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Trace element signature and U–Pb geochronology of eclogite-facies zircon, Bergen Arcs, Caledonides of W Norway

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Abstract

Secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) U–Pb and trace element data are reported for zircon to address the controversial geochronology of eclogite-facies metamorphism in the Lindås nappe, Bergen Arcs, Caledonides of W Norway. Caledonian eclogite-facies overprint in the nappe was controlled by fracturing and introduction of fluid in the Proterozoic—Sveconorwegian—granulite-facies meta-anorthosite-norite protolith. Zircon grains in one massive eclogite display a core–rim structure. Sveconorwegian cores have trace element signatures identical with those of zircon in the granulite protolith, i.e. 0.31≤Th/U≤0.89, heavy rare earth element (HREE) enrichment, and negative Eu anomaly. Weakly-zoned to euhedral oscillatory-zoned Caledonian rims are characterized by Th/U≤0.13, low LREE content (minimum normalized abundance for Pr or Nd), variable enrichment in HREE, and no Eu anomaly. A decrease of REE towards the outermost rim, especially HREE, is documented. This signature reflects co-precipitation of zircon with garnet and clinozoisite in a feldspar-absent assemblage, and consequently links zircon to the eclogite-facies overprint. The rims provide a mean 206Pb/238U crystallization age of 423±4 Ma. This age reflects eclogite-forming reactions and fluid–rock interaction. This age indicates that eclogite-facies overprint in the Lindås nappe took place at the onset of the Scandian (Silurian) collision between Laurentia and Baltica.

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Acknowledgements

Secondary-ion mass spectrometry data were acquired at the Nordsim laboratory, operated and financed under an agreement between the research councils of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the Geological Survey of Finland, and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. K. Högdahl and T. Sunde are thanked for supervision during U–Pb data acquisition. The reading by C. Carson and the constructive reviews by J. Mattinson, an anonymous reviewer, and the editor led to a considerable improvement of the manuscript. This is Nordsim contribution #93 and GSC contribution 2003288.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Norway, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Bernard Bingen

  2. Department of Geology, University of Oslo, Box 1047, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    Håkon Austrheim

  3. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden

    Martin J. Whitehouse

  4. Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth St., K1A 0E8, Ottawa, Canada

    William J. Davis

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  1. Bernard Bingen
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Correspondence to Bernard Bingen.

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Bingen, B., Austrheim, H., Whitehouse, M.J. et al. Trace element signature and U–Pb geochronology of eclogite-facies zircon, Bergen Arcs, Caledonides of W Norway. Contrib Mineral Petrol 147, 671–683 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-004-0585-z

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