Zircon age and Nd–Hf isotopic composition of the Yunnan Tethyan belt,southwestern China

The Baoshan block of the Tethyan Yunnan, southwestern China, is considered as northern part of the Sibumasu microcontinent. Basement of this block that comprises presumably greenschist-facies Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks is covered by Paleozoic to Mesozoic low-grade metamorphic sedimentary rocks. This study presents zircon ages and Nd–Hf isotopic composition of granites generated from crustal reworking to reveal geochemical feature of the underlying basement. Dating results obtained using the single zircon U–Pb isotopic dilution method show that granites exposed in the study area formed in early Paleozoic (about 470 Ma; Pingdajie granite) and in late Yanshanian (about 78–61 Ma, Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary; Huataolin granite). The early Paleozoic granite contains Archean to Mesoproterozoic inherited zircons and the late Yanshanian granite contains late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic zircon cores. Both granites have similar geochemical and Nd–Hf isotopic charateristics, indicating similar magma sources. They have whole-rock T _DM(Nd) values of around 2,000 Ma and zircon T _DM(Hf) values clustering around 1,900–1,800 and 1,600–1,400 Ma. The Nd–Hf isotopic data imply Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic crustal material as the major components of the underlying basement, being consistent with a derivation from Archean and Paleoproterozoic terrains of India or NW Australia. Both granites formed in two different tectonic events similarly originated from intra-crustal reworking. Temporally, the late Yanshanian magmatism is probably related to the closure of the Neotethys ocean. The early Paleozoic magmatism traced in the Baoshan block indicates a comparable history of the basements during early Paleozoic between the SE Asia and the western Tethyan belt, such as the basement outcrops in the Alpine belt and probably in the European Variscides that are considered as continental blocks drifting from Gondwana prior to or simultaneously with those of the SE Asia.     

U-Pb and Pb-Pb apatite ages for Antarctic achondrite Graves Nunataks 06129

The Antarctic achondrite Graves Nunataks 06128 (GRA 06128) and Graves Nunataks 06129 (GRA 06129) represent a unique high-temperature, nonbasaltic magmatism in the early solar system. These objects have been interpreted as products of low-degree partial melting of volatile-rich chondritic material, which may have been the asteroid parent bodies of brachinite. Previous studies have investigated their crystallization and metamorphic history with various isotope systematics. Here, we report the U-Pb intercept age of 4466 ± 29 Ma and the weighted-average ²⁰⁷Pb-²⁰⁶Pb age of 4460 ± 30 Ma for the Cl-apatite grains from GRA 06129. Our apatite ages are obviously younger than that of the ²⁶Al-²⁶Mg model age (4565.9 ± 0.3 Ma; Shearer et al. 2010a ), but are the same as the ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar age obtained via step-heating of the bulk rock (4460 ± 28 Ma; Fernandes and Shearer 2010 ; Shearer et al. 2010a ). Based on petrographic observations, merrillites are usually rimmed by apatite and exist as inclusions in apatite. Therefore, the apatite U-Pb age from GRA 06129 probably records a metamorphic event of replacing merrillite with apatite, caused by Cl-rich melts or fluids on their parent body. A collisional event has provided the impact heating for this metamorphic event. Increasing amounts of geochronologic evidence show that the giant impact of the Moon-forming event has affected the asteroid belt at 4450–4470 Ma (Bogard and Garrison 2009 ; Popova et al. 2013 ; Yin et al. 2014 ; Zhang et al. 2016 ). Considering the contemporary metamorphic events for GRA 06129 (4460 ± 30 Ma), it is likely that the asteroid parent body of GRA 06129 was also affected by the same giant impact as the Moon-forming event.     

Precise U–Pb and Th–Pb age determination of kimberlitic perovskites by secondary ion mass spectrometry

Perovskite, a common Th- and U-enriched accessory mineral crystallised from kimberlitic magmas, has long been thought to be an important geochronometer for dating the emplacement of kimberlite. However, it also contains variably high levels of common Pb, which makes it difficult to obtain a precise measurement of radiogenic Pb/U and Pb/Th isotopic compositions using microbeam techniques such as SIMS and LA-ICP-MS. We present calibration protocols for in situ U–Pb and Th–Pb age determination of kimberlitic perovskite using the large double-focusing Cameca IMS 1280. Linear relationships are found between ln(²⁰⁶Pb?⁺/U⁺) and ln(UO₂⁺/U⁺), and between ln(²⁰⁸Pb?⁺/Th⁺) and ln(ThO⁺/Th⁺), based on which the inter-element fractionation in unknown samples during SIMS analyses can be precisely calibrated against a perovskite standard. The well-characterized Ice River perovskite is chosen as the U–Pb and Th–Pb age standard in this study. The ²⁰⁴Pb-correction method was used to estimate the fraction of common Pb, which is consistent with the results obtained using the ²⁰⁷Pb-based correction method for the dated perovskites of Phanerozoic age.A Tazheran perovskite with unusually high U but rather low Th yielded a Concordia U–Pb age of 462.8 ± 2.5 Ma and a Th–Pb age of 462 ± 4 Ma. Two perovskite samples from the Iron Mountain kimberlite have identical Concordia U–Pb ages of 410.8 ± 3.4 Ma and 411.0 ± 2.6 Ma, which are consistent within errors with their corresponding Th–Pb ages of 409.2 ± 7.2 Ma and 412.3 ± 3.3 Ma, respectively. Two perovskite samples from the Wesselton Mine of South Africa yielded indistinguishable ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 91.5 ± 2.2 Ma and 90.3 ± 2.9 Ma, and Th–Pb ages of 90.5 ± 0.8 Ma and 88.4 ± 1.6 Ma, respectively. Accuracy and precision of 1–2% (95% confidence level) for these measurements have been demonstrated by the consistency of their U–Pb and Th–Pb ages with the recommended U–Pb ages of previous works.     

