logo
    Multiple provenance of detrital zircons from the Permian–Triassic boundary in the Bükk Mts., Hungary
    8
    Citation
    41
    Reference
    10
    Related Paper
    Citation Trend
    Abstract Single grain zircon U-Pb geochronology has demonstrated great potentials in extracting tectonic and atmospheric circulation signal carried by aeolian, fluvial, and fluviolacustrine sediments. A routine in this sort of studies is analyzing 100–150 grains and then compares zircon U-Pb age spectra between the measured sample and the potential sources. Here we compared the zircon U-Pb age results of the late Miocene-Pliocene Red Clay sequence of two neighboring sites from the Chinese Loess Plateau where similar provenance signal is expected. Although the results from the 5.5 Ma sediment support this prediction, the results from the 3 Ma sediment at these two sites differ from each other significantly. These results emphasize the importance of increasing analysis number per sample and combining the zircon U-Pb geochronology with other provenance tools in order to get reliable provenance information.
    Geochronology
    Loess plateau
    Citations (9)
    Io-ages obtained for glass-zircon pairs which were not consistent with expected ages were discussed on the basis of uranium and thorium distribution between zircon and glass. Uranium and thorium distribution between zircon and host rocks from dacites and granites were also discussed. Discordant Io-ages obtained for glass-zircon pairs with normal (Th/U)zircon/(Th/U)glass ratio are explained by early stage crysallization of the zircon in the magma. Discordant Io-ages with abnormal (Th/U)zircon/(Th/U)glass ratios suggest that the zircon was captured in the magma as xenoryst. The discrepancy between (Th/U)zircon/(Th/U)glass ratios (about 0.19) for dacites and (Th/U)zircon/(Th/U)whole rock ratios (about 0.12) for granites could be explained by crystallization of granitic zircon from liquid having chemical composition different from that of the whole rock of granite.
    Metamictization
    Citations (25)
    The intrusive rocks in El Sela area can be arranged from the oldest to the youngest into: two-mica granite and postgranitic dikes which include microgranite, dolerite and bostonite dikes. Zircon is the most abundant accessory mineral. Zircon morphology and geochemical features are good indicators for evolution of rocks. The aim of the work is to determine the morphology, internal structure and chemical composition of zircon to identify the difference of zircon in various intrusive rocks. Results show that morphologically, zircon in the two-mica granite is euhedral coarse- grained with zonation. It is represented by crystals up to 125 µm and corresponds to S10 and P2. Zircon in post-granitic dikes exhibit irregular forms. Geochemically, zircon crystals have higher ZrO2 values in the core whereas HfO2 , UO2 , ThO2 increase at the peripheries of zoned crystals of the two-mica granite. Zircon of two-mica granite contains high HfO2 , UO2 , ThO2 and CaO contents but low Sc2 O3 content. HfO2 is not detected in zircon of microgranite. TiO2 in zircon of two-mica granite and bostonite dikes is under detection limits. REEs are not recorded in zircon of the studied intrusive rocks
    Dike
    Granitic rock
    Abstract Detrital zircon U-Pb studies of mudstone provenance are rare but may preferentially fingerprint distal zircon sources. To examine this issue, Pierre Shale and Trinidad Sandstone deposited in a Late Cretaceous deltaic environment in the Raton Basin, Colorado (USA), were measured for detrital zircon U-Pb age by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Two major detrital zircon age peaks at ca. 70 and 1690 Ma are found in both Pierre Shale and Trinidad Sandstone but in inversely varying proportions: 68% and 16%, respectively, for the finest zircon fraction (~15–35 μm) in the shale, and 25% and 32%, respectively, for the coarsest zircon fraction (~60–80 μm) in the sandstone. Proximal sources in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, directly west of the Raton Basin, contain coarse-grained, ca. 1690 Ma zircon, whereas distal sources in Laramide uplifts and basins in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona contain fine-grained, ca. 70 Ma zircon. The results indicate that U-Pb zircon provenance of mudstone reflects availability of volcanic and other fine-grained source rocks rather than simply distal sources. U-Pb zircon provenance studies should routinely include mudstone units because these units may identify fine-grained zircon sources more reliably than sandstones alone.
    Geochronology
    Citations (8)
    Detrital zircon U-Pb and muscovite 40Ar/39Ar dating are useful tools for investigating sediment provenance and regional tectonic histories. However, the two types of data from same sample do not necessarily give consistent results. Here, we compare published detrital muscovite 40Ar/39Ar and zircon U-Pb ages of modern sands from the Yangtze River to reveal potential factors controlling differences in their provenance age signals. Detrital muscovite 40Ar/39Ar ages of the major tributaries and main trunk suggest that the Dadu River is a dominant sediment contributor to the lower Yangtze. However, detrital zircon data suggest that the Yalong, Dadu, and Min rivers are the most important sediment suppliers. This difference could be caused by combined effects of lower reaches dilution, laser spot location on zircons and difference in closure temperature and durability between muscovite and zircon. The bias caused by sediment laser spot targeting a core or rim of zircon and zircon reworking should be considered in provenance studies.
    Muscovite
    Thermochronology
    Citations (35)
    ABSTRACT Detrital-zircon records of provenance are used to reconstruct paleogeography, sediment sources, and tectonic configuration. Recognition of biases in detrital-zircon records that result from grain-size-dependent processes adds new complexity and caution to the interpretation of these records. We begin by investigating possible size-dependent biases that may affect interpretation of detrital-zircon provenance records in an idealized sedimentary system. Our modeling results show that settling and selective entrainment can differentially affect detrital-zircon spectra if an initial size variation between source zircon populations exists. We then consider a case study: a detrital-zircon record from Ediacaran to Terreneuvian strata of Death Valley, USA, with a focus on the Rainstorm Member of the Johnnie Formation. The detrital-zircon record of the Rainstorm Member shows that despite its unusual, heavy-mineral-rich character, the provenance of the unit is like other units in the succession. Size and density measurements of the grains of the deposit suggest that its enriched heavy-mineral suite is best explained through concentration by selective entrainment and winnowing. The relationship between detrital-zircon grain size and age for samples from the Johnnie Formation are consistent with grain-size influence on the interpretation of provenance, especially for large Grenville-age (1.0–1.2 Ga) zircons. Grain size can exert significant bias on a provenance interpretation and must be accounted for in provenance studies.
    Heavy mineral
    Geologic record
    Citations (17)
    In this article we present a compilation of U-Pb zircon ages of the whole Xolapa terrane in coastal southern Mexico (dataset 1) as a curved line, obtained from plotting individual zircon grains versus its corresponding age. We identified five low-slope segments of the curved line, each one assigned to a high zircon-production (or preservation) event (HZE). Crystallization temperatures (CT) from Ti-in-zircon geothermometer data on Xolapa rocks were estimated separately from individual zircon grains (dataset 2), in order to compare CT ranges corresponding to each HZE identified. Datasets 1 and 2 are discussed for tectonic implications in the research article "The opening and closure of the Jurassic-Cretaceous Xolapa basin, southern Mexico" Peña-Alonso et al., 2017.
    Citations (3)