Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interaction of weathering solutions with oxygen and U–Pb isotopic systems of radiation-damaged zircon from an Archean granite, Darling Range Batholith, Western Australia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Zircons from Archean granites from the Darling Range Batholith in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia have been shown to have complexly discordant U–Pb systems with a strong component of zero age disturbance. The only geological event that has affected the granites in recent times is the pervasive regional weathering. Our aim in this study was to investigate the effects of weathering on the U–Pb and oxygen systems of the zircons, and to this end, we report secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) results of OH, oxygen and U–Pb isotope systems of six typical zircons from a sample of the granite. These results confirmed the presence of OH in highly radiation-damaged parts of the zircons, demonstrating fluid interaction within grains. The presence of OH was accompanied by significant changes in the 18O/16O ratios. The data suggest trends where δ18O values in individual grains both increase and decrease with increasing OH. SIMS measurements showed the U–Pb systems are variably and unsystematically discordant in radiation-damaged parts of the zircons, particularly those with elevated OH contents. The complex U–Pb systems are interpreted in terms of multiple disturbance events between 450 and 0 Ma involving low-temperature fluid-induced movement of radiogenic Pb, decoupled from parent U and Th, within the radiation-damaged zircons, together with some Pb loss.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aines RD, Rossman GR (1986) Relationships between radiation damage and trace water in zircon, quartz and topaz. Am Mineral 71:1186–1193

    Google Scholar 

  • Anand RR, Paine M (2002) Regolith geology of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: implications for exploration. Aust J Earth Sci 49:3–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bibikova YV, Ustinov VI, Gracheva TV, Kiselevskiy MA, Shukolyukov YA (1982) Variations of isotopic composition of oxygen in accessory zircons. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 264:698–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Black LP (1987) Recent Pb loss in zircon: a natural or laboratory-induced phenomenon. Chem Geol (Isotope Geoscience) 65:25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth AL, Kolodny Y, Chamberlain CP, McWilliams M, Schmidt AK, Wooden J (2005) Oxygen isotopic composition and U–Pb discordance in zircon. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 69:4895–4905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavosie AJ, Valley JW, Kita NT, Spicuzza MJ, Ushikubo T, Wilde SA (2011) The origin of high δ18O zircons: marbles, megacrysts and metamorphism. Contrib Mineral Petrol 162:961–974

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chivas AR, Atlhopheng JR (2010) Oxygen-isotope dating the Yilgarn regolith. In Bishop P, Pillans B (eds) Australian landscapes. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 346:309–320

  • Compston W, Williams IS, Meyer C (1984) U–Pb geochronology of zircons from breccia 73217 using a sensitive high mass-resolution ion microprobe. Proceedings 14th lunar and planetary science conference. J Geophys Res 89:B525–B534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Compston W, Williams IS, McCulloch MT (1986) Contrasting zircon U–Pb and model Sm-Nd ages for the Archaean Logue Brook Granite. Aust J Earth Sci 33:193–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis DW, Krogh TE (2000) Preferential dissolution of 234U and radiogenic Pb from (alpha) recoil damaged lattice sites in zircon: implications for thermal histories and Pb isotope fractionation in the near-surface environment. Chem Geol 172:41–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geisler T, Pidgeon RT (2001) Significance of radiation damage on the integral SEM cathodoluminescence intensity of zircon: an experimental annealing study. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie 10:433–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Geisler T, Pidgeon RT, van Bronswijk W, Kurtz R (2002) Transport of uranium, thorium and lead in metamict zircon under low-temperature hydrothermal conditions. Chem Geol 191:141–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy AK, de Laeter JR (1994) The performance characteristics of the WA SHRIMP II ion microprobe. In: Eighth international conference on geochronology, cosmochronology and isotope geology. Berkeley, USA. Abstracts Vol. U.S. Geol Surv Circ 1107:166

  • Kita NT, Ushikubo T, Fu B, Valley JW (2009) High precision SIMS oxygen isotope analysis and the effect of sample topography. Chem Geol 264:43–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kober B (1987) Single-zircon evaporation combined with Pb+ emitter bedding for 207Pb/206Pb age investigations using thermal ion mass spectrometry, and implications to zirconology. Contrib Mineral Petrol 96:63–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramers J, Frei R, Newville M, Kober B, Villa I (2009) On the valency state of radiogenic Pb in zircon and consequences. Chem Geol 261:4–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Libby WG, De Laeter JR (1998) Biotite Rb-Sr age evidence for Early Palaeozoic tectonism along the cratonic margin in southwestern Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 45:623–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig K (2001) Users manual for Squid1.02, Berkeley Geochronology Center Special Publication 1a, p 19