Penglai Zircon Megacrysts: A Potential New Working Reference Material for Microbeam Determination of Hf–O Isotopes and U–Pb Age

We introduce a potential new working reference material – natural zircon megacrysts from an Early Pliocene alkaline basalt (from Penglai, northern Hainan Island, southern China) – for the microbeam determination of O and Hf isotopes, and U–Pb age dating. The Penglai zircon megacrysts were found to be fairly homogeneous in Hf and O isotopes based on large numbers of measurements by LA-multiple collector (MC)-ICP-MS and SIMS, respectively. Precise determinations of O isotopes by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and Hf isotopes by solution MC-ICP-MS were in good agreement with the statistical mean of microbeam measurements. The mean δ¹⁸O value of 5.31 ± 0.10‰ (2s) by IRMS and the mean ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf value of 0.282906 ± 0.0000010 (2s) by solution MC-ICP-MS are the best reference values for the Penglai zircons. SIMS and isotope dilution-TIMS measurements yielded consistent ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages within analytical uncertainties, and the preferred ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age was found to be 4.4 ± 0.1 Ma (95% confidence interval). The young age and variably high common Pb content make the Penglai zircons unsuitable as a primary U–Pb age reference material for calibration of unknown samples by microbeam analysis; however, they can be used as a secondary working reference material for quality control of U–Pb age determination for young (particularly < 10 Ma) zircon samples.     

Monazite RW-1: a homogenous natural reference material for SIMS U–Pb and Th–Pb isotopic analysis

Mineralogy and Petrology - Well-characterized matrix-matched natural mineral references of known age are an important prerequisite for SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) U–Th–Pb...     

Petrogenesis and tectonic significance of the ∼ 850 Ma Gangbian alkaline complex in South China: Evidence from in situ zircon U–Pb dating,Hf–O isotopes and whole-rock geochemistry

The Gangbian alkaline complex in the southeastern Yangtze Block (South China) is composed of Si-undersaturated pyroxene syenites and Si-saturated to -oversaturated syenites and quartz monzonites. SIMS zircon U–Pb analyses indicate that the complex was emplaced at 848 ± 4 Ma, during a previously-recognized interval of magmatic quiescence between the ca 1.0–0.89 Ga Sibaoan orogenic magmatism and the ca 0.83–0.78 Ga magmatic flare-up. The Gangbian rocks are characterized by wide, coherent variations in major and trace elements (SiO₂ = 47.6–68.4%, K₂O + Na₂O = 4.5–10.5%, K₂O/Na₂O = 0.4–1.2, MgO = 1.2–8.5%, Cr = 4.5–239 ppm, and Ni = 4.5–143 ppm) and by enrichment in LIL and LREE and depletion in Nb, Ta and P in trace element spidergrams. Their whole-rock εNd(T) (? 6.5 to ? 0.4) and εHf(T) (? 10.7 to 0.4) are positively correlated, suggesting involvement of both metasomatized mantle and continental crust materials in their genesis. In situ zircon Hf–O isotopic measurements for the most evolved quartz monzonite sample yield a binary mixing trend between the mantle- and supracrustal-derived melts. It is suggested that the pyroxene syenites were derived by partial melting of metasomatized, phlogopite-bearing lithospheric mantle, and the parental magma experienced extensive fractionation of pyroxene and olivine associated with varying degrees of crustal contamination. Subsequent fractional crystallization of hornblende and minor amounts of plagioclase from the alkali basaltic magmas, accompanied by crustal contamination, produced the Si-saturated to -oversaturated syenites and quartz monzonites. These ca. 0.85 Ga alkaline rocks and neighboring contemporaneous dolerite dykes are the products of the anorogenic magmatism after the Sibao Orogeny. They post-date the final amalgamation between the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks, most likely manifesting the initial rifting of South China within the Rodinia supercontinent.     

