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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
171

Magmatismo cálcio - alcalino calimiano no embasamento do terreno Jauru (Província Rondoniana San Ignácio), Craton Amazônico : geoquímica e geocronologia Sm-Nd e U-Pb

Fachetti, Frankie James Serrano 01 July 2015 (has links)
Submitted by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2016-11-03T14:43:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Frankie James Serrano Fachetti.pdf: 2106239 bytes, checksum: 3e47ff5badd6589019a10893b630751b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2016-12-15T15:37:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Frankie James Serrano Fachetti.pdf: 2106239 bytes, checksum: 3e47ff5badd6589019a10893b630751b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-15T15:37:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Frankie James Serrano Fachetti.pdf: 2106239 bytes, checksum: 3e47ff5badd6589019a10893b630751b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-01 / CAPES / O Ortognaisse Taquarussu e o Granodiorito Guadalupe, integrantes do embasamento da Província Rondoniana - San Ignácio, SW do Cráton Amazônico, norte do município de Jauru- MT, correspondem a corpos orientados segundo um trend principal NW/SE. São rochas de composição granodiorítica com ocorrências subordinadas de monzogranitos. Na petrografia, são rochas de granulação fina a grossa, constituídas essencialmente por plagioclásio, quartzo, microclina, ortoclásio e biotita. Os minerais acessórios são: anfibólio, titanita, granada, apatita, epidoto, zircão e opacos. Apresentam evidências de pelo menos três fases de deformação dúcteis onde a principal estrutura relacionada a fase D1 é a foliação S1, representada ora por um bandamento composicional, ora por uma xistosidade. A segunda fase corresponde a uma clivagem de crenulação que transpõe a foliação S1, A terceira fase é exemplificada pela implantação de zonas de cisalhamento que geraram uma foliação/faturamento de escala local. O estudo geoquímico permitiu classificar as rochas como granodioritos e monzogranitos, oriundos de um magmatismo intermediário a ácido, de caráter sub-alcalino, da série cálcio-alcalina a cálcio-alcalina alto K, com índices de alumina que varia de metaluminoso a levemente peraluminoso. Foram classificados como gerados em ambiente de arco de ilhas e os dados U-Pb (Shrimp em zircão) mostram uma idade concórdia de 1575±6Ma. A idade modelo das análises de Sm-Nd (TDM) apontam para 1,63Ga, com εNd (t=1,57Ga) variando entre -1,52 e +0,78. Estes dados permitem caracterizar estas rochas como uma crosta juvenil com uma possível contaminação de rochas crustais. / The Taquarussu orthogneiss and the Guadalupe Granodiorite part of Rondonian-San Ignacio Province basement, southweast of Amazonian Craton, correspond to oriented bodies according to a NW/SE trend. The rocks are granodiorite composition with subordinate monzogranites, fine to coarse grained, consisting essentially of plagioclase, quartz, microcline, orthoclase and biotite. The accessory minerals are amphibole, titanite, garnet, apatite, epidote, zircon and opaque minerals. There is evidence of at least three phases of ductile deformation where the main structure is related to D1 stage (foliation S1), represented by a compositional banding, or by schistosity. The second phase is a crenulation cleavage transposing the foliation S1 and the third phase is exemplified by the deployment of shear zones that generated a foliation/fracturing on a local scale. The geochemical study indicates that the rocks are classify as granodiorites and monzogranites, coming from an intermediate to acid magmatism, sub-alkaline character calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline series, with alumina ratios ranging from metaluminous to lightly peraluminous. The rocks were generate in a volcanic islands arc environment and the UPb data (Shrimp zircon) show a concord age 1575 ± 6Ma. The Sm-Nd model age (TDM) is 1.63Ga with εNd (t = 1.57Ga) ranging between -1.52 and +0.78. These data indicate that these rocks probably are a juvenile crust with a possible contamination of crustal rocks. Keyword: Geology, Gneiss Taquarussu, Granodiorite Guadalupe.
172