  • Mattinson JM (2011) Extending the Krogh legacy: development of the CA-TIMS method for zircon U–Pb geochronology. Can J Earth Sci 48:95–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattinson JM, Graubard CM, Parkinson DL, McClelland WC (1996) U–Pb reverse discordance in zircons: the role of fine-scale oscillatory zoning and sub-micron transport of Pb. Earth processes: reading the isotopic code. Geophys Monogr 95:355–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mezger K, Krogstad EJ (1997) Interpretation of discordant U–Pb zircon ages: an evaluation. J Metamorphic Geol 15:127–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mumpton FA, Roy R (1961) Hydrothermal stability studies of the zircon-thorite group. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 62:2509–2520

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasdala L, Wolf D, Irmer G (1995) The degree of metamictization in zircon: a Raman spectroscopic study. Eur J Mineral 7:471–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasdala L, Beran A, Libowitzky E, Wolf D (2001) The incorporation of hydroxyl groups and molecular water in natural zircon (ZrSiO4). Am J Sci 301:831–857

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemchin AA (1996) Origin and evolution of granitoids of the Darling Range Batholith southwestern Yilgarn Craton: implications for late Archaean crustal processes. Ph.D thesis, School of Mines, Curtin University of Technology

  • Nemchin AA, Pidgeon RT (1997) Evolution of the Darling Range Batholith, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. J Petrol 38:625–649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pidgeon RT, Furfaro D, Kennedy AK, Nemchin AA, van Bronswijk W (1994) Calibration of zircon standards for the Curtin SHRIMP. In: 8th international conference on geochronology, cosmochronology and isotope geology, Berkeley, USGS Circular 1107, p 251

  • Sheppard SMF, Gilg HA (1996) Stable isotope geochemistry of clay minerals. Clay Mineral 31:1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern TW, Goldich SS, Newell MF (1966) Effects of weathering on the U–Pb ages of zircon from the Morton Gneiss, Minnesota. Earth Planet Sci Lett 1:369–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanabe K, Hairaishi J (1980) Correction of finite slit width effects on Raman line widths. Spectrochim Acta 36A:341–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe PM (1994) Isotope hydrogeology of the confined aquifers in the Southern Perth Basin, Western Australia. Western Australia Geol Surv Hydrogeology Report No 1992/28, pp 41

  • Valley JW, Chiarenzelli JR, McLelland JM (1994) Oxygen isotope geochemistry of zircon. Earth Planet Sci Lett 126:187–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams IS, Compston W, Black LP, Ireland TR, Foster JJ (1984) Unsupported radiogenic Pb in zircon: a cause of anomalously high Pb-Pb, U–Pb and Th-Pb ages. Contrib Mineral Petrol 88:322–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wojdyr M (2010) fityk 0.0.8. J Appl Cryst 43:1126

  • Woodhead JA, Rossman GR, Silver LT (1991a) The metamictization of zircon: radiation dose-dependent structural characteristics. Am Mineral 76:74–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhead JA, Rossman GR, Thomas AP (1991b) Hydrous species in zircon. Am Mineral 76:1533–1546

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Mr P. Chapman and Dr M. Grange for assistance with the Raman measurements. RTP gratefully acknowledges research support from the Office of Research and Development of Curtin University and a helpful discussion with Dr A. Chivas. The authors acknowledge the facilities, and the scientific and technical assistance of the National Imaging Facility at the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation & Analysis, The University of Western Australia, a facility funded by the University, State and Commonwealth Governments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    R. T. Pidgeon & A. A. Nemchin

  2. Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

    J. Cliff

Authors
  1. R. T. Pidgeon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. A. Nemchin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Cliff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. T. Pidgeon.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Hoefs.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pidgeon, R.T., Nemchin, A.A. & Cliff, J. Interaction of weathering solutions with oxygen and U–Pb isotopic systems of radiation-damaged zircon from an Archean granite, Darling Range Batholith, Western Australia. Contrib Mineral Petrol 166, 511–523 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-013-0888-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-013-0888-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation