Improved accuracy of U-Pb zircon ages by the creation of more concordant systems using an air abrasion technique

Abrasion combined with an improved paramagnetic separation technique eliminates 90 to 100 percent of discordance so that ages of unprecedented accuracy (±1 to 3 m.y.) can be achieved for virtually all 2700 m.y. old zircon populations from plutonic or volcanic rocks. The procedures work even better for younger zircons. Besides removing outer layers that may have been leached, high-U parts are preferentially removed by abrasion because they are softened by radiation damage. Altered and cracked zircons also tend to be eliminated.In most cases, the new concordant data move up the line established by previously analysed paramagnetic fractions but a number of anomalies have been found where old data give upper intersections that are in error by as much as 25 m.y. Reducing or eliminating paramagnetically correlated Pb loss greatly enhances our ability to define mixing lines for igneous or metamorphic rocks when two ages of zircon are present.The abrasion technique allows detection of an inherited component if it exists by enhancing the sample in core material. Abrasion in many cases removes about 80 percent of the common lead, thus allowing a direct evaluation of this component.When the outer parts of grains are removed, the correlation between magnetic susceptibility and uranium content is maintained but the usual correlation of uranium level with lead loss is reduced or eliminated. Therefore, only near surface uranium is involved in the classic discordance versus uranium level correlation of Silver (1963).     

Evidence of multiple intrusion,possible resetting of U-Pb ages,and new crystallization of zircons in the post-tectonic intrusions (‘Rapakivi granites’) and gneisses from South Greenland

U-Pb data for zircons from post-tectonic monzonite, syenite and norite, and country rock gneiss and migmatite from the Kap Farvel-Prins Christian Sund area of South Greenland indicate two distinct intrusive episodes at ～1740 m.y. and ～1755 m.y. The norites have the same age as the older granitic rocks. Similar intrusions further north along the southeast coast have the same age (～1755 m.y.) and geochemical character as those of the Kap Farvel-Prins Christian Sund area. Our U-Pb ages are about 100 m.y. older than previously determined K-Ar ages.The youngest peak of regional Ketilidian metamorphism in this area is placed at about 1800 m.y. based on a linear array of seven magnetic and size fractions from a syntectonic granitic part of a migmatite. This age is distinctly different from the post-tectonic intrusions and, along with other data, precludes the possibility of in situ formation of the intrusions by remelting of the country rocks.In one hypersthene migmatite sample collected near a post-tectonic intrusion, clear overgrowths and separate clear grains with low uranium concentrations were identified. The clear grains of zircon have the same age as the intrusion, indicative of new zircon growth during the granulite facies recrystallization of the gneiss. In contrast, rounded red zircons from an early subconcordant granitic sheet have clear uranium-rich overgrowths which probably formed during regional metamorphism. If the deep-red zircons observed in one of the post-tectonic intrusions were derived from the surrounding metamorphic rocks, they have had their U-Pb systems reset to the time of intrusion.In accord with observations (Krogh, 1971) on non-magnetic zircon fractions from volcanics, the Greenland zircons contain very low amounts of common lead ranging from <0.01 ppm in the least magnetic fractions in the post-tectonic intrusions, to 6.5 ppm in the most magnetic fractions of the gneisses. These two rock groups can be differentiated on the basis of their common lead content.     

Oxygen isotopic composition and U-Pb discordance in zircon

We have investigated U-Pb discordance and oxygen isotopic composition of zircon using high-spatial resolution δ¹⁸O measurement by ion microprobe. δ¹⁸O in both concordant and discordant zircon grains provides an indication of the relationship between fluid interaction and discordance. Our results suggest that three characteristics of zircon are interrelated: (1) U-Pb systematics and concomitant age discordance, (2) δ¹⁸O and the water-rock interactions implied therein, and (3) zircon texture, as revealed by cathodoluminescence and BSE imaging. A key observation is that U-Pb-disturbed zircons are often also variably depleted in ¹⁸O, but the relationship between discordance and δ¹⁸O is not systematic. δ¹⁸O values of discordant zircons are generally lighter but irregular in their distribution. Textural differences between zircon grains can be correlated with both U-Pb discordance and δ¹⁸O. Discordant grains exhibit either a recrystallized, fractured, or strongly zoned CL texture, and are characteristic of ¹⁸O depletion. We interpret this to be a result of metamictization, leading to destruction of the zircon lattice and an increased susceptibility to lead loss. Conversely, grains that are concordant have less-expressed zoning and a smoother CL texture and are enriched in ¹⁸O. From this it is apparent that various stages of water-rock interaction, as evidenced by systematic variations in δ¹⁸O, leave their imprint on both the texture and U-Pb systematics of zircon.     

Zircon U-Pb ages of the Franzfontein granitic suite,northern South West Africa

U-Pb isotopic data are presented for composite and size fractions of zircons from 15 samples of the Franzfontein granitic suite. These data reveal two distinctly different discordance trends that yield concordia intercept ages of 1730±30 m.y. and 1870±30 m.y. that are believed to encompass the age of emplacement of the suite. The previously published Rb-Sr isochron age of 1580±20 m.y. is now interpreted as recording a time of Rb and/or Sr migration through the system. The stratigraphic implications of the new zircon data are discussed.     

U-Pb and Pb-Pb ages of zircons from basaltic eucrites: Implications for early basaltic volcanism on the eucrite parent body

We have undertaken petrologic and SHRIMP U-Th-Pb isotopic studies on zircons from basaltic eucrites (Yamato [Y]-75011, Y-792510, Asuka [A]-881388, A-881467 and Padvarninkai) with different thermal and shock histories. Eucritic zircons are associated with ilmenite in most cases and have subhedral shapes in unmetamorphosed and metamorphosed eucrites. Some zircons in highly metamorphosed eucrites with granulitic texture occur alone in pyroxene, and typically have rounded to subrounded shapes due to recrystallization. Superchondritic Zr/Hf ratios of eucritic zircons indicate that they crystallized from incompatible element-rich melts after crystallization of ilmenite. Concentrations of uranium and thorium in zircons in the unmetamorphosed eucrite Y-75011 are higher than those in metamorphosed eucrites.The U-Pb systems of eucritic zircons are almost concordant but some zircon grains show reverse discordance. Radiogenic lead-loss up to 48% from zircons is observed in the shock-melted eucrite Padvarninkai. The ²⁰⁷Pb-²⁰⁶Pb ages of zircon in Y-75011 (4550 ± 9 Ma, n = 5) are nearly identical, within analytical uncertainty, to the ages of zircons from the metamorphosed eucrite Y-792510 (4545 ± 15 Ma, n = 13), the highly metamorphosed eucrites A-881388 (4555 ± 54 Ma, n = 5) and A-881467 (4558 ± 13 Ma, n = 8), and the shock-melted eucrite Padvarninkai (4555 ± 13 Ma, n = 18). The averaged ²⁰⁷Pb-²⁰⁶Pb age of zircon from five eucrites analyzed in this study is 4554 ± 7 Ma (95% confidence limits, n = 49), indistinguishable from the averaged U-Pb age (4552 ± 9 Ma) of the same samples. Because of the high closure temperature of lead in zircon (T_closure = ∼1050°C with a cooling rate of 0.2°C/yr), the ²⁰⁷Pb-²⁰⁶Pb ages of eucritic zircon do not represent metamorphic ages but crystallization ages of extrusive lavas.This fact strongly suggests that volcanism of the eucrite parent body occurred at a very early stage of the Solar System history, 7-20 Ma after CAI formation (4567.2 ± 0.6 Ma), thus basaltic eucrites crystallized from parental magmas within a short interval following the differentiation of their parent body. The U-Pb ages of eucritic zircons are older than the U-Pb, Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr ages of some basaltic eucrites, which is consistent with differences in closure temperatures of each isotopic system, and suggests that thermal and shock metamorphism affected the isotopic systems of pyroxene, plagioclase and phosphates.     

