Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

KV01 zircon—A potential New Archean reference material for microbeam U-Pb age and Hf-O isotope determinations

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To meet the rapid development of zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf-O isotope geochemistry, it is imperative to develop well-characterized zircon reference materials for microbeam analysis. Here, zircon KV01 separated from the Kaap Valley pluton, South Africa is introduced as a potential Archean reference material for microbeam U-Pb age and Hf-O isotope determination. SIMS and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb isotopic measurements gave grand mean 207Pb/206Pb ages of 3233±16 Ma (2s, n=90) and 3230±26 Ma (2s, n=52), which are consistent with reported CA-ID-TIMS results. Slight heterogeneity of oxygen isotopes is revealed by SIMS analyses that yielded a relatively large δ18O range of 4.61–6.51‰. Among them, the zircon grains with clear oscillatory zones give a grand mean δ18O value of 6.17±0.33‰ (2s), which is suggested to record the primary O isotopic compositions. The homogeneity in the Hf isotopic compositions of KV01 zircon was checked by the laser ablation and solution MC-ICP-MS methods. They yielded consistent results with a recommended 176Hf/177Hf ratio of 0.280810±0.000013 (2s). The results reported here demonstrate that KV01 zircon could be a reliable reference material for microbeam 207Pb/206Pb age and Hf isotope determinations of ancient zircons, and be suitable as a quality monitor for SIMS oxygen isotopic analysis.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anhaeusser C R. 1973. A discussion on the evolution of the Precambrian crust—The evolution of the early Precambrian crust of Southern Africa. Phil Trans R Soc Lond A, 273: 359–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong R A, Compston W, de Wit M J, Williams I S. 1990. The stratigraphy of the 3.5-3.2 Ga Barberton Greenstone Belt revisited: A single zircon ion microprobe study. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 101: 90–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Ávila J N, Ireland T R, Holden P, Lanc P, Latimore A, Schram N, Foster J, Williams I S, Loiselle L, Fu B. 2020. High-precision, high-accuracy oxygen isotope measurements of zircon reference materials with the SHRIMP-SI. Geostand Geoanal Res, 44: 85–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggin A J, de Wit M J, Langereis C G, Zegers T E, Voûte S, Dekkers M J, Drost K. 2011. Palaeomagnetism of Archaean rocks of the Onverwacht Group, Barberton Greenstone Belt (southern Africa): Evidence for a stable and potentially reversing geomagnetic field at ca. 3.5 Ga. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 302: 314–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Blichert-Toft J, Albarède F. 2008. Hafnium isotopes in Jack Hills zircons and the formation of the Hadean crust. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 265: 686–702

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherniak D J, Watson E B. 2003. Diffusion in zircon. Rev Mineral Geochem, 53: 113–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Condon D J, Schoene B, McLean N M, Bowring S A, Parrish R R. 2015. Metrology and traceability of U-Pb isotope dilution geochronology (EARTHTIME Tracer Calibration Part I). Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 164: 464–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Corfu F, Hanchar J M, Hoskin P W O, Kinny P. 2003. Atlas of zircon textures. Rev Mineral Geochem, 53: 469–500

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher C M, Vervoort J D, DuFrane S A. 2014. Accurate Hf isotope determinations of complex zircons using the “laser ablation split stream” method. Geochem Geophys Geosyst, 15: 121–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Guitreau M, Blichert-Toft J, Martin H, Mojzsis S J, Albarède F. 2012. Hafnium isotope evidence from Archean granitic rocks for deep-mantle origin of continental crust. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 337–338: 211–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley S L, Kelly N M. 2007. Zircon tiny but timely. Elements, 3: 13–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison T M, Blichert-Toft J, Müller W, Albarede F, Holden P, Mojzsis S J. 2005. Heterogeneous Hadean hafnium: Evidence of continental crust at 4.4 to 4.5 Ga. Science, 310: 1947–1950

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Z C, Gao S, Liu Y S, Hu S H, Chen H H, Yuan H L. 2008. Signal enhancement in laser ablation ICP-MS by addition of nitrogen in the central channel gas. J Anal At Spectrom, 23: 1093–1101

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang C, Wang H, Yang J, Ramezani J, Yang C, Zhang S, Yang Y, Xia X, Feng L, Lin J, Wang T, Ma Q, He H, Xie L, Wu S. 2020. SA01—A proposed zircon reference material for microbeam U-Pb age and Hf-O isotopic determination. Geostand Geoanal Res, 44: 103–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Ireland T R, Williams I S. 2003. Considerations in zircon geochronology by SIMS. Rev Mineral Geochem, 53: 215–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamo S L, Davis D W. 1994. Reassessment of Archean crustal development in the Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa, based on U-Pb dating. Tectonics, 13: 167–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp A I S, Hawkesworth C J, Foster G L, Paterson B A, Woodhead J D, Hergt J M, Gray C M, Whitehouse M J. 2007. Magmatic and crustal differentiation history of granitic rocks from Hf-O isotopes in zircon. Science, 315: 980–983

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp A I S, Vervoort J D, Bjorkman K E, Iaccheri L M. 2017. Hafnium isotope characteristics of Palaeoarchaean zircon OG1/OGC from the Owens Gully diorite, Pilbara craton, western Australia. Geostand Geoanal Res, 41: 659–673

    Google Scholar 

  • Kisters A F M, Belcher R W, Poujol M, Dziggel A. 2010. Continental growth and convergence-related arc plutonism in the Mesoarchaean: Evidence from the Barberton granitoid-greenstone terrain, South Africa. Precambrian Res, 178: 15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosler J, Sylvester P J. 2003. Present trends and the future of zircon in geochronology: Laser ablation ICPMS. Rev Mineral Geochem, 53: 243–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Layer P W, Kroner A, McWilliams M. 1996. An Archean geomagnetic reversal in the Kaap Valley pluton, South Africa. Science, 273: 943–946

    Google Scholar 

  • Layer P W, Kröner A, York D. 1992. Pre-3000 Ma thermal history of the Archean Kaap Valley puton, South Africa. Geology, 20: 717–720

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Q L, Li X H, Liu Y, Tang G Q, Yang J H, Zhu W G. 2010. Precise U-Pb and Pb-Pb dating of Phanerozoic baddeleyite by SIMS with oxygen flooding technique. J Anal At Spectrom, 25: 1107–1113

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X H, Liu Y, Li Q L, Guo C H, Chamberlain K R. 2009. Precise determination of Phanerozoic zircon Pb/Pb age by multicollector SIMS without external standardization. Geochem Geophys Geosyst, 10: Q04010

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X H, Long W G, Li Q L, Liu Y, Zheng Y F, Yang Y H, Chamberlain K R, Wan D F, Guo C H, Wang X C, Tao H. 2010. Penglai zircon megacrysts: A potential new working reference material for microbeam determination of Hf-O isotopes and U-Pb age. Geostand GeoAnal Res, 34: 117–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X H, Tang G Q, Gong B, Yang Y H, Hou K J, Hu Z C, Li Q L, Liu Y, Li W X. 2013. Qinghu zircon: A working reference for microbeam analysis of U-Pb age and Hf and O isotopes. Chin Sci Bull, 58: 4647–4654

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattinson J M. 2005. Zircon U-Pb chemical abrasion (“CA-TIMS”) method: Combined annealing and multi-step partial dissolution analysis for improved precision and accuracy of zircon ages. Chem Geol, 220: 47–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyen J, Stevens G, Kisters A F M, Belcher R W. 2007. TTG plutons of the Barberton granitoid-greenstone terrain, South Africa. Developments Precambrian Geol, 15: 607–667

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyen J F, Stevens G, Kisters A. 2006. Record of mid-Archaean subduction from metamorphism in the Barberton terrain, South Africa. Nature, 442: 559–562

    Google Scholar 

  • Robb L J, Barton Jr. J M, Kable E J D, Wallace R C. 1986. Geology, geochemistry and isotopic characteristics of the Archaean Kaap Valley pluton, Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa. Precambrian Res, 31: 1–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoene B, Bowring S A. 2007. Determining accurate temperature-time paths from U-Pb thermochronology: An example from the Kaapvaal craton, southern Africa. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 71: 165–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoene B, Crowley J L, Condon D J, Schmitz M D, Bowring S A. 2006. Reassessing the uranium decay constants for geochronology using ID-TIMS U-Pb data. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 70: 426–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Slama J, Kosler J, Condon D J, Crowley J L, Gerdes A, Hanchar J M, Horstwood M S A, Morris G A, Nasdala L, Norberg N, Schaltegger U, Schoene B, Tubrett M N, Whitehouse M J. 2008. Plesovice zircon—A new natural reference material for U-Pb and Hf isotopic microanalysis. Chem Geol, 249: 1–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Stacey J S, Kramers J D. 1975. Approximation of terrestrial lead isotope evolution by a two-stage model. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 26: 207–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern R A, Bodorkos S, Kamo S L, Hickman A H, Corfu F. 2009. Measurement of SIMS instrumental mass fractionation of Pb isotopes during zircon dating. Geostand Geoanal Res, 33: 145–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Tegtmeyer A R, Kröner A. 1987. U-Pb zircon ages bearing on the nature of early archaean greenstone belt evolution, barberton mountainland, southern africa. Precambrian Res, 36: 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Valley J W. 2003. Oxygen isotopes in zircon. Rev Mineral Geochem, 53: 343–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Valley J W, Lackey J S, Cavosie A J, Clechenko C C, Spicuzza M J, Basei M A S, Bindeman I N, Ferreira V P, Sial A N, King E M, Peck W H, Sinha A K, Wei C S. 2005. 4.4 billion years of crustal maturation: Oxygen isotope ratios of magmatic zircon. Contrib Mineral Petrol, 150: 561–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall C J, Scoates J S, Weis D. 2016. Zircon from the Anorthosite zone II of the Stillwater Complex as a U-Pb geochronological reference material for Archean rocks. Chem Geol, 436: 54–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan Y, Zhang Y, Williams I S, Liu D, Dong C, Fan R, Shi Y, Ma M. 2013. Extreme zircon O isotopic compositions from 3.8 to 2.5 Ga magmatic rocks from the Anshan area, North China Craton. Chem Geol, 352: 108–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Wu Y B, Li C R, Zhao T Y, Qin Z W, Zhu L Q, Gao S, Zheng J P, Liu X M, Zhou L, Zhang Y, Yang S H. 2014. Recycling of sediment into the mantle source of K-rich mafic rocks: Sr-Nd-Hf-O isotopic evidence from the Fushui complex in the Qinling orogen. Contrib Mineral Petrol, 168: 1062

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Wu Y B, Yang J H, Qin Z W, Duan R C, Zhou L, Yang S H. 2017. Crustal basement controls granitoid magmatism, and implications for generation of continental crust in subduction zones: A Sr-Nd-Hf-O isotopic study from the Paleozoic Tongbai orogen, central China. Lithos, 282–283: 298–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Yang J H, Kröner A, Zhu Y S, Li R. 2019. Non-subduction origin for 3.2 Ga high-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Barberton granitoid-greenstone terrane, South Africa. Terra Nova, 308: 373–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson E B, Harrison T M. 2005. Zircon thermometer reveals minimum melting conditions on earliest Earth. Science, 308: 841–844

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiedenbeck M, Allé P, Corfu F, Griffin W L, Meier M, Oberli F, Quadt A V, Roddick J C, Spiegel W. 1995. Three natural zircon standards for U-Th-Pb, Lu-Hf, trace element and REE analyses. Geostand Geoanal Res, 19: 1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu F Y, Yang Y H, Xie L W, Yang J H, Xu P. 2006. Hf isotopic compositions of the standard zircons and baddeleyites used in U-Pb geochronology. Chem Geol, 234: 105–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Zheng Y. 2004. Genesis of zircon and its constraints on interpretation of U-Pb age. Chin Sci Bull, 49: 1554–1569

    Google Scholar 

  • Xia X P, Sun M, Geng H Y, Sun Y L, Wang Y J, Zhao G C. 2011. Quasi-simultaneous determination of U-Pb and Hf isotope compositions of zircon by excimer laser-ablation multiple-collector ICPMS. J Anal At Spectrom, 26: 1868–1871

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie L W, Zhang Y B, Zhang H H, Sun J F, Wu F Y. 2008. In situ simultaneous determination of trace elements, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopes in zircon and baddeleyite. Sci Bull, 53: 1565–1573

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang J H, Wu F Y, Wilde S A, Xie L W, Yang Y H, Liu X M. 2007. Tracing magma mixing in granite genesis: In situ U-Pb dating and Hf-isotope analysis of zircons. Contrib Mineral Petrol, 153: 177–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y H, Zhang H F, Chu Z Y, Xie L W, Wu F Y. 2010. Combined chemical separation of Lu, Hf, Rb, Sr, Sm and Nd from a single rock digest and precise and accurate isotope determinations of Lu-Hf, Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotope systems using Multi-Collector ICP-MS and TIMS. Int J Mass Spectrometry, 290: 120–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan H L, Gao S, Dai M N, Zong C L, Günther D, Fontaine G H, Liu X M, Diwu C R. 2008. Simultaneous determinations of U-Pb age, Hf isotopes and trace element compositions of zircon by excimer laser-ablation quadrupole and multiple-collector ICP-MS. Chem Geol, 247: 100–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan H L, Gao S, Liu X M, Li H M, Gunther D, Wu F Y. 2004. Accurate U-Pb age and trace element determinations of zircon by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Geostand Geoanal Res, 28: 353–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeh A, Gerdes A, Barton Jackson M. J. 2009. Archean accretion and crustal evolution of the Kalahari craton—The zircon age and Hf isotope record of granitic rocks from Barberton/Swaziland to the Francistown arc. J Petrol, 50: 933–966

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Y F, Wu Y B, Zhao Z F, Zhang S B, Xu P, Wu F Y. 2005. Metamorphic effect on zircon Lu-Hf and U-Pb isotope systems in ultrahigh-pressure eclogite-facies metagranite and metabasite. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 240: 378–400

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We appreciate the assistance of Qiuli LI, Xiaoxiao LING, Yu LIU, Guoqiang TANG, Jiao LI and Hongxia MA in making SIMS U-Pb age and O isotope determinations. The two anonymous reviewers are greatly acknowledged and appreciated for their excellent and constructive comments. This work was supported by the National Key R & D Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC0600109), the B-type Strategic Priority Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB41000000), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41973035 & 41688103), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2020068), and the State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution (Grant No. SKL-Z201901-YT).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Qindi Wei, Hao Wang, Yueheng Yang, Jinhui Yang, Chao Huang, Shitou Wu & Liewen Xie

  2. Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Qindi Wei, Hao Wang, Yueheng Yang, Jinhui Yang, Chao Huang, Shitou Wu & Liewen Xie

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Qindi Wei, Hao Wang & Jinhui Yang

Authors
  1. Qindi Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yueheng Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jinhui Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chao Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Shitou Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Liewen Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hao Wang.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wei, Q., Wang, H., Yang, Y. et al. KV01 zircon—A potential New Archean reference material for microbeam U-Pb age and Hf-O isotope determinations. Sci. China Earth Sci. 63, 1780–1790 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-019-9638-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-019-9638-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation