Abstract
We present results of zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb, Lu–Hf, and trace-element study in combination with whole-rock Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotope data on the magmatic rocks of the Markov Deep and Ashadze hydrothermal field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Zircon from three gabbronorite samples in the Markov Deep defined an U–Pb ages between 0.90 ± 0.02 and 2.00 ± 0.05 Ma, with the youngest age found in the deepest sample. Zircons from four samples of gabbros and trondhjemites of the Ashadze Field have identical ages: from 1.04 ± 0.07 to 1.12 ± 0.09 Ma. Plagioclase troctolite from the Markov Deep (sample I-1069/19) contains exotic zircon grains with ages widely ranging from 90 Ma to 3.2 Ga, which is inconsistent with age of the rocks in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Several hypotheses are discussed to explain the origin of such exotic grains, in particular, their formation at mantle depths, or reaching these depths with subducted crust, and others. Experimental study of zirconium solubility shows that the mafic and ultramafic melts could be oversaturated with respect to zirconium only at unrealistically high contents, which usually do not occur in the corresponding rocks. Entrapped xenogenic zircon must be dissolved in the mafic and ultramafic melts and its finds in these rocks presumably indicate its disequilibrium precipitation. Zircon could be formed in the intrusive mafic rocks at the final stages of fractional crystallization, which explains the presence of own zircon in gabbroids. Zircon is very stable in crustal magmatic processes, especially at lowered activity of alkalis, but almost instantly (on geological scale) loses radiogenic lead by diffusion way under upper mantle conditions (1300–1500°C). While applying REE distribution for interpreting zircon origin, as many as possible elements should be analyzed to discriminate between intrinsic zircon element distribution and anomalies caused by defects in its structure.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. Aléon, M. Chaussidon, B. Marty, L. Schütz, and R. Jaenicke, “Oxygen isotopes in single micrometer-sized quartz grains: tracing the source of Saharan dust over long-distance atmospheric transport,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 66, 3351–3365 (2002).
L. Ya. Aranovich, T. F. Zinger, N. S. Bortnikov, V. E. Sharkov, and A. V. Antonov, “Zircon in gabbroids from the axial zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Markov Deep, 6 N: correlation of geochemical features with petrogenetic processes,” Petrology 21(1), 1–16 (2013).
B. Yu. Astafiev, S. G. Skublov, V. A. Glebovitskii, I. M. Gembitskaya, O. A. Voinova, and O. A. Levchenkov, “Geochemistry of metasomatic zircons from the Terskii Greenstone Belt,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 427(1), 840–845 (2009).
A. G. Baines, M. J. Cheadle, B. E. John, C. B. Grimes, J. J. Schwartz, and J. L. Wooden, “SHRIMP Pb/U zircon ages constrain gabbroic crustal accretion at Atlantis Bank on the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 287, 540–550 (2009).
E. A. Belousova, W. L. Griffin, S. Y. O’Reilly, and N. I. Fisher, “Igneous zircon: trace element composition as an indicator of source rock type,” Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 143, 602–622 (2002).
V. Beltenev, V. Ivanov, I. Rozhdestvenskaya, et al. “A new hydrothermal field at 13°30′ N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge,” InterRidge News 16, 9–10 (2007).
V. Beltenev, V. Ivanov, I. Rozhdestvenskaya, et al., “New data about hydrothermal fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 11–14° N: 32nd Cruise of R/V Professor Logatchev,” InterRidge News. 18, 14–18 (2009).
P. Betzer, K. Carder, R. Duce, J. Merrill, N. Tindale, M. Uematsu, D. Costello, R. Young, R. Feely, and J. Breland, “Long-range transport of giant mineral aerosol particles,” Nature 336, 568–571 (1988).
E. V. Bibikova, The Uranium—Lead Geochronology of the Early Stages of Evolution of Ancient Shields (Nauka, Moscow, 1989) [in Russian].
E. V. Bibikova, S. N. Shilobreeva, T. V. Gracheva, and V. A. Makarov, “Experimental study of U–Pb system behavior in zircon in melt under different physicochemical conditions,” Geokhimiya 34 (8), 1100–1109 (1995).
Yu. A. Bogdanov, N. S. Bortnikov, I. V. Vikent’ev, et al., “A new type of modern mineral-forming system: black smokers of the hydrothermal field at 14°45′ N latitude, Mid-Atlantic Ridge,” Geol. Ore Dep. 39 (1), 68–90(1997).
E. Bonatti and K. Crane, “Oscillatory spreading explanation of anomalously old uplifted crust near oceanic transforms,” Nature 300, 343–345 (1982).
E. Bonatti, D. Brunelli, W. R. Buck, A. Cipriani, P. Fabretti, V. Ferrante, L. Gasperini, and M. Ligi, “Flexural uplift of a lithospheric slab near the Vema transform (Central Atlantic): timing and mechanisms,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 240, 642–655 (2005).
N. S. Bortnikov, G. N. Savel’eva, D. I. Matukov, S. A. Sergeev, N. G. Berezhnaya, E. N. Lepekhina, and A. V. Antonov, “The zircon age of plagiogranites and gabbros based on SHRIMP data: Pleistocene intrusion in the MAR rift valley, 5°30.6′–5°32.4′ N,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 404 (1), 1054–1058 (2005).
N. S. Bortnikov, E. V. Sharkov, O. A. Bogatikov, T. F. Zinger, E. N. Lepekhina, A. V. Antonov, and S. A. Sergeev, “Finds of young and ancient zircons in gabbroids of the Markov Deep, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 5°54′–5°02.2′ N (results of SHRIMP-II U–Pb dating): implication for deep geodynamics of modern oceans,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 421 (5), 859–866 (2008).
A. J. M. Bory, P. E. Biscaye, A. Svensson, and F. E. Grousset, “Seasonal variability in the origin of recent atmospheric mineral dust at NorthGRIP, Greenland,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 196, 123–134 (2002).
J. R. Cann, D. K. Blackman, D. K. Smith, E. McAllister, B. Janssen, S. Mello, E. Avgerinos, A. R. Pascoe, and J. Escartin, “Corrugated slip surfaces formed at ridgetransform intersections on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge,” Nature 385, 329–332 (1997).
D. J. Cherniak and E. B. Watson, “Pb diffusion in zircon,” Chem. Geol. 172, 5–24 (2000).
D. J. Cherniak, J. M. Hanchar, and E. B. Watson, “Diffusion of tetravalent cations in zircon,” Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 127, 383–390 (1997).
S. Clement, W. Compston, and G. Newstead, “Design of a large high resolution ion microprobe,” in Int. Conf. SIMS (Munster, 1977), p. 17.
F. Corfu, J. M. Hanchar, P. W. O. Hoskin, and P. Kinny, “Atlas of zircon textures,” Rev. Mineral. Geochem. 53, 469–500 (2003).
J. Crank, The Mathematics of Diffusion, 2nd Ed. (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1975).
N. M. Evensen, P. J. Hamilton, and R. K. O’Nions, “Rare earth element abundances in chondritic meteorites,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 42, 1199–1212 (1978).
R. Feng, N. Machado, and J. Ludden, “Lead geochronology of zircon by laser probe-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LP-ICPMS),” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 57, 3479–3486 (1993).
G. B. Fershtater, A. A. Krasnobaev, F. Bea, and P. Montero, “Geochemistry of zircon from magmatic and metamorphic rocks of the Urals,” Litosfera, No. 4, 13–29 (2012).
B. J. Fryer, S. E. Jackson, and H. P. Longerich, “The application of laser-ablation microprobe-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LAM-ICP-MS) to insitu (U)-Pb geochronology,” Chem. Geol. 109, 1–8 (1993).
T. Geisler, A. A. Rashwan, M. K. W. Rahn, U. Poller, H. Zwingmann, R. T. Pidgeon, H. Schleicher, and F. Tomaschek, “Low-temperature hydrothermal alteration of natural metamict zircons from the Eastern Desert, Egypt,” Mineral. Mag. 67, 485–508 (2003).
W. L. Griffin, N. J. Pearson, E. Belousova, S. E. Jackson, E. Vanachterbergh, S. Y. O’Reilly, and S. R. Shee, “The Hf isotope composition of cratonic mantle—LAM-MC–ICPMS analysis of zircon megacrysts in kimberlites,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 64, 133–147 (2000).
C. B. Grimes, B. E. John, P. B. Kelemen, F. K. Mazdab, J. L. Wooden, M. J. Cheadle, K. Hanghøj, and J. J. Schwartz, “Trace element chemistry of zircons from oceanic crust: a method for distinguishing detrital zircon provenance,” Geology 35, 643–646 (2007).
J. M. Hanchar and E. B. Watson, “Zircon saturation thermometry,” Rev. Mineral. Geochem. 53, 89–112 (2003).
P. W. O. Hoskin and U. Schaltegger, “The composition of zircon and igneous and metamorphic petrogenesis,” Rev. Mineral. Geochem. 53, 27–62 (2003).
P. W. O. Hoskin, “Trace-element composition of hydrothermal zircon and the alteration of Hadean zircon from the Jack Hills, Australia,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 69, 637–648 (2005).
S. E. Jackson, N. J. Pearson, W. L. Griffin, and E. A. Belousova, “The application of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to in situ U-Pb zircon geochronology,” Chem. Geol. 211, 47–69 (2004).
C. Kirkland, Whitehouse, M. and Slagstad, T. “Fluidassisted zircon and monazite growth within a shear zone: a case study from Finnmark, Arctic Norway,” Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 158, 637–657 (2009).
Yu. A. Kostitsyn, “Terrestrial and chondritic Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopic systems: are they identical?” Petrology 12 (5), 397–411 (2004)
Yu. A. Kostitsyn, E. A. Belousova, N. S. Bortnikov, and E. V. Sharkov, “Zircons in gabbroids from the axial zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: U-Pb age and 176Hf/177Hf ratio (results of investigations by the laser ablation method),” Dokl. Earth Sci. 429 (8), 1305–1309 (2009).
Yu. A. Kostitsyn, S. A. Silantyev, E. A. Belousova, N. S. Bortnikov, E. A. Krasnova, and M. Kannat, “Time of the formation of the oceanic core complex of the Ashadze hydrothermal field in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (12°58′ N): evidence from zircon study,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 447 (2), 1301–1305 (2012).
A. Liati, D. Gebauer, and C. M. Fanning, “The age of ophiolitic rocks of the Hellenides (Vourinos, Pindos, Crete): first U-Pb ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon ages,” Chem. Geol. 207, 171–188 (2004).
C. J. Lissenberg, M. Rioux, N. Shimizu, S. A. Bowring, and C. Mevel “Zircon dating of oceanic crustal accretion,” Science 323, 1048–1050 (2009).
K. R. Ludwig, “Using Isoplot/Ex, Version 2.01: a geochronological toolkit for Microsoft Excel,” Berkeley Geochronol. Center Sp. Publ., No. 1a, (1999).
Ñ. J. MacLeod, R. C. Searle, B. J. Murton, J. F. Casey, C. Mallows, S. C. Unsworth, K. L. Achenbach, and M. Harris, “Life cycle of oceanic core complexes,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 287, 333–344 (2009).
S. I. Nakai, A. N. Halliday, and D. K. Rea, “Provenance of dust in the Pacific Ocean,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 119, 143–157 (1993).
J. Pilot, C.-D. Werner, F. Haubrich, and N. Baumann, “Palaeozoic and Proterozoic zircons from the MidAtlantic Ridge,” Nature 393, 676–679 (1998).
S. Ríos, E. K. H. Salje, M. Zhang, and R. C. Ewing, “Amorphization in zircon: evidence for direct impact damage,” J. Phys: Condens. Matter. 12, 2401 (2000).
D. K. Rea, H. Snoeckx, and L. H. Joseph “Late Cenozoic eolian deposition in the North Pacific: Asian drying, Tibetan uplift, and cooling,” Paleoceanography 13, 215–224 (1998).
P. J. Sack, R. F. Berry, S. Meffre, T. J. Falloon, J. B. Gemmell, and R. M. Friedman, “In situ location and U-Pb dating of small zircon grains in igneous rocks using laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–quadrupole mass spectrometry,” Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst. 12, Q0AA14 (2011).
U. Schärer, “The effect of initial 230Th disequilibrium on young U-Pb ages: the Makalu case, Himalaya,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 67, 191–204 (1984).
J.-G. Schilling, “Oceanic domains and the mantle,” in Les Isotopes Radiogeniques an Geologie: Chronologie Geochimie, Ed. by J. L. Duthou, (Societe Francaise Min. Crist, Paris, 1992), pp. 1–34.
A. K. Schmitt, M. Grove, T. M. Harrison, O. Lovera, J. Hulen, and M. Walters, “The Geysers–Cobb Mountain magma system, California (Part 1): U-Pb zircon ages of volcanic rocks, conditions of zircon crystallization and magma residence times,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 67, 3423–3442 (2003).
N. Schoolmeesters, M. J. Cheadle, B. E. John, P. W. Reiners, J. Gee, and C. B. Grimes, “The cooling history and the depth of detachment faulting at the Atlantis Massif oceanic core complex,” Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst. 13 (10), doi: 10.1029/2012GC004314 (2012)
J. J. Schwartz, B. E. John, M. J. Cheadle, J. L. Wooden, F. Mazdab, S. Swapp, and C. B. Grimes, “Dissolution–reprecipitation of igneous zircon in mid-ocean ridge gabbro, Atlantis Bank, Southwest Indian Ridge,” Chem. Geol. 274, 68–81 (2010).
E. V. Sharkov, N. S. Bortnikov, O. A. Bogatikov, B. V. Belyatsky, T. F. Zinger, and S. G. Skolotnev, “Mesozoic zircon from gabbronorites of the axial Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 6° N, Markov Deep,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 397 (5), 654–657 (2004).
S. A. Silantyev, E. A. Krasnova, M. Kannat, N. S. Bortnikov, N. N. Kononkova, and V. E. Bel’tenev, “Peridotite–gabbro–trondhjemite association of the MidAtlantic Ridge between 12°58′ and 14°45′ N: Ashadze and Logachev hydrothermal vent fields,” Geochem. Int. 49 (4), 323–354 (2011).
S. A. Silantyev, M. V. Mironenko, and A. A. Novoselov, “Hydrothermal systems in peridotites of slow-spreading mid-oceanic ridges. modeling phase transitions and material balance: downwelling limb of a hydrothermal circulation cell,” Petrology 17 (2), 138–157 (2009).
S. G. Skolotnev, A. A. Peyve, N. S. Bortnikov, et al., “Geology of ore-hosting rift deeps near the Sierra Fracture Zone, equatorial Atlantic,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 391 (5), 679–684 (2003).
T. Tanaka, S. Togashi, H. Kamioka, H. Amakawa, H. Kagami, T. Hamamoto, M. Yuhara, Y. Orihashi, S. Yoneda, H. Shimizu, T. Kunimaru, K. Takahashi, T. Yanagi, T. Nakano, and H. Fujimaki, “JNdi-1—a neodymium isotopic reference in consistency with La Jolla neodymium,” Chem. Geol. 168, 279–281 (2000).
F. Tera and G. J. Wasserburg, “U-Th-Pb systematics in lunar highland samples from 2321 Luna 20 and Apollo 16 missions,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 17, 36–51 (1972).
E. van Achterbergh, C. G. Ryanm, and W. L. Griffin, “GLITTER: On-line interactive data reduction for the laser ablation ICP-MS microprobe,” in Proceedings of the 9th V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Cambridge, US, 1999 (Cambridge, 1999), p. 305.
M. Wiedenbeck, P. Allé, F. Corfu, W. L. Griffin, M. Meier, F. Oberli, A. V. Quadt, J. C. Roddick, and W. Spiegel, “Three natural zircon standards for U–Th–Pb, Lu-Hf, trace element and REE analyses,” Geostand. Newslett. 19, 1–23. (1995).
I. S. Williams, “Some observations on the use of zircon U-Pb geochronology in the study of granitic rocks,” Trans. R. Soc. Edinburgh: Earth Sci. 83, 447–458 (1992).
J. A. Woodhead, G. R. Rossman, and L. T. Silver, “The metamictization of zircon radiation dose-dependent structural characteristics,” Am. Mineral. 76, 74–82 (1991)
M. Zhang and E. K. H. Salje, “Infrared spectroscopic analysis of zircon: radiation damage and the metamict state,” J. Phys: Condens. Matter 13, 3057 (2001).
T. F. Zinger, N. S. Bortnikov, E. V. Sharkov, and S. E. Borisovskii, “Influence of plastic deformations in zircon on its chemical composition: evidence from gabbroids of the Spreading Zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Markov Trough, 6 N,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 433 (2), 1098–1103 (2010).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © Yu.A. Kostitsyn, E.A. Belousova, S.A. Silant’ev, N.S. Bortnikov, M.O. Anosova, 2015, published in Geokhimiya, 2015, No. 9, pp. 771–800.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kostitsyn, Y.A., Belousova, E.A., Silant’ev, S.A. et al. Modern problems of geochemical and U-Pb geochronological studies of zircon in oceanic rocks. Geochem. Int. 53, 759–785 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702915090025
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702915090025