阿尔泰递增变质带中夹层石英岩的LA-ICP-MS碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄:对沉积时限及物源的限定

阿尔泰造山带广泛分布各种变质沉积岩并发育典型递增变质带,变质沉积岩变质之前的沉积时代与物源特征对于限定成岩历史以及造山带演化具有重要意义。文章对采自阿勒泰组变质带中石英岩夹层样品进行了岩相学分析并采用LA-ICP-MS方法对其碎屑锆石进行了U-Pb年代学分析。共获得100个谐和或近于谐和的碎屑锆石年龄,表面年龄分布范围为(443±5)Ma至(2682±19)Ma。碎屑锆石年龄主要集中在寒武纪(486~540 Ma)并具有527~535 Ma的年龄峰值,可能源于区域内同时代的岩浆活动。新元古代年龄约占1/4,少量锆石具有古中元古代甚至太古宙年龄。结合年轻碎屑锆石年龄以及直接侵入该变质带中的英云闪长岩年龄可确定石英岩原岩的沉积时限为早志留世—早泥盆世,其后发生变质作用。古老碎屑锆石在该地区缺乏对应的岩石,可能源于区内隐伏的古老基底岩石或邻区古老陆块。     

用SHRIMP测定锆石U-Pb年龄的工作方法

用SHRIMP测定锆石U-Pb年龄涉及锆石单矿物分选、样品靶制备、U-Pb同位素组成测定、原始数据处理、数据解释等多方面。锆石分选中要避免不同样品的交叉污染,要尽量将岩石中所有的锆石分选出来;淘洗岩石粉末时要避免丢失细小的锆石,因细小的锆石更重要。制作样品靶时,粘贴到样品靶的锆石应反映岩石中锆石的全貌。数据处理中,要修正或剔除异常数据、评估拟参加加权平均计算的每个数据权重的合理性。通常用测得的众数年龄的加权平均值作为侵位年龄或喷发年龄会老于实际年龄,应使用样品中最年轻的锆石年龄来限定岩浆侵位或喷发年龄。     

U-Pb systematics of detrital zircons from some unmetamorphosed to slightly metamorphosed sediments of Central Europe

In an attempt to find the premetamorphic discordance pattern of detrital zircons extracted from Central European metasediments, unmetamorphosed or only slightly metamorphosed sediments were collected from two areas: (1) from the Montagne Noire, the southernmost part of the French Central Massif and (2) from the innerbohemian Algonkian (= Proterozoic) in the CSSR.The generally accepted hypothesis that zircons from Central European metasediments must have plotted close to or at the corresponding upper intercept between discordia trajectory and concordia curve prior to the metamorphism of the host rocks could not be supported. The zircon populations from sediments of both areas are similar in discordance to those of the numerous populations extracted from metasediments of the Central European basement complexes. However, in contrast to the latter, the data points of size fractions scatter considerably and reliable intercept ages cannot be calculated.In the case of the Cambro-Ordovician sand- and siltstones of the Montagne Noire, the ages of detrital muscovites strongly argue for a Cadomian (550–700 m.y.) provenance of the detritus. Thus, the strong discordance of the analyzed fractions most probably is caused by zircons newly formed and/or partly or completely reset during a Cadomian event in the provenance of the detritus. In addition, lattice unit parameters indicate that the detrital zircons must have been recrystallized after their primary formation more than 1.7 b.y. ago.The Algonkian sediments of Bohemia (CSSR) can be taken as the very low-grade metamorphic equivalents of the Moldanubian paragneisses from which discordia trajectories between about 2 b.y. and 460–320 m.y. are known (Gebauer and Grünenfelder, 1974; Grauert et al., 1974). Nevertheless, all analyzed zircon fractions are strongly discordant indicating that they probably recrystallized during the Assyntian (=Cadomian) very low-grade metamorphism of the host rock loosing most of their accumulated radiogenic lead. If such an interpretation is correct, the low-temperature recrystallization model of Gebauer and Grünenfelder (1976) can be applied to metamict zircons in host rocks formed at temperatures as low as 300 ° C. In our 1976-paper we gave temperatures of 350–400 ° C for the maximum temperature necessary to recrystallize metamict zircons in chlorite-grade quartzphyllites in agreement with the experimental results of Pidgeon et al. (1973).In contrast to the zircons of the Montagne Noire it can be shown that the U-Pb systems of the Algonkian zircons must have been re-opened in post-Assyntian time, probably recently or in the Tertiary. However, no plausible explanation can be given to account for this.     