离子探针Li同位素微区原位分析技术与应用

Li同位素是一种新兴的非传统稳定同位素示踪工具,其应用领域涵盖了从地表到地幔的熔/流体与矿物之间的相互作用以及行星的早期演化研究。随着多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(MC ICPMS)和二次离子质谱仪(SIMS)技术的迅速发展,锂同位素地球化学研究取得了长足进步和发展。Cameca IMS 1280 SIMS可以在约20 μm×30 μm×2 μm的空间尺度上获得约1‰(1σ)的分析精度,实现了高精度微区原位Li同位素分析。由于Li同位素基体效应明显,获取与分析样品基体匹配的标准样品对Li同位素分析的准确性尤为关键。在重点介绍SIMS微区原位Li同位素分析技术的基础上,以锆石、橄榄石和辉石为例,综述了Li同位素原位分析技术的最新应用研究进展及存在的问题,旨在加深对Li同位素原位分析技术的理解,展示其在地球化学研究中的良好应用前景。     

Destruction of the North China Craton: Delamination or thermal/chemical erosion? Mineral chemistry and oxygen isotope insights from websterite xenoliths

The destruction (or reactivation) of the North China Craton (NCC) is one of the important issues related to the Phanerozoic evolution of eastern China, although the processes of destruction remain debated. Two main mechanisms – delamination and thermal/chemical erosion – have been proposed based on the geochemistry of Mesozoic–Cenozoic basalts and entrained deep–seated xenoliths. A key criterion in distinguishing between these mechanisms is the nature of the melt, derived from delaminated crust or the asthenosphere, that modified the lithospheric mantle. Here we investigate the mechanism of destruction of the NCC based on mineral compositions and oxygen isotopic data from olivines, and strontium isotopic data for clinopyroxenes within websterite xenoliths from the Early Cretaceous Feixian basalts in the eastern NCC. Olivines in websterite xenoliths have higher Mg# (86–86.4), Ni content (2187–2468 ppm), and lower Ca (983–1134 ppm), Ti (58.1–76.1 ppm), and Mn (1478–1639 ppm) contents than olivine phenocrysts (Mg# = 71.0–77.3, Ni = 233–1038 ppm, Ca = 1286–2857 ppm, Ti = 120–300 ppm, and Mn = 2092–4106 ppm) from Late Cretaceous basalts. Additionally, olivines in websterite xenolith have δ¹⁸O values of 7.10 ± 0.21‰ to 8.40 ± 0.21‰, evidently higher than those of typical mantle-derived olivines. Similarly, orthopyroxenes (Opx) and clinopyroxenes (Cpx) in the websterite xenoliths have much higher Mg# (86.3–89.2 and 87.5–90.3, respectively), and Ni contents (1097–1491 ppm and 581–809 ppm, respectively) than orthopyroxene- and clinopyroxene-phenocrysts (Opx: Mg# = 82.2–83.9, Ni = 730–798 ppm; Cpx: Mg# = 74.2–84.6, Ni = 117–277 ppm) from Late Cretaceous basalts. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of clinopyroxenes in the websterite xenoliths range from 0.70862 to 0.70979, and are much higher than those of clinopyroxene grains from peridotite xenoliths and basalts. These data indicate that olivines are the residue of ancient lithospheric mantle that was modified intensively by a melt derived from recycled continental crust, and that the silicic and calcic metasomatic melt might have been derived from the partial melting of the subducted Yangtze slab and delaminated lower crust of the NCC. The existence of recycled continental crust in the Mesozoic lithospheric mantle implies that delamination was an important mechanism of destruction of the NCC.     

In situ U–Pb age determination and Nd isotopic analysis of perovskites from kimberlites in southern Africa and Somerset Island,Canada

Determination of the emplacement ages and initial isotopic composition of kimberlite by conventional isotopic methods using bulk rock samples is unreliable as these rocks usually contain diverse clasts of crustal- and mantle-derived materials and can be subject to post-intrusion sub-aerial alteration. In this study, 8 samples from 5 kimberlites in southern Africa and twelve samples from 7 kimberlites from Somerset Island, Canada have been selected for in situ perovskite U–Pb isotopic age determination and Nd isotopic analysis by laser ablation using thin sections and mineral separates. These fresh perovskites occur as primary groundmass minerals with grain-sizes of 10–100 μm. They were formed during the early stage of magmatic crystallization, and record data for the least contaminated or contamination-free kimberlitic magma. U–Pb isotopic data indicate that the majority of the southern Africa kimberlites investigated were emplaced during the Cretaceous with ages of 88 ± 3 to 97 ± 6 Ma, although one sample yielded an Early Paleozoic age of 515 ± 6 Ma. Twelve samples from Somerset Island yielded ages ranging from 93 ± 4 Ma to 108 ± 5 Ma and are contemporaneous with other Cretaceous kimberlite magmatism in central Canada (103–94 Ma). Although whole-rock compositions of the kimberlites from southern Africa have a large range of ε_Nd(t) values (? 0.5 to + 5.1), the analysed perovskites show a more limited range of + 1.2 to + 3.1. Perovskites from Somerset Island have ε_Nd(t) values of ? 0.2 to + 1.4. These values are lower than that of depleted asthenospheric mantle, suggesting that kimberlites might be derived from the lower mantle. This study shows that in situ U–Pb and Nd isotopic analysis of perovskite by laser ablation is both rapid and economic, and serves as a powerful tool for the determination of the emplacement age and potential source of kimberlite magmas.