Zircon M127 – A Homogeneous Reference Material for SIMS U–Pb Geochronology Combined with Hafnium,Oxygen and,Potentially, Lithium Isotope Analysis

In this article, we document a detailed analytical characterisation of zircon M127, a homogeneous 12.7 carat gemstone from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Zircon M127 has TIMS‐determined mean U–Pb radiogenic isotopic ratios of 0.084743 ± 0.000027 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U and 0.67676 ± 0.00023 for ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U (weighted means, 2s uncertainties). Its ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 524.36 ± 0.16 Ma (95% confidence uncertainty) is concordant within the uncertainties of decay constants. The δ¹⁸O value (determined by laser fluorination) is 8.26 ± 0.06‰ VSMOW (2s), and the mean ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratio (determined by solution ICP‐MS) is 0.282396 ± 0.000004 (2s). The SIMS‐determined δ⁷Li value is ?0.6 ± 0.9‰ (2s), with a mean mass fraction of 1.0 ± 0.1 μg g^?1 Li (2s). Zircon M127 contains ~ 923 μg g^?1 U. The moderate degree of radiation damage corresponds well with the time‐integrated self‐irradiation dose of 1.82 × 10¹⁸ alpha events per gram. This observation, and the (U–Th)/He age of 426 ± 7 Ma (2s), which is typical of unheated Sri Lankan zircon, enable us to exclude any thermal treatment. Zircon M127 is proposed as a reference material for the determination of zircon U–Pb ages by means of SIMS in combination with hafnium and stable isotope (oxygen and potentially also lithium) determination.     

U–Pb systematics of the McClure Mountain syenite: thermochronological constraints on the age of the 40Ar/39Ar standard MMhb

Recent advances in U–Pb geochronology allow unprecedented levels of precision in the determination of geological ages. However, increased precision has also illuminated the importance of understanding subtle sources of open-system behavior such as Pb-loss, inheritance, intermediate daughter product disequilibria, and the accuracy of the model assumptions for initial Pb. Deconvolution of these effects allows a much richer understanding of the power and limitations of U–Pb geochronology and thermochronology. In this study, we report high-precision ID-TIMS U–Pb data from zircon, baddelleyite, titanite and apatite from the McClure Mountain syenite, from which the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar hornblende standard MMhb is derived. We find that excess ²⁰⁶Pb in zircon due to inclusions of high-Th minerals and elevated Th/U in titanite and apatite jeopardize the utility of the ²³⁸U–²⁰⁶Pb system in this rock. Strongly air-abraded zircons give dates that are younger than chemical-abraded zircons, which yield a statistically robust ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U date of 523.98±0.12 Ma that is interpreted as the crystallization age. We explore the best method of Pb_c correction in titanite and apatite by analyzing the U–Pb isotopes of K-feldspar and using 2-D and 3-D regression methods—the latter of which yields the best results in each case. However, the calculated compositions of Pb_c for titanite, apatite and K-feldspar are different, implying that using a single Pb_c correction for multiple U–Pb thermochronometers may be inaccurate. The U–Pb thermochronological results are used to predict a closure time for Ar in hornblende of 522.98±1.00 Ma. Widely cited K–Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates overlap with the U–Pb date, and relatively large errors make it impossible to verify whether U–Pb dates are systematically ≤1% older than K–Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dates.     

Formation Age and Evolution Time Span of the Koktokay No. 3 Pegmatite,Altai, NW China: Evidence from U–Pb Zircon and 40Ar–39Ar Muscovite Ages

The Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite is the largest Li–Be–Nb–Ta–Cs pegmatitic rare‐metal deposit of the Chinese Altai orogenic belt, and is famous for its concentric ring zonation pattern (nine internal zones). However, the formation age and evolution time span have been controversial. Here, we present the results of LA‐ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating and muscovite ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating. Four groups of zircon U–Pb ages (～210 Ma, ～193–198 Ma, ～186–187 Ma and ～172 Ma) for Zones II, V, VI, VII, and VIII, and a weighed mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 965 ± 11 Ma for Zone IV are identified. Also, Zones II, IV, and VI have muscovite ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar plateau ages of 179.7 ± 1.1 Ma, 182.1 ± 1.0 Ma, and 181.8 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. Considering previous U–Pb age studies (Zones I, V, and VII), the ages of emplacement, Li mineralization peak, hydrothermal stage of the No. 3 pegmatite are in ranges of 193–198 Ma, 184–187 Ma and 172–175 Ma, with weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb–²³⁸U ages of 194.8 ± 2.3 Ma, 186.6 ± 1.3 Ma and 173.1 ± 3.9 Ma, respectively. The No. 3 pegmatite formed in the early Jurassic. The results of xenocrysts suggest that there is another pegmatite forming event of around 210 Ma in the mining district and the old zircon U–Pb ages imply that Neoproterozoic crustal rocks pertain to sources of the No. 3 pegmatite. Including the previous muscovite ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age studies (Zones I and V), a cooling age range of 177–182 Ma is considered as the time of hydrothermal stage and end of formation. The evolution process of the No. 3 pegmatite lasted 16 Ma. Therein, the magmatic stage continued for 9–11 Myr and the magmatic–hydrothermal transition and hydrothermal stages were sustained at 5–7 Ma. These time spans are long because of huge scale, cupola shape, large formation depth, and complex internal zoning patterns and formation processes. Considering some pegmatite dikes in the Chinese Altai, there is an early Jurassic pegmatite forming event.     

