scholarly journals Resolving uncertainties in the application of zircon Th / U and CL gauges to interpret U-Pb ages: a case study of eclogites in polymetamorphic terranes of NW Iberia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Castiñeiras ◽  
Juan Gómez Barreiro ◽  
Francisco J. Fernández ◽  
Carmen Aguilar ◽  
José Manuel Benítez Pérez

Abstract. Zircon crystal texture and Th / U ratio have been used as a watertight argument when interpreting U-Pb ages. The wide, and sometimes indiscriminate, use of those gauges could result into misinterpretation of the geological meaning of U-Pb data. A case study is presented here where zircons from a controversial polymetamorphic eclogite unit were analyzed with SHRIMP. Both U-Pb and trace element (TE) data were collected for each point. The combination of TE and structural arguments indicates that zircon was part of the eclogite facies mineral assemblage at 390 Ma. However, using Th / U ratio and CL textures lead to a different interpretation. Our results suggest that in complex orogenic scenarios and extreme environments well-known techniques (CL) and geochemical relationships (Th / U) must be used in combination with TE data and structural relationships as provenance/process gauges. While geochronology provides accurate isotope relationships, their temporal dimension must rely on structural and petrological evidence.

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 50-55
Author(s):  
L.V. SHUMLYANSKYY ◽  
V. KAMENETSKY ◽  
B.V. BORODYNYA

Results of a study of U-Pb and Hf isotope systematics and trace element concentrations in five zircon crystals separated from the Devonian Petrivske kimberlite are reported in the paper. Four zircons have yielded Paleoproterozoic and Archean ages, while one zircon grain gave a Devonian age of 383.6±4.4 Ma (weighted mean 206Pb/238U age). The Precambrian zircons have been derived from terrigenous rocks of the Mykolaivka Suite that is cut by kimberlite, or directly from the Precambrian rock complexes that constitute continental crust in the East Azov. The Devonian zircon crystal has the U-Pb age that corresponds to the age of kimberlite emplacement. It is 14 m.y. younger than zircon megacrysts found in the Novolaspa kimberlite pipe in the same area. In addition, Petrivske zircon is richer in trace elements than its counterparts from the Novolaspa pipe. Petrivske and Novolaspa zircons crystallized from two different proto-kimberlite melts, whereas the process of kimberlite formation was very complex and possibly included several episodes of formation of proto-kimberlite melts, separated by extended (over 10 M.y.) periods of time.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 635-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis J Cabri ◽  
Michelle Kelvin ◽  
Zhaoping Yang ◽  
Simon E Jackson ◽  
Okan Altun

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4571-4584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Li ◽  
Yulun Zhou ◽  
Bingcheng Wan ◽  
Hopun Chung ◽  
Bo Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract. The veracity of urban climate simulation models should be systematically evaluated to demonstrate the trustworthiness of these models against possible model uncertainties. However, existing studies paid insufficient attention to model evaluation; most studies only provided some simple comparison lines between modelled variables and their corresponding observed ones on the temporal dimension. Challenges remain since such simple comparisons cannot concretely prove that the simulation of urban climate behaviours is reliable. Studies without systematic model evaluations, being ambiguous or arbitrary to some extent, may lead to some seemingly new but scientifically misleading findings. To tackle these challenges, this article proposes a methodological framework for the model evaluation of high-resolution urban climate simulations and demonstrates its effectiveness with a case study in the area of Shenzhen and Hong Kong SAR, China. It is intended to (again) remind urban climate modellers of the necessity of conducting systematic model evaluations with urban-scale climatology modelling and reduce these ambiguous or arbitrary modelling practices.


Lithos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 356-357 ◽  
pp. 105382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Mollo ◽  
Teresa Ubide ◽  
Flavio Di Stefano ◽  
Manuela Nazzari ◽  
Piergiorgio Scarlato

2009 ◽  
Vol 147 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL BRÖCKER ◽  
REINER KLEMD ◽  
ELLEN KOOIJMAN ◽  
JASPER BERNDT ◽  
ALEXANDER LARIONOV

AbstractU–Pb zircon geochronology and trace element analysis was applied to eclogites and (ultra)high-pressure granulites that occur as volumetrically subordinate rock bodies within orthogneisses of the Orlica-Śnieżnik complex, Bohemian Massif. Under favourable circumstances such data may help to unravel protolith ages and yet-undetermined aspects of the metamorphic evolution, for example, the time span over which eclogite-facies conditions were attained. By means of ion-probe and laser ablation techniques, a comprehensive database was compiled for samples collected from prominent eclogite and granulite occurrences. The 206Pb/238U dates for zircons of all samples show a large variability, and no single age can be calculated. The protolith ages remain unresolved due to the lack of coherent age groups at the upper end of the zircon age spectra. The spread in apparent ages is interpreted to be mainly caused by variable and possibly multi-stage Pb-loss. Further complexities are added by metamorphic zircon growth and re-equilibration processes, the unknown relevance of inherited components and possible mixing of different aged domains during analysis. A reliable interpretation of igneous crystallization ages is not yet possible. Previous studies and the new data document the importance of a Carboniferous metamorphic event at c. 340 Ma. The geological significance of this age group is controversial. Such ages have previously either been related to peak (U)HP conditions, the waning stages of eclogite-facies metamorphism or the amphibolite-facies overprint. This study provides new arguments for this discussion because, in both rock types, metamorphic zircon is characterized by very low total REE abundances, flat HREE patterns and the absence of an Eu anomaly. These features strongly suggest contemporaneous crystallization of zircon and garnet and strengthen interpretations proposing that the Carboniferous ages document late-stage eclogite-facies metamorphism, and not amphibolite-facies overprinting.


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