地质样品无污染高效分选锆石的技术和方法进展

锆石是应用最广泛的定年矿物, 无污染地从地质样品中高效分选出锆石是获得代表地质样品准确信息的前提条件。传统锆石分选方法基于锆石的高密度和无磁性, 主要通过机械破碎和不同水动力条件分选, 存在破碎过程易污染和分选流程效率低的问题。针对这两个问题, 本研究通过回顾和总结前人地质样品粉碎技术和高效矿物分选的方法, 将高压脉冲电动力破碎技术、高温淬火和酸溶法结合, 开发了一种能够实现锆石无污染、高回收的操作流程: 高压脉冲电动力破碎→(淬火)→HF+HNO₃溶解→HCl+H₃BO₃溶解。本次研究以锆石含量较低的基性样品为对象进行了不同方法的对比, 对于含有≥50μm锆石的地质样品, 新方法的锆石回收率是传统方法的6倍以上; 对于只含有 < 50μm锆石的地质样品, 传统方法无法从几千克的样品中分选出锆石, 而新方法可以从几十克样品中分选出几十颗锆石。拉曼光谱分析显示, 酸溶数小时并不会显著影响中等结晶度锆石的结晶度, 而高温淬火可以明显提高锆石的结晶度。离子探针分析表明, 酸溶分选和淬火后酸溶分选的锆石, 在测试精度范围内均没有明显Pb丢失。采用新分选方法, 并结合离子探针U-Pb定年, 本文首次报道了洛阳牡丹石和雅鲁藏布江中段玄武岩的年龄(分别为~1831Ma和~164Ma), 以证明改进后的锆石分选方法实用有效。新锆石分选流程的推广将显著扩展锆石在基性岩研究中的应用空间。

     

High-reliability zircon separation for hunting the oldest material on Earth: An automatic zircon separator with image-processing/microtweezers-manipulating system and double-step dating

Despite the recent development in radiometric dating of numerous zircons by LA-ICPMS, mineral separation still remains a major obstacle, particularly in the search for the oldest material on Earth. To improve the efficiency in zircon separation by an order of magnitude, we have designed/developed a new machine-an automatic zircon separator(AZS). This is designed particularly for automatic pick-up of100 μm-sized zircon grains out of a heavy mineral fraction after conventional separation procedures. The AZS operates in three modes:(1) image processing to choose targeted individual zircon grains out of all heavy minerals spread on a tray,(2) automatic capturing of the individual zircon grains with microtweezers, and(3) placing them one-by-one in a coordinated alignment on a receiving tray. The automatic capturing was designed/created for continuous mineral selecting without human presence for many hours. This software also enables the registration of each separated zircon grain for dating, by recording digital photo-image, optical(color) indices, and coordinates on a receiving tray. We developed two new approaches for the dating; i.e.(1) direct dating of zircons selected by LA-ICPMS without conventional resin-mounting/polishing,(2) high speed U-Pb dating, combined with conventional sample preparation procedures using the new equipment with multiple-ion counting detectors(LA-MIC-ICPMS).With the first approach, Pb-Pb ages obtained from the surface of a mineral were crosschecked with the interior of the same grain after resin-mounting/polishing. With the second approach, the amount of time required for dating one zircon grain is ca. 20 s, and a sample throughput of 150 grains per hour can be achieved with sufficient precision(ca. 0.5%).We tested the practical efficiency of the AZS, by analyzing an Archean Jack Hills conglomerate in Western Australia with the known oldest(4.3 Ga) zircon on Earth. Preliminary results are positive; we were able to obtain more than 194 zircons that are over 4.0 Ga out of ca. 3800 checked grains, and 9 grains were over 4300 Ma with the oldest at 4371 ± 7 Ma. This separation system by AZS, combined with the new approaches, guarantees much higher yield in the hunt for old zircons.     