Anomalie thermique et sous-placage en zone d'avant-arc : exemple du massif Triasique de El Oro, Equateur / Thermal anomaly in forearc position : the Triassic andean margin of Ecuador

Riel, Nicolas 20 January 2012 (has links)
Depuis au moins 540 Ma deux grands systèmes de subduction coexistent sur Terre : d'une part, les systèmes de subduction-collision (chaînes Hercynienne, Himalayenne ou Alpine) et d'autre part, les systèmes de subduction de type péri-pacifique. Pour ces derniers, l'avant-arc constitue une zone clef pour retracer l'évolution de la subduction au cours du temps. En effet ces zones au contact avec le slab peuvent enregistrer des événements tectoniques et/ou des conditions métamorphiques variées (e.g. formation de « paired metamorphic belts »), qui sont autant d'indicateurs du contexte géodynamique. Le massif métamorphique de El Oro en Equateur est un exemple exeptionnel où une section complète et basculée de l'avant-arc Triasique est préservée. L'ensemble est constitué d'une série métasédimentaire de bas à haut grade métamorphique intrudée par des granitoïdes de type S, juxtaposé avec un laccolithe gabbroïque et des schistes bleus. Ce travail de thèse s'est concentré sur l'étude du métamorphisme de haute-température basse-pression et ses relations les schistes bleu. Afin de contraindre l'événement tectono-métamorphique affectant l'avant-arc Equatorien au Trias et la formation d'une "paired metamorphic belt", nous avons utilisé des outils structuraux, métamorphiques, géochimiques, géochronologiques et de modélisation thermique. Nos résultats montrent que durant cette période l'avant-arc Equatorien connait un intense épisode de fusion partielle en régime extensif. La base de la croûte est migmatisée sur une épaisseur de 10km. Les estimations Pression-Température indiquent que les conditions de fusion partielle varient de 4.5 kbar et 650°C pour la partie supérieure métaxitique et jusqu'à 7.5 kbar et 720°C pour la partie inférieure diatexitique. La gradient géothermique inféré est divisé en deux segments : un segment supérieur caractérisé par un gradient de 40°C/km et un segment inférieur caractérisé par un gradient quasi-isothermique. L'absence de paragénèse de ultra-haute température est attribuée à la grande fertilité du protolithe métasédimentaire. Les résultats géochimiques montrent que les plutons granodioritiques sont issus d'un mélange entre : (1) les liquides de fusion partielle produit par la réaction de deshydration de la muscovite des métasédiments et (2) un magma basique. Les âges U-Pb sur zircons et monazites révèlent que l'événement anatectique fût bref entre 229 et 225 Ma. La source de chaleur à l'origine de l'événement thermique est attribuée à la mise en place d'un pluton gabbroïque à ~ 230 Ma en base de croûte. Successivement, se sous-plaque les schistes-bleu refroidissant rapidement l'avant-arc. L'événement anatectique observé dans le massif de El Oro au Trias s'insrit à plus grande échelle au sein d'une large anomalie thermique affectant l'ensemble du continent sud Américain entre 260 et 220 Ma. Durant cette période la marge est un soumise à un régime extensif accompagné d'un important magmatisme d'origine crustal, principalement en position d'arc et d'avant-arc. Nous attribuons cette anomalie thermique d'ampleur continental à une "avalanche mantellique". A la lumière du contexte géodynamique globale nous inteprétons la formation de la paired metamorphic belt de El Oro à la rupture du slab. / Since about 540 Ma, two subductions systems co-exist on Earth: the subduction-collision systems (Hercynian, Himalayan or Alpin belts) and the circum-pacific subduction system. For the last the forearc region constitutes a key zone to understand the dynamic of the subduction. Indeed the forearc region in contact with the slab may records various tectonics events and/or metamorphic conditions (e.g. formation of paired metamorphic belt). Theses geological records are direct evidences of the linked geodynamical context. The El Oro metamorphic complex in Ecuador is a unique example where a whole Triassic forearc section is tilted and well preserved. The complex is made of low to high grade metasedimentary rocks intruded by S-type granitoids, juxtaposed with gabbroic rocks and blueschists. This study is focused on the high-temperature metamorphism and its retionaships with the high-pressure metamorphism. In order to constrain the tectono-metamorphic affecting the forearc region and the formation of a paired metamorphic belt we used strutural, metamorphic, geochemical, geochronological and themal modeling studies. Our results show that during Triassic times the Ecuadorian forearc underwent a strong episode of partial melting in extentional context. The migmatized part of crust is 10 km thick. Pressure-Temperature estimates indicate that partial melting started at 4.5 kbar and 650°C for the upper metatexitic part until 7.5 kbar and 720 °C for the lower diatexitic part. The resulting geothermal gradient exhibits two parts: an upper part caracteristed by a thermal gradient of 40°C/km and a lower part caractérized by a near-adiabatic gradient. The absence of ultra-high tempetature paragenesis is attributed to the high fertility of the metasedimentary protolith. Geochemical results show that granodiorite made of a miwing between: (1) the melt extacted under muscovite dehydration melting and (2) a basic magma. U-Pb ages on zircon and monazite reveal that the anatectic event was short, between 229 and 225 Ma. The origin of the thermal anomaly is attributed to the emplacement of the gabbroic plutonic unit at ~230 at root level. Successively, the blueschites are underplating triggering a strong coolng of the forearc region. The anatectic recorded in the El Oro metamorphic complex at Triassic times is part of a larger thermal anomaly affecting the whole south american margin between 260 and 220 Ma. During this period the margin is under extentional conditions and exhibit a strong S-type magmatic activity. This magmatism is mainly located in arc and forearc position. We attribute this large-scale thermal anomaly to slab fall in the lower mantle. In the light of the geodynamical context, we suggest that the formation of the El Oro paired metamorphic belt is related to slab breakoff.
173

