Distribution of REE and Trace Elements for Different Types of Zircons

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Geochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2020) | Viewed by 16030

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Precambrian Geology and Geochronology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Interests: zircon; accessory minerals; rare earth elements; trace elements; local methods; geochemistry; petrochronology; eclogites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Geosciences is focused on the distribution of rare earth elements (REE) and trace elements for different types of zircons. Trace and REE distribution factors in minerals, including zircon, are used as a base in solving various petrogenetic issues, particularly in recent times, due to the fact of local microprobe analytical methods implementation, mainly SIMS and LA-ICP-MS methods. Zircon is one of the most currently studied minerals in view of its predominant employment in geochronological and isotope research. Complex study of REE and trace elements distribution in coexisting accessory and rock-forming minerals (first of all in zircons and garnets) with local methods allows substantiating the relation between isotope data and its mineralization environment corresponding parameters. U–Pb zircon dating is commonly accompanied by REE and trace elements distribution research in "the same spot" in zircon. Such geochemical data allow consistent geochronological interpretation of isotopic data as well as determination of a formation character and the following host rock transformation. At the current moment, there is a significant factual material on the range of trace elements content and correlation in magmatic and metamorphic zircons. In addition to two major genetic types of zircons (magmatic and metamorphic), the hydrothermal–metasomatic type has also been distinguished.

The aim of this Special Issue is to gather new applications and review articles applying in situ research on distribution of REE and trace elements for zircons dealing with magmatic and metamorphic petrology, ore deposits geology, and sedimentary studies.

Dr. Sergey G. Skublov
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Zircon
  • Rare earth elements
  • Trace elements
  • Local methods
  • Geochronology
  • Petrochronology
  • Geochemistry

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 11076 KiB  
Article
Distribution of Trace Elements Controlled by Sector and Growth Zonings in Zircon from Feldspathic Pegmatites (Ilmen Mountains, the Southern Urals)
by Ekaterina V. Levashova, Sergey G. Skublov and Vladimir A. Popov
Geosciences 2021, 11(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11010007 - 25 Dec 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2452
Abstract
The present study contains the detailed ion microprobe data on trace and rare earth elements distribution in the large zircon crystal about 10 × 6 mm in size with distinct growth and sector zonings from Ilmen Mountains feldspathic pegmatite. The zircon crystal morphology [...] Read more.
The present study contains the detailed ion microprobe data on trace and rare earth elements distribution in the large zircon crystal about 10 × 6 mm in size with distinct growth and sector zonings from Ilmen Mountains feldspathic pegmatite. The zircon crystal morphology is a combination of a prism {110} and a dipyramid {111}. It is found out that the growth sector of the prism {110} generally contains higher concentrations of Th, U, REE, Y, and Nb and exhibits a more gently sloping HREE distribution pattern and a steeper LREE distribution pattern, in contrast to zircon from the growth sector of the dipyramid {111} development. Such a sector zoning pattern was formed at a late stage in crystal growth, when the prism {110} began to prevail over the dipyramid {111}. The zircon studied displays the growth zoning formed of alternating bands in back-scattered electron (BSE) image: wide dark and thin light bands. The last ones contain elevated Th, U, REE, Y, Nb, and Ti concentrations, Th/U ratio and Ce/Ce*. This growth zoning is most probably due to simultaneous crystallization of other minerals that concentrate trace elements, e.g., apatite and monazite, and the lack of equilibrium between zircon and fluid (melt). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution of REE and Trace Elements for Different Types of Zircons)
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14 pages, 10798 KiB  
Article
Composition and Structure of Zircon from Hydrothermal Uranium Occurrences of the Litsa Ore Area (Kola Region, Russia)
by Tatiana Kaulina, Lyudmila Lyalina, Vadim Kamenetsky, Vadim Il’chenko, Vladimir Bocharov and Maria Gannibal
Geosciences 2020, 10(8), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10080278 - 22 Jul 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3177
Abstract
Zircon grains from various metagranitoids (plagio- and monzo-granites, gneisses, metasomatic rocks, and pegmatoid veins) from the Skal’noe and Dikoe sites of the Litsa uranium ore area (Kola Region, Russia) were studied in order to reconstruct the sequence and timing of events in the [...] Read more.
Zircon grains from various metagranitoids (plagio- and monzo-granites, gneisses, metasomatic rocks, and pegmatoid veins) from the Skal’noe and Dikoe sites of the Litsa uranium ore area (Kola Region, Russia) were studied in order to reconstruct the sequence and timing of events in the area and to observe effects of hydrothermal process related to uranium mineralization on structure and composition of zircon. Individual zircon grains were studied by means of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICPMS), ion microprobe and Raman spectroscopy. Isotopic LA–ICPMS data for the Skal’noye and Dikoe ore occurrences suggest the following age sequence of events in the area: intrusion of plagiogranites—2829 ± 12 Ma, formation of magmatic protolith of gneisses—2781 ± 17 Ma, metamorphism of plagiogranites—2636 ± 34 Ma; intrusion of monzogranites and pegmatoid veins—2549–2526 Ma, hydrothermal event with uranium input—2276 ± 21 Ma, last metamorphism of plagio- and monzo-granites—1892–1696 Ma. Ore-bearing rocks in the area are pegmatoid veins and quartz–feldspar metasomatites which contain uraninite. During a 2.3 Ga hydrothermal process, newly formed zircon rims grew simultaneously with the precipitation of uraninite in the veins and metasomatites. These rims are characterized by high U and rare earth elements (REE) contents (up to 6560 and 8760 ppm, respectively), dark cathodoluminescence, low Th-U ratios (0.1–0.007) and a flat LREE-enriched pattern, in some cases inherited from minerals, dissolved during a hydrothermal event (magmatic plagioclase and probably monazite). Hydrothermal zircon rims grew with partial dissolution of the magmatic zircon, as evidenced by the rounded and curved shapes of zircon cores. The degree of alteration caused by hydrothermal events depends on the uranium content in the pre-existing zircon. The effects of zircon alteration and newly formed zircon composition reflect the redistribution of uranium in rocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution of REE and Trace Elements for Different Types of Zircons)
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17 pages, 8017 KiB  
Article
Dating the Sedimentary Protolith of the Daldyn Group Quartzite, Anabar Shield, Russia: New Detrital Zircon Constraints
by Nikolay I. Gusev, Lyudmila Yu. Sergeeva and Sergey G. Skublov
Geosciences 2020, 10(6), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10060208 - 30 May 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2550
Abstract
Quartzites and paragneisses of the Archean granulite series of the Anabar Shield (Siberian Craton, Russia) are described geochemically. The Sm-Nd isotope systematics of the rocks and the U-Pb age (SHRIMP II) and geochemistry of zircons from quartzites and paragneisses are studied. Newly formed [...] Read more.
Quartzites and paragneisses of the Archean granulite series of the Anabar Shield (Siberian Craton, Russia) are described geochemically. The Sm-Nd isotope systematics of the rocks and the U-Pb age (SHRIMP II) and geochemistry of zircons from quartzites and paragneisses are studied. Newly formed zircons from quartzites display geochemical characteristics of the magmatic type and were produced by rock anatexis upon granulite-facies metamorphism. The Paleoproterozoic age of the latest detrital zircons, 2250 ± 24 Ma, constrains the maximum age of sedimentary rock deposition. The anatectic rims around detrital zircons were formed ca. 2000 ± 9 Ma ago. The time of deposition of the sedimentary protolith of gneisses and quartzites falls within the age interval of the above-mentioned dates and is tentatively accepted as 2.1 Ga. The presence of Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks in the Daldyn Group implies the tectonic heterogeneity of the series and the existence of Paleoproterozoic rock bodies among the predominant Archean rock sequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution of REE and Trace Elements for Different Types of Zircons)
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21 pages, 23879 KiB  
Article
Zircons from a Pegmatite Cutting Eclogite (Gridino, Belomorian Mobile Belt): U-Pb-O and Trace Element Constraints on Eclogite Metamorphism and Fluid Activity
by Sergey G. Skublov, Aleksey V. Berezin, Xian-Hua Li, Qiu-Li Li, Laysan I. Salimgaraeva, Veniamin V. Travin and Dmitriy I. Rezvukhin
Geosciences 2020, 10(5), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10050197 - 21 May 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3287
Abstract
This report presents new data on U-Pb geochronology, oxygen isotopes, and trace element composition of zircon from a pegmatite vein crosscutting an eclogite boudin on Stolbikha Island, Gridino area, Belomorian mobile belt (BMB). The zircon grains occur as two distinct populations. The predominant [...] Read more.
This report presents new data on U-Pb geochronology, oxygen isotopes, and trace element composition of zircon from a pegmatite vein crosscutting an eclogite boudin on Stolbikha Island, Gridino area, Belomorian mobile belt (BMB). The zircon grains occur as two distinct populations. The predominant population is pegmatitic and shows dark cathodoluminescence (CL); about a third of this population contains inherited cores. The second zircon population is typical of granulite and exhibits a well-defined sectorial (mosaic) zoning in CL. Both the inherited cores and sectorial in CL zircons appear to have been captured from metabasites as xenocrysts during the pegmatite vein formation. A U-Pb age of 1890 ± 2 Ma for the main zircon population is interpreted as the age of the pegmatite injection. This value is close to the age threshold for the BMB eclogites (~1.9 Ga) and unambiguously defines the upper age limit for the eclogite metamorphism. The pegmatite formation is thus related to partial melting events that occurred during the retrograde amphibolite-facies metamorphism shortly after the eclogitization. A U-Pb date of 2743 ± 10 Ma obtained for the sectorial in CL zircons is considered as the age of the granulite-facies metamorphism established previously within the BMB. The values of δ18O in the zircon populations overlap in a broad range, i.e., δ18O in the pegmatitic zircons varies from 6.1‰ to 8.3‰, inherited cores show a generally higher δ18O of 6.7–8.8‰, and in the captured granulitic zircons δ18O is 6.2–7.9‰. As a result of fluid attack during the final stage of the pegmatite vein formation, the composition of the pegmatitic zircons in terms of non-formula elements (REE, Y, Ca, Sr, Ti) has become anomalous, with the content of these elements having been increased by more than tenfold in the alteration zones. Our data provide new constraints on the timing of eclogite metamorphism within the BMB and show that the late-stage pegmatite-related fluids exerted a very pronounced influence on trace element abundances in zircon, yet had no significant impact on the isotopic composition of oxygen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution of REE and Trace Elements for Different Types of Zircons)
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13 pages, 3319 KiB  
Article
Zircon as a Mineral Indicating the Stage of Granitoid Magmatism at Northern Chukotka, Russia
by Viktor I. Alekseev and Ivan V. Alekseev
Geosciences 2020, 10(5), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10050194 - 20 May 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3523
Abstract
A comparative study of the zircon composition and texture in granites of a three-stage Late Cretaceous magmatism in the Chaun area, Chukotka, Russia, was conducted in biotite granites (BG), quartz monzonites-monzogranites (MG), and zinnwaldite granites (ZG). The significance of the study entails determining [...] Read more.
A comparative study of the zircon composition and texture in granites of a three-stage Late Cretaceous magmatism in the Chaun area, Chukotka, Russia, was conducted in biotite granites (BG), quartz monzonites-monzogranites (MG), and zinnwaldite granites (ZG). The significance of the study entails determining the mineralogical indicators of similar granitoids in areas of multi-stage petrogenesis. It is shown that in the rock series of Northern Chukotka, BG → MG → ZG, a morphological evolution of zircon takes place: a reduction in size, elongation, a growing complexity of the crystallography, and an individual texture. In later generations of zircon, as a result of the recrystallization and metasomatism, rare-metal overgrowths, defects in the crystal structure, pores and fissures, and mineral inclusions appear, whereas the crystal-face indices and patterns become more complicated. We can observe the geochemical evolution of zircon: a gradual change in the concentration of trace elements (Hf, U, Y, Th, Nb, and Ti), rare earth elements (Yb, Er, and Dy, as well as Ce and Nd), and uncommon elements (Ca and Al). Rare elements (REE, Y, Hf, Nb, U, and Th) at the post-magmatic stage of the regional history acquired economic abundances. Zircon is therefore indicative of productive ore-magmatic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution of REE and Trace Elements for Different Types of Zircons)
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