40Ar/39Ar ages and zircon petrochronology for the rear arc of the Izu-Bonin-Marianas intra-oceanic subduction zone

Long-lived intra-oceanic arcs of Izu-Bonin-Marianas (IBM)-type are built on thick, granodioritic crust formed in the absence of pre-existing continental crust. International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 350, Site U1437, explored the IBM rear arc to better understand continental crust formation in arcs. Detailed petrochronological (U–Pb geochronology combined with trace elements, oxygen and hafnium isotopes) characterizations of zircon from Site U1437 were carried out, taking care to exclude potential contaminants by (1) comparison of zircon ages with ship-board palaeomagnetic and biostratigraphic ages and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology, (2) analysing zircon from drill muds for comparison, (3) selectively carrying out in situ analysis in petrographic thin sections, and (4) minimizing potential laboratory contamination through using pristine equipment during mineral separation. The youngest zircon ages in Site U1437 are consistent with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and shipboard ages to a depth of ~1390 m below sea floor (mbsf) where Igneous Unit Ig 1 yielded an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 12.9 ± 0.3 Ma (all errors 2σ). One single zircon (age 15.4 ± 1.0 Ma) was recovered from the deepest lithostratigraphic unit drilled, Unit VII (1459.80–1806.5 mbsf). Site U1437 zircon trace element compositions are distinct from those of oceanic and continental arc environments and differ from those generated in thick oceanic crust (Iceland-type) where low-δ¹⁸O evolved melts are produced via re-melting of hydrothermally altered mafic rocks. Ti-in-zircon model temperatures are lower than for mid-ocean ridge rocks, in agreement with low zircon saturation temperatures, suggestive of low-temperature, hydrous melt sources. Zircon oxygen (δ¹⁸O = 3.3–6.0‰) and hafnium (εHf = + 10–+16) isotopic compositions indicate asthenospheric mantle sources. Trace element and isotopic differences between zircon from Site U1437 rear-arc rocks and the Hadean detrital zircon population suggest that preserved Hadean zircon crystals were probably generated in an environment different from modern oceanic convergent margins underlain by depleted mantle.     

40Ar/39Ar Dating of Xuebaoding Granite in the Songpan-Garzê Orogenic Belt, Southwest China, and its Geological Significance

<正>Thus far,our understanding of the emplacement of Xuebaoding granite and the occurrence and evolution of the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt has been complicated by differing age spectra results.Therefore,in this study,the ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar and sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe(SHRIMP) U-Pb dating methods were both used and the results compared,particularly with respect to dating data for Pankou and Pukouling granites from Xuebaoding,to establish ages that are close to the real emplacements.The results of SHRIMP U-Pb dating for zircon showed a high amount of U,but a very low value for Th/U.The high U amount,coupled with characteristics of inclusions in zircons,indicates that Xuebaoding granites are not suitable for U-Pb dating.Therefore,muscovite in the same granite samples was selected for ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating.The ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pukouling granite in the Xuebaoding,gave a plateau age of 200.1±1.2 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 200.6±1.2 Ma.The ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pankou granite in the Xuebaoding gave another plateau age of 193.4±1.1 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 193.7±1.1 Ma. The ~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar intercept of 277.0±23.4(2σ) was very close to the air ratio,indicating that no apparent excess argon contamination was present.These age dating spectra indicate that both granites were emplaced at 200.6±1.3 Ma and 193.7±1.1 Ma,respectively.Through comparison of both dating methods and their results,we can conclude that it is feasible that the muscovite in the granite bearing high U could be used for ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating without extra Ar.Based on this evidence,as well as the geological characteristics of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit and petrology of granites,it can be concluded that the material origin of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit might partially originate from the Xuebaoding granite group emplacement at about 200 Ma.Moreover,compared with other granites and deposits distributed in various positions in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt,the Xuebaoding emplacement ages further show that the main rare metal deposits and granites in peripheral regions occurred earlier than those in the inner Songpan-Garze.Therefore,~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating of Xuebaoding granite will lay a solid foundation for studying the occurrence and evolution of granite and rare earth element deposits in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt.     

Ordovician high-grade metamorphism of a newly recognised late Neoproterozoic terrane in the northern Harts Range,central Australia

Granulite facies rocks from the northernmost Harts Range Complex (Arunta Inlier, central Australia) have previously been interpreted as recording a single clockwise cycle of presumed Palaeoproterozoic metamorphism (800–875 °C and >9–10 kbar) and subsequent decompression in a kilometre‐scale, E‐W striking zone of noncoaxial, high‐grade (c. 700–735 °C and 5.8–6.4 kbar) deformation. However, new SHRIMP U‐Pb age determinations of zircon, monazite and titanite from partially melted metabasites and metapelites indicate that granulite facies metamorphism occurred not in the Proterozoic, but in the Ordovician (c. 470 Ma). The youngest metamorphic zircon overgrowths from two metabasites (probably meta‐volcaniclastics) yield ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 478±4 Ma and 471±7 Ma, whereas those from two metapelites yield ages of 463±5 Ma and 461±4 Ma. Monazite from the two metapelites gave ages equal within error to those from metamorphic zircon rims in the same rock (457±5 Ma and 462±5 Ma, respectively). Zircon, and possibly monazite ages are interpreted as dating precipitation of these minerals from crystallizing melt within leucosomes. In contrast, titanite from the two metabasites yield ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages that are much younger (411±5 Ma & 417±7 Ma, respectively) than those of coexisting zircon, which might indicate that the terrane cooled slowly following final melt crystallization. One metabasite has a second titanite population with an age of 384±7 Ma, which reflects titanite growth and/or recrystallization during the 400–300 Ma Alice Springs Orogeny. The c. 380 Ma titanite age is indistinguishable from the age of magmatic zircon from a small, late and weakly deformed plug of biotite granite that intruded the granulites at 387±4 Ma. These data suggest that the northern Harts Range has been subject to at least two periods of reworking (475–460 Ma & 400–300 Ma) during the Palaeozoic. Detrital zircon from the metapelites and metabasites, and inherited zircon from the granite, yield similar ranges of Proterozoic ages, with distinct age clusters at c. 1300–1000 and c. 650 Ma. These data imply that the deposition ages of the protoliths to the Harts Range Complex are late Neoproterozoic or early Palaeozoic, not Palaeoproterozoic as previously assumed.     

Geochemistry,Zircon U–Pb Analysis,and Biotite 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of the Maoling Gold Deposit,Liaodong Rift,NE China

The Maoling gold deposit is located in the southwestern part of the Liaodong rift, NE China, and has estimated reserves of 25 t. In this paper we present the results of an investigation into the geochronology and geodynamic mechanisms of igneous activity and metallogenesis within the Maoling gold deposit. New zircon U–Pb age data, biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data, whole‐rock geochemistry, and Hf isotopic analyses are presented in order to constrain the petrogenesis and mineralization of the deposit. Zircon U–Pb dating of the Wolongquan biotite monzogranite and Maoling biotite granite yielded mean ages of 194.0 ± 1.1 Ma and 196.1 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. All the granites are characteristically high‐K calc‐alkaline, enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements, and depleted in high field strength elements, which is consistent with the geochemical characteristics of arc‐type magmas. The Hf isotope characteristics indicate that the granites formed by partial melting of early Paleoproterozoic crustal material. In addition, biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating indicates that the Maoling gold deposit formed at 188.9 ± 1.2 Ma, implying that the mineralization was related to both the granite intrusions. Taking into account previous data on S–Pb–O–H isotopes and our new age data, the Maoling deposit can be classified as an intrusion‐related gold deposit. Taking into account the geology of the study area and adjacent regions, we propose that the Maoling gold deposit and its associated granitic intrusions formed in a geodynamic setting that was dominated by subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent.     

Petrological and zircon evidence for anatexis of UHP quartzite during continental collision in the Sulu orogen

Petrological evidence is provided for anatexis of ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic quartzite in the Sulu orogen. Some feldspar grains exhibit elongated, highly cuspate shapes or occur as interstitial, cuspate phases constituting interconnected networks along grain boundaries. Elongated veinlets composed of plagioclase + quartz ± K‐feldspar also occur in grain boundaries. These features provide compelling evidence for anatexis of the UHP quartzite. Zircon grains from impure quartzite are all metamorphic growth with highly irregular shape. They contain inclusions of coesite, jadeite, rutile and lower pressure minerals, including multiphase solid inclusions that are composed of two or more phases of muscovite, quartz, K‐feldspar and plagioclase. All zircon grains exhibit steep REE patterns, similar U–Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions with a weighted mean of 218 ± 2 Ma. Most grains have similar δ¹⁸O values of ?0.6 to 0.1‰, but a few fall in the range ?5.2 to ?4.3‰. Thus, these grains would have grown from anatectic melts at various pressures. Zircon O isotope differences indicate that anatectic melts were derived from different sources with contrasting O isotopes, but similar Hf isotopes, that is, one from the quartzite itself and the other probably from the country‐rock granitic gneiss. Zircon grains from pure quartzite contain relict magmatic cores and significant metamorphic overgrowths. Domains that contain eclogite facies minerals exhibit flat HREE patterns, no Eu anomalies and concordant U–Pb ages of c. 220 Ma. Similar U–Pb ages are also obtained for domains that contain lower pressure minerals and exhibit steep REE patterns and marked negative Eu anomalies. These observations indicate that zircon records subsolidus overgrowth at eclogite facies conditions but suprasolidus growth at lower pressures. Zircon enclosed by garnet gave consistent U–Pb ages of c. 214 Ma. Such garnet is interpreted as a peritectic product of the anatectic reaction that involves felsic minerals and possibly amphibole and titanite. The REE patterns of epidote and titanite also record multistage growth and metasomatism by anatectic melts. Therefore, the anatexis of UHP metamorphic rocks is evident during continental collision in the Triassic.     

