Tracking an upper limit of the “Carnian Crisis” and/or Carnian stage in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia)

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Late Triassic timescale, especially the Carnian–Norian boundary, is poorly constrained mainly due to a paucity of high-precision radio-isotopic...     

S-type granite generation and emplacement during a regional switch from extensional to contractional deformation (Central Iberian Zone,Iberian autochthonous domain,Variscan Orogeny)

International Journal of Earth Sciences - Zircon grains extracted from S-type granites of the Mêda-Escalhão-Penedono Massif (Central Iberian Zone, Variscan Orogen) constrain the timing of...     

A new U–Pb LA-ICP-MS age of the Rumburk granite (Lausitz Block,Saxo-Thuringian Zone): constraints for a magmatic event in the Upper Cambrian

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The basement of the Saxo-Thuringian Zone consists of Upper Neoproterozoic (c. 650-570 Ma) Cadomian arc sediments (Lusatian greywackes) and...     

A new U–Pb zircon age and a volcanogenic model for the early Permian Chemnitz Fossil Forest

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Chemnitz Fossil Forest depicts one of the most completely preserved forest ecosystems in late Paleozoic Northern Hemisphere of tropical Pangaea. Fossil...     

An experimental study of Ti and Zr partitioning among zircon, rutile, and granitic melt

In order to evaluate the effect of trace and minor elements (e.g., P, Y, and the REEs) on the high-temperature solubility of Ti in zircon (zrc), we conducted 31 experiments on a series of synthetic and natural granitic compositions [enriched in TiO₂ and ZrO₂; Al/(Na + K) molar ~1.2] at a pressure of 10 kbar and temperatures of ~1,400 to 1,200 °C. Thirty of the experiments produced zircon-saturated glasses, of which 22 are also saturated in rutile (rt). In seven experiments, quenched glasses coexist with quartz (qtz). SiO₂ contents of the quenched liquids range from 68.5 to 82.3 wt% (volatile free), and water concentrations are 0.4–7.0 wt%. TiO₂ contents of the rutile-saturated quenched melts are positively correlated with run temperature. Glass ZrO₂ concentrations (0.2–1.2 wt%; volatile free) also show a broad positive correlation with run temperature and, at a given T, are strongly correlated with the parameter (Na + K + 2Ca)/(Si·Al) (all in cation fractions). Mole fraction of ZrO₂ in rutile $ \left( {\mathop X\nolimits_{{{\text{ZrO}}_{ 2} }}^{\text{rt}} } \right) $ in the quartz-saturated runs coupled with other 10-kbar qtz-saturated experimental data from the literature (total temperature range of ~1,400 to 675 °C) yields the following temperature-dependent expression: $ {\text{ln}}\left( {\mathop X\nolimits_{{{\text{ZrO}}_{ 2} }}^{\text{rt}} } \right) + {\text{ln}}\left( {a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} } \right) = 2.638(149) - 9969(190)/T({\text{K}}) $ , where silica activity $ a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} $ in either the coexisting silica polymorph or a silica-undersaturated melt is referenced to α-quartz at the P and T of each experiment and the best-fit coefficients and their uncertainties (values in parentheses) reflect uncertainties in T and $ \mathop X\nolimits_{{{\text{ZrO}}_{2} }}^{\text{rt}} $ . NanoSIMS measurements of Ti in zircon overgrowths in the experiments yield values of ~100 to 800 ppm; Ti concentrations in zircon are positively correlated with temperature. Coupled with values for $ a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} $ and $ a_{{{\text{TiO}}_{2} }} $ for each experiment, zircon Ti concentrations (ppm) can be related to temperature over the range of ~1,400 to 1,200 °C by the expression: $ \ln \left( {\text{Ti ppm}} \right)^{\text{zrc}} + \ln \left( {a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} } \right) - \ln \left( {a_{{{\text{TiO}}_{2} }} } \right) = 13.84\left( {71} \right) - 12590\left( {1124} \right)/T\left( {\text{K}} \right) $ . After accounting for differences in $ a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} $ and $ a_{{{\text{TiO}}_{2} }} $ , Ti contents of zircon from experiments run with bulk compositions based on the natural granite overlap with the concentrations measured on zircon from experiments using the synthetic bulk compositions. Coupled with data from the literature, this suggests that at T ≥ 1,100 °C, natural levels of minor and trace elements in “granitic” melts do not appear to influence the solubility of Ti in zircon. Whether this is true at magmatic temperatures of crustal hydrous silica-rich liquids (e.g., 800–700 °C) remains to be demonstrated. Finally, measured $ D_{\text{Ti}}^{{{\text{zrc}}/{\text{melt}}}} $ values (calculated on a weight basis) from the experiments presented here are 0.007–0.01, relatively independent of temperature, and broadly consistent with values determined from natural zircon and silica-rich glass pairs.     

A gamma‐ray spectroscopy survey of Omani meteorites

The gamma‐ray activities of 33 meteorite samples (30 ordinary chondrites, 1 Mars meteorite, 1 iron, 1 howardite) collected during Omani‐Swiss meteorite search campaigns 2001–2008 were nondestructively measured using an ultralow background gamma‐ray detector. The results provide several types of information: Potassium and thorium concentrations were found to range within typical values for the meteorite types. Similar mean ²⁶Al activities in groups of ordinary chondrites with (1) weathering degrees W0‐1 and low ¹⁴C terrestrial age and (2) weathering degree W3‐4 and high ¹⁴C terrestrial age are mostly consistent with activities observed in recent falls. The older group shows no significant depletion in ²⁶Al. Among the least weathered samples, one meteorite (SaU 424) was found to contain detectable ²²Na identifying it as a recent fall close to the year 2000. Based on an estimate of the surface area searched, the corresponding fall rate is ~120 events/10⁶ km²*a, consistent with other estimations. Twelve samples from the large JaH 091 strewn field (total mass ~4.5 t) show significant variations of ²⁶Al activities, including the highest values measured, consistent with a meteoroid radius of ~115 cm. Activities of ²³⁸U daughter elements demonstrate terrestrial contamination with ²²⁶Ra and possible loss of ²²²Rn. Recent contamination with small amounts of ¹³⁷Cs is ubiquitous. We conclude that gamma‐ray spectroscopy of a selection of meteorites with low degrees of weathering is particularly useful to detect recent falls among meteorites collected in hot deserts.     

Neodymium and Strontium Isotope Data for USGS Reference Materials BCR-1, BCR-2, BHVO-1, BHVO-2, AGV-1, AGV-2, GSP-1, GSP-2 and Eight MPI-DING Reference Glasses

We have measured ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³ Nd/¹⁴⁴ Nd isotope ratios in different batches and aliquots of the new US Geological Survey (USGS) reference materials (RMs) BCR-2, BHVO-2, AGV-2 and GSP-2 and the original USGS RMs BCR-1, BHVO-1, AGV-1 and GSP-1 by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. In addition, we also analysed the eight Max-Planck-Institut-Dingwell (MPI-DING) reference glasses. Nearly all isotope ratios obtained in the different aliquots and batches agree within uncertainty limits indicating excellent homogeneity of the USGS powders and the MPI-DING glasses. With the exception of GSP-2, the new USGS RMs are also indistinguishable from the ratios found in the original USGS RMs (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.704960, 0.704958 (BCR-1, -2), 0.703436, 0.703435 (BHVO-1, -2), 0.703931, 0.703931 (AGV-1, -2); ¹⁴³ Nd/¹⁴⁴ Nd: 0.512629, 0.512633 (BCR-1, -2), 0.512957, 0.512957 (BHVO-1, -2); 0.512758, 0.512755 (AGV-1, -2)). This means that for normalisation purposes in Sr and Nd isotope geochemistry BCR-2, BHVO-2 and AGV-2 can well replace BCR-1, BHVO-1 and AGV-1 respectively.     

