In order to evaluate the electron microprobe (EMP) method for chemical dating of monazite, we chemically analyzed selected suites of monazite grains that were previously dated by standard U/Pb isotopic methods at three laboratories each equipped with a sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP). Representing diverse igneous and metamorphic lithologies, these grains yielded conventional isotopic ages ranging in age from Neoarchean to Devonian. Chemical dating was performed at Virginia Tech using a Cameca SX-50 EMP in which the analytical routines and settings were specifically optimized for monazite geochronology, including correction of analytical peaks for all major spectral interferences and correction of peak intensities for local background emission. Placement of cross-grain analytical traverses was based on backscattered electron (BSE) images together with wavelength-dispersive (WD) generated X-ray maps for Y, Th, U, and Ca, which revealed the internal compositional complexity of each grain. Shorter EMP traverses were selected adjacent to each SHRIMP pit in order to provide the best possible comparison of ages obtained by the two dating methods. Synthesis protocol for key elemental measurements (Y, Th, U, and Pb) was developed utilizing the 1Ï elemental errors associated with individual analyses, providing an objective approach for data synthesis. Analytical dates were either accepted or excluded based on analytical and spatial justifications. Isotopic dating techniques utilize three independent age calculations, provided the sample is old enough to have accumulated sufficient 207Pb (i.e., ≥~1000 Ma). Similarly, the chemical dating method can utilize two independent age calculations (i.e., Th/Pb and U/Pb) and a U-Th-Pbtotal centroid age in Th/Pb vs. U/Pb space, verified independently against the calculated Th* or U* CHIME ages. Across the entire 2,200 m.y. age range represented by the sample set, the chemical ages calculated from the EMP data chemical ages are internally consistent (within 2Ï error) with the previously measured SHRIMP isotopic ages, except in one case where bulk mixing of discrete age domains within an ablation pit led to an isotopically discordant apparent age. Overall, this study illustrates that EMP chemical dating (1) represents both an accurate and precise primary method for dating monazite from igneous and polymetamorphic terrains; (2) provides superior spatial resolution for obtaining meaningful ages from small and/or irregular domains of discrete age that may be irresolvable or misinterpreted by other dating techniques that sample larger volumes; and (3) illuminates the geological meaning of isotopically discordant monazite ages obtained using conventional methods with lower spatial resolution (e.g., SHRIMP). / Ph. D.

Das Menderes Massiv im Westen der Türkei stellt eine große Kulmination metamorpher Gesteine dar. Das Untersuchungsgebiet ist im Zentralen Menderes Massiv (Ödemis Submassiv) gelegen, das von den beiden aktiven Gräben, dem Gediz Graben im Norden und dem Büyük Menderes Graben im Süden begrenzt wird. <br /> Die Untersuchungen der Eklogit Relikte im zentralen Menderes Massiv haben ergeben, dass sich im Menderes Massiv Hochdruckrelikte in unterschiedlichen tektonischen Positionen befinden. Zum einen existieren Eklogit-Blöcke in der obersten Einheit (Selcuk Einheit) des zentralen Menderes Massivs und zum anderen Hochdruck-Relikte in der strukturell mittleren Birgi - Tire Decke. Die Granate der quarzfreien Eklogit-Blöcke weisen große Ähnlichkeiten mit denen der HP/LT Gesteine von Sifnos und Syros auf. Die Entwicklung der Eklogit-Blöcke in der Olistostrom-Einheit lässt sich jedoch nicht mit den Eklogit Relikten in der strukturell mittleren Birgi Tire Decke vergleichen. <br /> Für die Eklogit-Relikte in der Birgi Tire Decke wurde eine polymetamorphe Entwicklung mithilfe petrologischer Untersuchungen und chemischen und Pb-Pb Datierungen herausgearbeitet. Die Eklogit Relikte gehören zu einem metamorphen Teilpfad, der durch eine Amphibolitfazies 1 - Hochdruck - Amphibolitfazies 2/Granulitfazies charakterisiert ist. Der Endpunkt dieses Teilpfades ist mit Temperaturen zwischen 700 und 750 &#176;C und Drücken von 1.2 - 1.4 GPa belegt. Für diese Bedingungen konnte ein minimales Alter von 520 Ma durch chemische Datierungen an Monaziten einer Augengneisprobe und Pb-Pb Datierungen an Zirkonen einer Augengneis- und Metagabbroprobe bestimmt werden. Dieser amphibolit/granulitfazieller Endpunkt wird mit den Granitintrusionen des zentralen und südlichen Menderes Massiv korreliert, die in einem Zeitraum zwischen 520 Ma bis 550 Ma stattfanden. <br /> Sowohl die Amphibolitfazies 1 als auch das Hochdruckereignis werden der Panafrikanischen Orogenese zugeordnet. Für die Hochdruckbedingungen wurden maximale Temperaturen zwischen 680&#176;C und 720&#176;C und bei einem Druck von 2.2 GPa bestimmt. In den untersuchten Metasedimenten konnte eine prograde metamorphe Entwicklung abgeleitet werden, die amphibolitfazielle Bedingungen von 660&#176;C bei 0.6 GPa erreichte. Das Metamorphosealter dieser Metasedimente konnte mit < 100 Ma mittels chemischer Mikrosondendatierung bestimmt werden. Die in den Metasedimenten herausgearbeiteten Druck- und Temperaturbedingungen wurden ebenfalls in den metabasischen Gesteinen bestimmt. Diese Ergebnisse werden als Krustenstapelung der metabasischen Gesteine, Augengneise und Metasedimente interpretiert, die mit der alpinen Orogenese im Zusammenhang stehen. <br /> Durch die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit lässt sich die Birgi-Tire Decke im zentralen Menderes Massiv genauer charakterisieren. Sie besteht aus Metasedimenten, pelitischen Gneisen, Augengneisen und metabasichen Gesteinen. Die Gneise (pelitische und Augengneise) und die metabasischen Gesteine stellen panafrikanische Relikte dar, die einen amphibolit- eklogit- amphibolit/granulitfaziellen Metamorphosepfad gespeichert haben. Die amphibolit- bis granulitfazielle Metamorphose hängt mit den Granitintrusionen zusammen und fand in einem Zeitraum zwischen 520 - 550 Ma statt. Große Teile der Metasedimente der Birgi Tire Decke haben jedoch nur eine alpine metamorphe Entwicklung durchlaufen, wo sie unter amphibolitfazielle Bedingungen Krustentiefen erreichten, bei denen sie mit den panafrikanischen Relikten zusammen gestapelt wurden und eine gemeinsame Exhumierung erfahren haben. / The Menderes Massif in western Turkey is a large culmination of metamorphic rocks. The investigation area is bounded by two active graben systems, the Gediz Graben in the north and the Büyük Menderes Graben in the south. One result of our investigation in the central Menderes Massif is the occurrence of eclogite relicts in different tectonic positions. On one hand eclogite blocks exist in the structurally highest nappe (Selcuk unit) of the central Menderes Massif, and on the other hand the high pressure relicts exist in the structurally middle Birgi-Tire nappe. The garnets of the quartz-free eclogite blocks in a metaolistostrome unit show large similarities with those which indicate the HP/LT rocks of Sifnos and Syros. The occurrence of the eclogite blocks in the metaolistostrome unit can not be correlated with those of the structural middle nappe (Birgi Tire nappe). By petrological investigations, chemical and Pb-Pb age determinations a polymetamorphic history was found for the eclogite relicts in the Birgi Tire nappe. The eclogite relicts belong to a metamorphic P-T path which is characterized by a amphibolite facies 1 - high pressure - amphibolite facies 2/granulite facies. The last one is characterized by temperatures between 700 and 750 &#176;C and by pressure of 1.2 - 1.4 GPa. A minimum age of 520 Ma was deduced by chemical age determination on monazites and Pb-Pb dating on zircons. The age of the amphibolite/granulite facies condition is correlated with the granite intrusions in the central and southern Menderes Massif which occurred in the range of 520 to 550 Ma. The intrusions belong to the Panafrican orogeny. Therefore the P-T path (amphibolite facies 1 - high pressure - amphibolite facies 2/granulite facies) is assigned to the Panafrican orogeny. The maximum temperatures of the high pressure event are between 680 &#176;C and 720 &#176;C. The pressure amounts to 2.2 GPa. A prograde metamorphic evolution under amphibolite facies conditions was derived for the investigated metasediments. The amphibolite facies conditions took place at a temperature of 660&#176;C and at a pressure of 0.6 GPa. The age of the metasediments was determined as < 100 Ma by means of chemical dating. The same metamorphic conditions could be recognized in the metabasic rocks. The interpretation of this result is that crustal stacking occurred under amphibolite facies conditions during the Alpine orogeny. Due to the presented results, the Birgi Tire nappe in the central Menderes Massif can be characterized more exactly. It consists of metasediments, pelitic and augengneisses, and metabasic rocks. Pelitic and augengneisses and the metabasic rocks represent Panafrican relicts, which have stored an amphibolite - eclogite - amphibolite/granulite facies P-T path. The amphibolite to granulite facies metamorphosis is related to the granite intrusions and took place in a period between 520 - 550 Ma. Parts of the metasediments belonging to the Birgi Tire nappe are influenced by only an alpine metamorphic history. They moved to crustal depths at which they were stacked with the Panafrican relicts under amphibolite facies conditions followed by common exhumation.

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