U–Pb ages and trace elements in metamorphic zircon and titanite from UHP eclogite in the Dabie orogen: constraints on P–T–t path

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses of U–Pb isotopes and trace elements in zircon and titanite were carried out on epoxy mounts and thin sections for ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) eclogite in association with paragneiss in the Dabie orogen. The results provide a direct link between metamorphic ages and temperatures during continental subduction‐zone metamorphism. Zircon U–Pb dating gives two groups of concordant ages at 242 ± 2 to 239 ± 5 Ma and 226 ± 2 to 224 ± 6 Ma, respectively. The Triassic zircon U–Pb ages are characterized by flat heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns typical of metamorphic growth. Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry for the two generations of metamorphic zircon yields temperatures of 697 ± 27 to 721 ± 8 °C and 742 ± 19 to 778 ± 34 °C, respectively. We interpret that the first episode of zircon growth took place during subduction prior to the onset of UHP metamorphism, whereas the second episode in the stage of exhumation from UHP to HP eclogite facies regime. Thus, the continental subduction‐zone metamorphism of sedimentary protolith is temporally associated with two episodes of fluid activity, respectively, predating and postdating the UHP metamorphic phase. The significantly high Ti‐in‐zircon temperatures for the younger zircon at lower pressures indicate the initial ‘hot’ exhumation after the peak UHP metamorphism. There are two types of titanite. One exhibits light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, steep MREE–HREE patterns and no Eu anomalies, and yields Zr‐in‐titanite temperatures of 551 to 605 °C at 0.5 GPa, and the other shows LREE depletion and flat MREE–HREE patterns, and gives Zr‐in‐titanite temperatures of 782–788 °C at 2.0 GPa. The former is amenable for U–Pb dating, yielding a discordia lower intercept age of 252 ± 3 Ma. Thus, the first type of titanite is interpreted to have grown in the absence of garnet and plagioclase and thus in the early stage of subduction. In contrast, the second one occurs as rims surrounding rutile cores and thus grew in the presence of garnet during the ‘hot’ exhumation. Therefore, there is multistage growth of zircon and titanite during the continental subduction‐zone metamorphism. The combined studies of chronometry and thermobarometry provide tight constraints on the P–T–t path of eclogites during the continental collision. It appears that the mid‐T/UHP eclogite facies zone would not only form by subduction of the continental crust in a P–T path slightly below the wet granite solidus, but also experience decompression heating during the initial exhumation.     

The Diamantina Monazite: A New Low‐Th Reference Material for Microanalysis

Most monazite reference materials (RMs) for in situ U‐Pb geochronology are rich in Th; however, many hydrothermal ore deposits contain monazite that is low in trace element contents, including Th, U and Pb. Because of potential problems with matrix effects and the lack of appropriate matrix‐matched RMs, such variations can bias dating of hydrothermal deposits. In this paper, we describe a polycrystalline low‐U and low‐Th Diamantina monazite from the Espinhaço Range, SE Brazil. It has a U‐Pb ID‐TIMS weighted mean ²⁰⁷Pb^*/²³⁵U ratio of 0.62913 ± 0.00079, ²⁰⁶Pb^*/²³⁸U of 0.079861 ± 0.000088 and ²⁰⁷Pb^*/²⁰⁶Pb^* of 0.057130 ± 0.000031, yielding a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb^*/²³⁸U date of 495.26 ± 0.54 Ma (95% c.l.). In situ dates acquired with different methods (LA‐(Q, SF, MC)‐ICP‐MS and SIMS) are within uncertainty of the ID‐TIMS data. U‐Pb LA‐(Q, MC)‐ICP‐MS runs, using Diamantina as a primary RM, reproduced the ages of other established RMs within < 1% deviation. The LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS analyses yielded homogeneous Sm‐Nd isotopic compositions (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.511427 ± 23, 2s; ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.1177 ± 13, 2s) and εNd_(495 Ma) of ?18.7 ± 0.5 (2s). SIMS oxygen isotope determinations showed measurement reproducibility better than ± 0.3‰ (2s), confirming Diamantina's relative homogeneity at test portion masses below 1 ng.     

40Ar/39Ar and U–Pb dating of the Fish Canyon magmatic system,San Juan Volcanic field,Colorado: Evidence for an extended crystallization history

The ∼ 5000 km³ Fish Canyon Tuff (FCT) is an important unit for the geochronological community because its sanidine, zircon and apatite are widely used as standards for the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and fission track dating techniques. The recognition, more than 10 years ago [Oberli, F., Fischer, H. and Meier, M., 1990. High-resolution ²³⁸U–²⁰⁶Pb zircon dating of Tertiary bentonites and Fish Canyon Tuff; a test for age “concordance” by single-crystal analysis. Seventh International Conference on Geochronology, Cosmochronology and Isotope Geology. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication Canberra, 27:74], of a ≥ 0.4 Ma age difference between the U–Pb zircon ages and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar sanidine ages has, therefore, motivated efforts to resolve the origin of this discrepancy. To address this controversial issue, we initially performed 37 U–Pb analyses on mainly air-abraded zircons at ETH Zurich and nearly 200 ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar measurements on hornblende, biotite, plagioclase and sanidine obtained at the University of Geneva, using samples keyed to a refined eruptive stratigraphy of the FCT magmatic system.Disequilibrium-corrected ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages obtained for 29 single-crystal and three multi-grain analyses span an interval of ∼ 28.67–28.03 Ma and yield a weighted mean age of 28.37 ± 0.05 Ma (95% confidence level), with MSWD = 8.4. The individual dates resolve a range of ages in excess of analytical precision, covering ∼ 600 ka. In order to independently confirm the observed spread in zircon ages, 12 additional analyses were carried out at the Berkeley Geochronology Center (BGC) on individual zircons from a single lithological unit, part of them pre-treated by the “chemical abrasion” (CA) technique [Mattinson, J.M., 2005. Zircon U–Pb chemical abrasion (“CA-TIMS”) method: Combined annealing and multi-step partial dissolution analysis for improved precision and accuracy of zircon ages. Chemical Geology, 220(1–2): 47–66]. Whereas the bulk of the BGC results displays a spread overlapping that obtained at ETH, the group of CA treated zircons yield a considerably narrower range with a mean age of 28.61 ± 0.08 Ma (MSWD = 1.0). Both mean zircon ages determined at ETH and BGC are older than the ∼ 28.0 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar eruption age of FCT – even when considering the possibility that the latter may be low by as much as ∼ 1% due to a miscalibration of the ⁴⁰K decay constants – and is thus indicative of a substantial time gap between magma crystallization and extrusion. The CA technique further reveals that younger FCT zircon ages are likely to be associated with chemically unstable U-enriched domains, which may be linked to crystallization during extended magma residence or may have been affected by pre-eruptive and/or post-eruptive secondary loss of radiogenic lead. Due to their complex crystallization history and/or age bias due to Pb loss, the FCT zircon ages are deemed unsuitable for an accurate age calibration of FCT sandine as a fluence monitor for the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method.Even though data statistics preclude unambiguous conclusions, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of sanidine, plagioclase, biotite, and hornblende from the same sample of vitrophyric Fish Canyon Tuff supports the idea of a protracted crystallization history. Sanidine, thought to be the mineral with the lowest closure temperature, yielded the youngest age (28.04 ± 0.18 Ma at 95% c.l., using Taylor Creek Rhyolite [Renne, P.R. et al., 1998. Intercalibration of standards, absolute ages and uncertainties in ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. Chemical Geology, 145: 117–152.] as the fluence monitor), whereas more retentive biotite, hornblende and plagioclase gave slightly older nominal ages (by 0.2–0.3 Ma). In addition, a laser step-heating experiment on a 2-cm diameter feldspar megacryst produced a “staircase” argon release spectrum (older ages at higher laser power), suggestive of traces of inherited argon in the system. Thermal and water budgets for the Fish Canyon magma indicate that the body remained above its solidus (∼ 700 °C) for an extended period of time (> 10⁵ years). At these temperatures, argon volume diffusion is thought to be fast enough to prevent accumulation of radiogenic Ar. If this statement were true, an existing isotopic record should have been completely reset within a few hundred years, regardless of the phase and initial age of the phenocryst. As these minerals are unlikely to be xenocrysts that were incorporated within such a short time span prior to eruption, we suggest that a fraction of radiogenic Ar can be retained > 10⁵ years, even at T ∼ 700 °C.     

Geochemistry,zircon U–Pb analysis,and fluid inclusion 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of the Yingchengzi gold deposit,southern Heilongjiang Province,NE China

The Yingchengzi gold deposit, located 10 km west of Shalan at the eastern margin of the Zhangguangcai Range, is the only high commercially valuable gold deposit in southern Heilongjiang Province, NE China. This study investigates the chronology and geodynamic mechanisms of igneous activity and metallogenesis within the Yingchengzi gold deposit. New zircon U–Pb data, fluid inclusion ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating, whole‐rock geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotopic analysis is presented for the Yingchengzi deposit to constrain its petrogenesis and mineralization. Zircon U–Pb dating of the granite and diabase–porphyrite rocks of the igneous complex yields mean ages of 471.7 ± 5.5 and 434 ± 15 Ma respectively. All samples are high‐K calc‐alkaline or shoshonite rocks, are enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements, and are depleted in high field strength elements, consistent with the geochemical characteristics of arc‐type magmas. The Sr–Nd isotope characteristics indicate that the granite formed by partial melting of the lower crust, including interaction with slab‐derived fluids from an underplated basaltic magma. The primary magma of the diabase–porphyrite was likely derived from the metasomatized mantle wedge by subducted slab‐derived fluids. Both types of intrusive rocks were closely related to subduction of the ocean plate located between the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range and Jiamusi massifs. However, fluid inclusion ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating indicates that the Yingchengzi gold deposit formed at ~249 Ma, implying that the mineralization is unrelated to both the granite (~472 Ma) and diabase–porphyrite (~434 Ma) intrusions. Considering the tectonic evolution of the study area and adjacent regions, we propose that the Yingchengzi gold deposit was formed in a late Palaeozoic–Early Triassic continental collision regime following the closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean. In addition, the Yingchengzi deposit could be classified as a typical orogenic‐type gold deposit occuring in convergent plate margins in collisional orogens, and unlikely an intrusion‐related gold deposit as reported by previous studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochronology of the Limu W–Sn–Nb–Ta‐Bearing Granite Pluton in South China

Limu W–Sn–Nb–Ta mining district is located in the Nanling Range W–Sn poly‐metallic mineralization belt in south China. The district includes a number of Sn–Nb–Ta and W–Sn ore occurrences; all of them are spatially associated with granite stocks of a largely‐unexposed pluton, the Limu granitic pluton. A granite sample collected from the Sn–Nb–Ta‐bearing Jinzhuyuan granite stock yields a zircon SHRIMP U–Pb age of 218.3 ± 2.4 Ma, a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 212.4 ± 1.4 Ma, and a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isochron age of 213.2 ± 2.2 Ma. Another granite sample collected from the W–Sn‐bearing Sangehuangniu granite stock yields a zircon SHRIMP U–Pb age of 214 ± 5 Ma. The geochronological data provide new constraints on the age of the Limu granite pluton and the timing of the associated W–Sn–Nb–Ta mineralization—at least it sets a reasonable upper age limit for the mineralization of the W–Sn–Nb–Ta ores. The reported ages suggest an active Late Triassic granitic magmatism in Limu area which is part of a regional magmatic event near the end of the Indosinian orogeny in south China.     

UPb emplacement and 40Ar/39Ar cooling ages of the eastern Mont-Louis granite massif (Eastern Pyrenees,France)

Zircon UPb dating by SIMS of the Mont-Louis granite yields an age of 305±5 Ma, intrepreted to reflect the igneous emplacement age of the massif. It is in agreement with the Hercynian syntectonic character of Pyrenees granite. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar on hornblende, biotite and K-feldspar permit, to estimate the massif cooling. A rapid temperature decrease (≈30 °C/Ma) is revealed from Westphalian to Late Stephanian, coeval with the emplacement of a laccolithe in the upper crust. Then, the cooling rate decreases to ≈1 °C/Ma. This would be consistent with a long time residence for the pluton from the Late Palaeozoic to the Early Cainozoic at 6–8 km depth. To cite this article: O. Maurel et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Magma accumulation rates and thermal histories of plutons of the Sierra Nevada batholith,CA

Zircon U–Pb geochronology results indicate that the John Muir Intrusive Suite of the central Sierra Nevada batholith, California, was assembled over a period of at least 12 Ma between 96 and 84 Ma. Bulk mineral thermochronology (U–Pb zircon and titanite, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar hornblende and biotite) of rocks from multiple plutons comprising the Muir suite indicates rapid cooling through titanite and hornblende closure following intrusion and subsequent slow cooling through biotite closure. Assembly of intrusive suites in the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere over millions of years favors growth by incremental intrusion. Estimated long-term pluton assembly rates for the John Muir Intrusive Suite are on the order of 0.001 km³ a⁻¹ which is inconsistent with the rapid magma fluxes that are necessary to form large-volume magma chambers capable of producing caldera-forming eruptions. If large shallow crustal magma chambers do not typically develop during assembly of large zoned intrusive suites, it is doubtful that the intrusive suites represent cumulates left behind following caldera-forming eruptions.     

Zircon U–Pb,Molybdenite Re–Os and K‐feldspar 40Ar/39Ar Dating of the Bolong Porphyry Cu–Au Deposit,Tibet, China

The Bolong porphyry Cu–Au deposit is a newly discovered deposit in the central Tibetan Plateau, and is ranked as the second largest copper deposit discovered to date in the Bangong‐Nujiang metallogenic belt in China. Three granodiorite porphyry phases occur within the Bolong porphyry Cu–Au deposit. Phyllic alteration is widespread on the surface of the deposit, and potassic alteration occurs at depth, associated with granodiorite porphyries. The copper and gold mineralization is clearly related to the potassic and phyllic alteration. Multiple chronometers were applied to constrain the timing of magmatic–hydrothermal activity at the Bolong deposit. Zircon U–Pb geochronology reveals that the granodiorite porphyry phases were emplaced at ca. 120 Ma. Re–Os data of four molybdenite samples from quartz–molybednite veinlets yielded an isochron age of 119.4 ± 1.3 Ma. The plateau age of hydrothermal K‐feldspar from the potassic alteration zone, analyzed by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating, is 118.3 ± 0.6 Ma, with a similar reverse isochron age of 118.5 ± 0.7 Ma. Therefore, the magmatic–hydrothermal activity occurred at ca. 120–118 Ma, which is similar in age to the neighboring Duobuza porphyry copper deposit. The period of 120–118 Ma is therefore important for the development of porphyry Cu–Au mineralization in the central Tibetan Plateau, and these porphyry deposits were formed during the final stages of the northward subduction of the Neo‐Tethys Ocean.     

Timing and rate of isothermal decompression in Pan-African granulites from Rundvågshetta, East Antarctica

Geochronological data, combined with field and petrological evidence, constrain the timing and rate of near‐isothermal decompression at granulite facies temperatures in rocks from the Lützow‐Holm Complex of East Antarctica. Granulite facies gneisses from Rundvågshetta in Lützow‐Holm Bay experienced a peak metamorphic temperature of over 900 °C at c. 11 kbar, as evidenced by primary orthopyroxene–sillimanite‐bearing assemblages, and secondary cordierite–sapphirine‐bearing assemblages in metapelites. Peak metamorphic assemblages show strong preferred mineral orientation, interpreted to have developed synchronously with pervasive ductile deformation. Zircon from a syndeformational leucosome has a U–Pb age of 517±9 Ma, which is interpreted as a melt crystallization age. This age provides the best estimate of the time of peak metamorphic conditions. The post‐peak metamorphic history is characterized by near‐isothermal decompression, recorded by mineral textures in a variety of rock compositions. Field and textural relations indicate that decompression post‐dated pervasive ductile deformation. K/Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages from hornblende and biotite represent closure ages during cooling subsequent to decompression, and indicate cooling to temperatures between c. 350 and 300 °C by c. 500 Ma, thus placing a lower time limit on the duration of the high‐temperature isothermal decompression episode. The combination of the zircon age from a syndeformational melt with K/Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar closure ages indicates that near‐isothermal decompression from c. 11 to c. 4 kbar at granulite facies temperatures, followed by cooling to c. 300 °C, took place within a time interval of 20±10 Myr. Simple one‐dimensional models for exhumation‐controlled cooling indicate that these data require exhumation rates of the order of c. 3 km Myr^?1 for several million years, then cessation of exhumation followed by relatively isobaric cooling during thermal re‐equilibration.     

Cassiterite LA-MC-ICP-MS U/Pb and muscovite 40Ar/39Ar dating of tin deposits in the Tengchong-Lianghe tin district,NW Yunnan,China

The Tengchong-Lianghe tin district in northwestern Yunnan, China, is an important tin mineralization area in the Sanjiang Tethyan Metallogenic Domain. There are three N–S trending granite belts in the Tengchong-Lianghe area, with emplacement ages ranging from Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous and Early Cenozoic. Tin mineralization is spatially associated with these granitic rocks. However, the petrogenetic link between the tin deposits and the host granites is not clear because of the lack of age data for the tin mineralization. We investigate the possibility of direct dating of cassiterite from three typical tin deposits in the Tengchong-Lianghe tin district, using laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). In situ LA-MC-ICP-MS dating of seven cassiterite samples from the Lailishan (LLS-1 and LLS-2), Xiaolonghe (XLH, WDS, DSP, and HJS), and Tieyaoshan (TYS) tin deposits yielded well-defined ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb–²³⁸U/²⁰⁷Pb isochron ages. To assess the accuracy of the in situ U/Pb dating of cassiterite, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of coexisting muscovite (in samples LLS-1, DSP, and TYS) was also performed. The cassiterite in situ U/Pb ages (47.4?±?2.0, 71.9?±?2.3, and 119.3?±?1.7 Ma, respectively) are in excellent agreement with the coexisting muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages (48.4?±?0.3, 71.9?±?1.4, and 122.4?±?0.7 Ma, respectively). The U/Pb ages of cassiterite combined with the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of muscovite indicate that there are three tin mineralization events in this district: the Lailishan tin deposit at 47.4?±?2.0 to 52?±?2.7 Ma, the Xiaolonghe tin deposit at 71.6?±?2.4 to 3.9?±?2.0 Ma, and the Tieyaoshan tin deposit at 119.3?±?1.7 to 122.5?±?0.7 Ma. These ages are highly consistent with the zircon U/Pb ages of the host granites. It is su.ggested that the Cretaceous tin mineralization might have taken place in a subduction environment, while the Early Tertiary tin metallogenesis was in a postcollisional geodynamic setting.     

Slow cooling versus episodic fluid injections: Deciphering the Caledonian orogeny in Vestvågøy,Lofoten islands,Norway

The determination of the thermal (temperature–time) histories of high‐P metamorphic terranes has been commonly based on the concepts of slow cooling and closure temperatures. In this paper, we find that this approach cannot reconcile a geochronological data set obtained from the amphibolite‐facies allochthonous Leknes Group of the Lofoten islands, Norway, which reveals an extremely complex thermal history. Using detailed results from several different geochronometers such as ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, Rb–Sr and U–Pb, we show that a model invoking multiple, short‐lived thermal pulses related to hot‐fluid infiltration channelized by shear zones can reconcile this complicated data set. This model suggests that hot fluids infiltrated throughout basement shear zones and affected the overlying cold allochthon, partially resetting U/Pb rutile and titanite ages, crystallizing new zircon and produced identical ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and Rb/Sr ages in muscovite, biotite and amphibole in various rocks throughout the region. This paper shows the enormous potential of coupling laser Ar‐spot data with thermal modelling to identify and constrain the duration of short‐lived events. An optimal P–T–t history has been derived by modelling the age data from a previously dated large muscovite crystal (Hames & Andresen, 1996, Geology, 24 :1005) and using Zr‐in‐rutile thermometry which is consistent with all geochronological data and geological constraints from the basement zones and allochthon cover. This tectonothermal model history suggests that there have been three episodic hot‐fluid and ⁴⁰Ar‐free infiltration events, resulting in the total resetting of Ar ages during the Scandian (425 Ma) for 1 Ma at 650°C and two reheating events at 415 Ma for 400 ka at 650°C and at 365 Ma for 50 ka at 600°C, which are modelled as thermal spikes above an ambient temperature of 300°C. Independent confirmation of these parameters was provided by Pb‐diffusion modelling in rutile and titanite. The model suggests that the amphibolite facies rocks of the Leknes Group probably remained cold before being exhumed for at least 60 Ma (425–365 Ma) and successfully explains the presence of different minerals that crystallized or were totally/partially reset in the allochthon and in the basement. The migration of hot fluids for short periods of times within conduits extending through the basement and allochthon rock units is likely associated with episodic seismic activity during the Caledonian orogeny.     

Early Paleozoic Magmatism and Gold Mineralization in the Northern Aitun, NW China

Abstract This paper discusses the relationships between granitic magmatism and gold mineralization and the exhumation history of the Dapinggou gold deposit in northern Altun, NW China based on the geochronological data, including zircon U‐Pb ages, Rb‐Sr isochron age and ⁴⁰Ar‐³⁹Ar dating and MDD modeling data. The main granitic magmatism age in this area is attained from the ID TIMS U‐Pb geochronology of zircons from the Kuoshibulak granite, the biggest granite in the northern Altun area, which gives a concordant age of 443±5 Ma in the Late Ordovician. Zircon ID TIMS U‐Pb geochronology of the West Dapinggou biotite granite west of the Dapinggou gold deposit gives concordant ages around 485±10 Ma, representing the early stage of Ordovician magmatism. The Rb‐Sr isochron age (487±21 Ma) of 6 quartz inclusion samples from quartz veins in this gold deposit is very close to that of the West Dapinggou granite. MDD modeling of step heating ⁴⁰Ar‐³⁹Ar data of K‐feldspar from the same West Dapinggou biotite granite gives a rapid cooling history from 300°C to 150°C during 200–185 Ma. According to the age data and the geological setting of this area, we conclude that the Dapinggou gold deposit was formed at the early stage of the Early Paleozoic granitic magmatism in northern Altun, and exhumed in the Early Jurassic due to the normal faulting of the Lapeiquan detachment. The Early Paleozoic magmatism may provide heat source and produce geological fluids, which are very important for gold mineralization. Exhumation in the Mesozoic caused the uplift of the deposit towards the ground surface.