The mafic-ultramafic complex near Finero (Ivrea-Verbano Zone), II. Geochronology and isotope geochemistry

Whole-rock Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of the mafic-ultramafic complex near Finero demonstrate that the magma was derived from a depleted, perhaps MORB-type mantle reservoir. The Sm-Nd data for the Amphibole Peridotite unit can be interpreted as an isochron with an apparent age of 533 ± 20 Ma, which is consistent with a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb evaporation age of 549 ± 12 Ma of a single zircon grain from the Internal Gabbro unit. However, the interpretation of these apparent ages remains open to question. We therefore retain the alternative hypotheses that the intrusion occurred either about 533 or 270 Ma ago, the latter being the most likely age of emplacement of the much larger magma body near Balmuccia (Val Sesia). The implication of the older emplacement age (if correct) would be that the igneous complex may be related to the numerous amphibolite units, which are intercalated with the metapelites of the overlying Kinzigite Formation, and together with them may constitute an accretionary complex. In this case, the mafic-ultramafic complex itself might also be part of such an accretionary complex (as has been proposed for the Balmuccia peridotite).

Internal Sm-Nd isochrons involving grt, cpx, plag and amph from the Internal Gabbro unit yield concordant ages of 231 ± 23, 226 ± 7, 223 ± 10, 214 ± 17, and 203 ± 13 Ma. These results confirm published evidence for a separate, regional heating event about 215 ± 15 Ma ago.

Initial _Nd(533) values average +6.3 ± 0.4 for six samples of the Amphibole Peridotite unit and +6.0 ± 1.2 for ten samples of the External Gabbro unit. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios require little or no age correction and range from 0.7026 to 0.7047 (with two outliers at 0.7053 and 0.7071). Strong correlations between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and K₂O and weaker correlations between initial _Nd and K₂O imply a comparatively minor (≤ 10%) contamination of the External Gabbro magma by crustal material and a later alteration by a crustal or seawater-derived fluid. These results contrast sharply with the isotopic composition (negative _Nd and high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values) of the associated mantle rocks, the Phlogopite Peridotite unit, which has been pervasively metasomatized by crustal fluids. This type of metasomatism and its isotopic signature are never seen in the magmatic complex. This evidence rules out any direct genetic relationship between the igneous complex and the mantle peridotite. The crust-mantle interaction is the opposite of that seen at Balmuccia, where the mantle peridotite is essentially ‘pristine’ and the magmatic body has been extensively contaminated by assimilation of crustal rocks.     

A review of the stratigraphy and geological setting of the Palaeoproterozoic Magondi Supergroup,Zimbabwe – Type locality for the Lomagundi carbon isotope excursion

The Palaeoproterozoic Magondi Supergroup lies unconformably on the Archaean granitoid-greenstone terrain of the Zimbabwe Craton and experienced deformation and metamorphism at 2.06–1.96 Ga to form the Magondi Mobile Belt. The Magondi Supergroup comprises three lithostratigraphic units. Volcano-sedimentary rift deposits (Deweras Group) are unconformably overlain by passive margin, back-arc, and foreland basin sedimentary successions, including shallow-marine sedimentary rocks (Lomagundi Group) in the east, and deeper-water shelf to continental slope deposits in the west (Piriwiri Group). Based on the upward-coarsening trend and presence of volcanic rocks at the top of the Piriwiri and Lomagundi groups, the Piriwiri Group is considered to be a distal, deeper-water time-equivalent of the Lomagundi Group. The Magondi Supergroup experienced low-grade metamorphism in the southeastern zone, but the grade increases to upper greenschist and amphibolite facies grade to the north along strike and, more dramatically, across strike to the west, reaching upper amphibolite to granulite facies in the Piriwiri Group.