华北克拉通胶东地区粉子山群碎屑锆石SHRIMPU-Pb定年

胶东是华北克拉通重要的变质基底出露区之一。对该区古元古代粉子山群和荆山群中碎屑锆石的年龄分布特征的研究,可以为胶东地区早前寒武纪演化提供重要依据。由于Pb丢失作用,前人仅在粉子山群中获得少量锆石谐和年龄。本文对粉子山群长石石英片岩中碎屑锆石进行了SHRIMP定年。52颗锆石的61个数据点分析,获得36个谐和年龄(不谐和度10%)。所有具谐和年龄的锆石都具有高的Th/U比值,大多显示明显的岩浆环带,原为岩浆成因。谐和锆石年龄分布在2033~3429Ma之间,主要峰值分别为~2.19Ga和~2.48Ga。该样品中还含有2颗年龄大于3.3Ga的锆石,位于谐和线上的2颗最年轻碎屑锆石的年龄为~2.08Ga。结合前人研究,可得出如下结论:1)粉子山群和荆山群原岩沉积时代可进一步限制在1.9~2.1Ga之间;2)粉子山群与荆山群的碎屑锆石年龄分布形式存在明显区别,指示其源区可能不同;3)胶东地区可能存在古太古代地壳物质。     

U‐Pb Detrital Zircon Analysis – Results of an Inter‐laboratory Comparison

Inter‐laboratory comparison of laser ablation ICP‐MS and SIMS U‐Pb dating of synthetic detrital zircon samples provides an insight into the state‐of‐the art of sedimentary provenance studies. Here, we report results obtained from ten laboratories that routinely perform this type of work. The achieved level of bias was mostly within ± 2% relative to the ID‐TIMS U‐Pb ages of zircons in the detrital sample, and the variation is likely to be attributed to variable Pb/U elemental fractionation due to zircon matrix differences between the samples and the reference materials used for standardisation. It has been determined that ~ 5% age difference between adjacent age peaks is currently at the limit of what can be routinely resolved by the in situ dating of detrital zircon samples. Precision of individual zircon age determination mostly reflects the data reduction and procedures of measurement uncertainty propagation, and it is largely independent of the instrumentation, analytical technique and reference samples used for standardisation. All laboratories showed a bias towards selection of larger zircon grains for analysis. The experiment confirms the previously published estimates of the minimum number of grains that have to be analysed in order to detect minor zircon age populations in detrital samples.     

Dating of granulites involved in the hercynian fold-belt of Europe: An example taken from the granulite-facies orthogneisses at La Picherais,Southern Armorican Massif,France

Situated within the crystalline metamorphic complex of Champtoceaux NE of Nantes, the orthogneiss of La Picherais (near St Mars-du-Désert, Loire Atlantique, France) show relicts of a granulite facies paragenesis. Comparison with other granulitic rocks in the Hercynian fold-belt suggest possible ages ranging from Lower Proterozoic to Phanerozoic. The Rb-Sr whole rock method yields an errorchron of 570±110 m.y. for the Picherais orthogneiss, whereas the U-Pb zircon method indicates an upper intersection on Concordia at 1,880±120 m.y. and a lower intersection at 423±10 m.y. Several interpretations are possible for these data: the granite emplacement age was (1) 1,900 m.y. ago. (2) more likely Upper Proterozoic — Lower Palaeozoic. The zircons concordant at 1,900 m.y. were either present in the granitic magma at its time of origin or were introduced into the magma during emplacement. These zircons could be derived from sedimentary horizons such as found in the Lower Ordovician sandstones of the Armorican massif whose zircon age data are presented here.     

U-Pb isotopic relationships in zircon suites from a para- and ortho-gneiss from the Ceneri Zone,Southern Switzerland

U-Pb isotopic analyses have been determined on four size splits from an orthogneiss zircon population and on seven size and magnetic splits from a paragneiss zircon population from the Ceneri Zone, Southern Switzerland. The orthogneiss zircon results suggest that a severe isotopic disturbance occurred in this region between 400–450 m. y. ago which, besides initiating new zircon growth, almost completely reconstituted older zircon. The U-Pb systems of the orthogneiss zircons are nearly concordant, except the coarsest size split where some older lead is present.The paragneiss zircon U-Pb systems have Precambrian apparent ages and appear to be an old detrital zircon suite which has been severely isotopically disturbed by the same Caledonian event which affected the orthogneiss zircons. Zircon U-Pb data-points of paragneiss size-and-magnetic fractions are linearly correlated on a concordia plot. The age significance of this is not fully understood, however these results indicate that Precambrian crustal rocks, at least 1,500 m. y. old, contributed detritus to the original sediments of the Alpine gneisses.The gneissic rocks in Southern Switzerland have been postulated as a possible source or root zone for petrologically and chemically similar gneisses in the Silvretta Nappe to the north. The close similarity of zircon U-Pb systems of orth- and para-gneisses between the two regions supports this hypothesis.     

Lu–Hf and U–Pb isotope systematics of zircons from the Storgangen intrusion, Rogaland Intrusive Complex, SW Norway: implications for the composition and evolution of Precambrian lower crust in the Baltic Shield

The Storgangen orebody is a concordantly layered, sill-like body of ilmenite-rich norite, intruding anorthosites of the Rogaland Intrusive Complex (RIC), SW Norway. 17 zircon grains were separated from ca. 5 kg of sand-size flotation waste collected from the on-site repository from ilmenite mining. These zircons were analysed for major and trace elements by electron microprobe, and for U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes by laser ablation microprobe plasma source mass spectrometry. Eight of the zircons define a well-constrained (MSWD=0.37) concordant population with an age of 949±7 Ma, which is significantly older than the 920–930 Ma ages previously reported for zircon inclusions in orthopyroxene megacrysts from the RIC. The remaining zircons, interpreted as inherited grains, show a range of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages up to 1407±14 Ma, with an upper intercept age at ca. 1520 Ma. The concordant zircons have similar trace element patterns, and a mean initial Hf isotope composition of ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf_{949 Ma}=0.28223±5 (_Hf=+2±2). This is similar to the Hf-isotope composition of zircons in a range of post-tectonic Sveconorwegian granites from South Norway, and slightly more radiogenic than expected for mid-Proterozoic juvenile crust. The older, inherited zircons show Lu–Hf crustal residence ages in the range 1.85–2.04 Ga. One (undated) zircon plots well within the field of Hf isotope evolution of Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Baltic Shield. These findings indicate the presence of Paleoproterozoic components in the deep crust of the Rogaland area, but do not demonstrate that such rocks, or a Sveconorwegian mantle-derived component, contributed significantly to the petrogenesis of the RIC. If the parent magma was derived from a homogeneous, lower crustal mafic granulite source, the lower crustal protolith must be at least 1.5 Ga old, and it must have an elevated Rb/Sr ratio. This component would be indistinguishable in Sr, Nd and Hf isotopes from some intermediate mixtures between Sveconorwegian mantle and Paleoprotoerzoic felsic crust, but it cannot account for the initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of the most primitive, late Sveconorwegian granite in the region, without the addition of mantle-derived material.     

U/Pb Systematics of zircons during dynamic metamorphism

Eight zircon fractions from the Henderson Gneiss were analyzed from the Brevard mylonites and adjacent Inner Piedmont rocks near Rosman, North Carolina, to determine variations of U/Pb systematics of zircons in a pressure-dominated metamorphism. Substantial uranium gain occurred during zircon recrystallization and size reduction.At Rosman, the Henderson Gneiss zircons probably formed about 600 m.y. ago and now show evidence of being binary mixtures. They experienced mylonitization at about 450 m.y. ago during Taconic deformation and metamorphism in the almandine amphibolite facies. The lower intensity, upper greenschist or greenschist-amphibolite Acadian (360–390 m.y.) metamorphism and mylonitization (recrystallization) had little effect on the zircons but disturbed Rb/Sr systems.The ages of dynamic metamorphism and thrusting (450, 360–390) in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge near and along the Brevard zone at Rosman, North Carolina, agree well with the tectonic interpretations of the Valley and Ridge Taconic (ca. 470-400 m.y.) and Acadian (ca. 375-330 m.y.) clastic wedges. Intermittent thrusting, folding, and uplift rather than continuous secular uplift of the crystalline terrane seems indicated.     

Isotopic U-Pb ages of monazites and zircons from the crust-mantle transition and adjacent units of the ivrea and ceneri zones (Southern Alps,Italy)

The Ivrea zone forms a part of the Southern Alps and is composed of basic rocks interfingered with granulite facies acidic rocks. According to geophysical evidence, this zone represents the transition between crust and uplifted and overthrusted mantle. Towards the Ceneri zone the metamorphic grade changes to amphibolite facies. Paragneisses, migmatites and anatectic gneisses dominate, within which postmetamorphic granites occur. Concordant monazite U-Pb ages of 275+2 m.y. were obtained from paragneisses of the Ivrea zone. The apparent zircon ages are discordant indicating a minimum age of 1900 m.y. for the oldest population and an apparent lead loss of 99 to 85 % about 285–300 m.y. ago. The zircons show features such as rounded habitus, low trace element contents and well ordered crystal lattices characteristic for detrital, recrystallised populations. Monazite from the neighbouring Ceneri zone migmatite yielded concordant U-Pb ages at 295±5 m.y. The discordant zircon age pattern indicates a time of formation of 450 m.y., similar to other newly formed zircons in anatectic rocks of the Ceneri zone, and an episodic or continuous lead loss at, or until 300 m.y. ago. The majority of the zircons are euhedral and have elevated trace element contents, features typical for zircons formed in the present-day host rocks. Concordant, 295±5 m.y. old monazite dates the formation of the postmetamorphic Mont' Orfano granite. Again zircon fractions yielded discordant ages, pointing in contrast to the above discordancies to a recent or continuous lead loss. The concordant ages of the monazites demonstrate the usefulness of this mineral for dating purposes in metamorphic and granitic rocks and contrast with the discordant age patterns of all zircon suites. From the general agreement between the monazite ages and the time of lead loss inferred from the zircon age patterns as well as from the geological relationships of the rocks and their metamorphic grade it is concluded that 295±5 m.y. is the minimum age for the regional granulite to upper amphibolite facies metamorphism of the Ivrea zone and that the uplift and overthrust of the upper mantle started prior to 295 m.y. ago, and that the basic rocks of the Ivrea zone are synmetamorphic intrusions. The decrease from 310–320 m.y. to 170–200 m.y. of the K-Ar and Rb-Sr mineral ages from the Ceneri towards the Ivrea zone is accompanied by decreases from 450 m.y. to 295 m.y. and on to 275 m.y. in the U-Pb ages of monazites. The zircon age pattern also shows a decrease from 450 m.y. to approximately 300 m.y. The main lowering of the ages occurs approximately at the petrographic boundary between the two zones and is related to the Hercynian uplift and overthrust of the mantle which may have started as early as 450 m.y. ago. The Insubric line which terminates the Ivrea zone towards the North must therefore be of pre-Alpine age, or a precursor of the Insubric line must have existed at the time of the mantle uplift.     

