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Geochemistry of High-Phosphorus Zircon from the Upper Riphean Sandstones of the Southern Timan

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Abstract—A detailed mineralogical and geochemical study (using the EPMA and SIMS methods) of zircon from sandstones of the Dzhezhim Formation in the South Timan made it possible to establish an anomalously high phosphorus content (up to 10.21 wt % P2O5 according to EPMA data), which correlates with an increased content of other admixture elements, the main of which are Y, REE, Ca, Fe, Al, Ti, Sr, Ba, Th, U. Of particular note is the significant amount of volatile components in zircon (up to 0.49 wt % water and up to 0.26 wt % fluorine, determined by the SIMS method). The total content of admixture elements can exceed 20 wt %, which is a characteristic feature of the composition of zircon exposed to fluid or formed as a result of hydrothermal-metasomatic processes. The main mechanism for the incorporation of admixtures into the zircon composition was xenotime-type heterovalent isomorphism, when the presence of pentavalent phosphorus is compensated by trivalent Y and REE. Isomorphic scheme providing the entry of hydrogen (water) is of subordinate significance. The zircon areas enriched in phosphorus and other trace elements are confined to the grain margin or to the fracture system and fluid-permeable areas. Zircon was likely derived from granitoids, while its transformation (recrystallization and enrichment of local areas, rarely, whole grains) probably occurred during metamorphism and/or hydrothermal process in the rocks of the East European platform basement, which served as one of detrital sources during formation of the Dzhezhim sandstones.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to S.G. Simakin, E.V. Potapov (YaF FTIAN), A.S. Shuisky and E.M. Tropnikova (CCU “Geonauka” of IG FRC KOMI SC UrB RAS ) for the performance of analytical studies. O.A. Lukanin, the scientific editor of the Geochemistry International, N.V. Sorokhtina, and reviewers are thanked for help with manuscript preparation.

Funding

This work was carried out within the frameworks of the Research work of the state task of the IG FRC KOMI SC UrB RAS (project nos. 122040600013-9 and 122040600012-2) and IPGG RAS (FMUW-2022-0002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982, Syktyvkar, Russia

    O. V. Grakova & N. Yu. Nikulova

  2. Institute of Precambrian Geology and Geochronology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia

    S. G. Skublov & O. L. Galankina

  3. St. Petersburg Mining University, 199106, St. Petersburg, Russia

    S. G. Skublov

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  1. O. V. Grakova
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  4. O. L. Galankina
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Correspondence to O. V. Grakova.

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Translated by M. Bogina

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Grakova, O.V., Skublov, S.G., Nikulova, N.Y. et al. Geochemistry of High-Phosphorus Zircon from the Upper Riphean Sandstones of the Southern Timan. Geochem. Int. 61, 956–971 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702923090057

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