明显不同,反映其可能是寄主岩石形成之前保留于锆石中的原岩矿物并源于地幔.第Ⅱ类锆石为半自形-自形晶,环带较宽且清晰,推测为高级变质锆石.其内矿物包裹体主要为直闪石,其次为钙铁辉石(?),反映其形成于角闪岩相,与寄主岩石的矿物组合可能一致.第Ⅲ类锆石主要位于增生边,阴极发光亮度高,推测为流体改造的变质锆石.第Ⅳ类单成因锆石多呈自形,阴极发光下较暗,生长环带规则且较窄.矿物包裹体有钠长石+石英+白云母,对应中压绿片岩相,其形成温度和压力低于寄主岩石,它与第Ⅲ类锆石可能是在同一期后期事件中形成.结合岩相学研究结果,认为该区金红石矿床之原岩可能是岩浆岩,后期经历了至少两期构造热事件,早期热事件可能导致了锆石内U-Th-Pb体系的重置.以上研究结果表明经历复杂变质作用的变质岩中锆石内部矿物包裹体的研究分析还是探讨寄主岩石成因及所经历地质事件的有效手段.