Fission‐track dating of lower Palaeozoic sandstones at Tatong,North Central Victoria

Fission‐track dating has been applied for the first time to detrital mineral grains in sedimentary rocks. Unfossiliferous sandstones associated with Cambrian greenstones near Tatong, Victoria contain detrital zircon grains with an average age of 427 ± 20 m.y. This date provides a maximum age for the sandstones, so that they are younger than the Cambrian rocks, and have been tectonically juxtaposed. Radiometric dates for the eastern highlands of Victoria range from 390 to 460 m.y., and this mixed granitic‐metamorphic terrain may be the source for the zircons dated.     

北秦岭西段冥古宙锆石(4.1～3.9Ga)年代学新进展

2007年王洪亮等报道在北秦岭西段火山岩中获得一粒年龄为4079±5Ma的冥古宙捕虏锆石。之后,对这一发现开展了深入的调查研究,我们除利用SHIMP技术方法对原4079Ma的锆石进行验证外,新获得了两粒~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄为4007±29Ma和3908±45Ma捕获的变质成因锆石,表明早在4.0Ga已经有变质作用的发生,这或许说明在冥古宙时期地球已经具有相当规模和厚度的地壳。同时开展的岩石学研究表明,蕴含古老锆石的母岩属于火山碎屑熔岩类而不是火山熔岩。     

胶东苏鲁地体范家埠金矿成矿作用与矿床成因浅析:兼与胶北地体金矿对比

范家埠金矿是胶东半岛苏鲁地体内规模最大的石英脉型金矿。含金石英脉中锆石阴极发光和LA-ICP-MS微量元素及U-Pb同位素分析结果表明,含金石英脉中的锆石均为捕获围岩(新元古代威海片麻状花岗岩)的岩浆锆石,其中15个颗粒在U-Pb图解上位于谐和线上,其206Pb/238U加权平均年龄为(726±14)Ma(MSWD=4.6);另外7颗锆石位于不一致线上,其上交点年龄为(758±25)Ma,下交点年龄为(123±11)Ma(MSWD=0.45)。这些锆石的下交点年龄与金矿脉旁侧斜闪煌斑岩脉的角闪石40Ar/39Ar年龄分别为(118.8±1.6)Ma和(117.5±1.5)Ma,在误差范围内一致,表明范家埠金矿的成矿时代为120Ma左右。由此认为,苏鲁地体和胶北地体的金矿成矿作用均发生于早白垩世晚期120Ma前后,与目前多数人认为的华北克拉通岩石圈减薄的峰期时间一致,表明苏鲁地体的金矿成矿受岩石圈减薄的构造背景控制。范家埠金矿床成矿流体具中高温、中高盐度15.5%～23.2%(NaCleq)、低δ18OH2O(-3.84‰～-4.05‰)和低δDH2O(-82.5‰～-80.8‰)值等特点,载金矿物黄铁矿富32S(δ34S=-5.5‰～-9.1‰),与含油气盆地热卤水的组成相近,暗示范家埠金矿的成矿流体可能来源于中生代胶莱盆地。这种盆地流体沿断裂——五莲—米山深大断裂及其次级构造迁移,同时萃取基底岩石中的金形成含矿热液并在还原的环境中成矿。相反,胶北地体大量金矿床成矿流体具有低盐度、高δ18OH2O和δDH2O,δ34S(‰)为正值等特点。胶北和苏鲁地体早白垩世金成矿强度和成矿作用的差异可能反映了两者在地壳基底、流体来源和成矿环境等方面的不同。