Dating the Cenozoic incision history of the Tennessee and Shenandoah Rivers with cosmogenic nuclides and 40Ar/39Ar in manganese oxides

William E Odom III (9673769) 15 December 2020 (has links)
The post-orogenic history of the Appalachian Mountains, particularly the persistence of rough topography and the degree of river incision throughout the region, has been a longstanding focus of geomorphology studies. Numerous models have been developed to explain the evolution of this landscape, variously invoking episodic or continuous processes of uplift and erosion to drive the generation or reduction of topographic relief. Recently, late Cenozoic uplift has found favor as a mechanism for rejuvenating the topography of the southern and central Appalachians. This hypothesis has drawn on longitudinal river profiles, seismic tomography, and offshore sediment records as evidence of Neogene uplift.<div><br></div><div>Radiometric dating of surficial deposits provides a means to directly test models of episodic and continuous landscape evolution, as well as the Neogene uplift hypothesis. The research described in this thesis dates surficial sediments (river terraces, alluvial fans, and a filled sinkhole) and supergene manganese oxides using 26Al/10Be burial dating and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, respectively. Our cosmogenic 26Al/10Be dating provides detailed histories of aggradation and incision along the Shenandoah and Tennessee Rivers since the early Pliocene. 40Ar/39Ar dating of manganese oxides permits estimates of surface preservation and denudation in the Shenandoah Valley and nearby watersheds throughout the Cenozoic.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The results of our work in the Shenandoah Valley, Tennessee River basin, and intervening areas indicate that the Appalachians experienced no significant pulse of uplift during the Cenozoic. Long-term preservation of supergene manganese oxides dates as far back as the Eocene, demonstrating minimal denudation and discontinuous formation that lend evidence to episodic landscape evolution models. Cosmogenic26Al/10Be burial ages along the Shenandoah and Tennessee Rivers reveal Pliocene aggradation, with enhanced deposition in the Shenandoah Valley during the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period. Both rivers likely experienced incision during the Pleistocene, likely due to climatic fluctuations. These results demonstrate that while the Appalachian landscape has remained largely unchanged for tens of millions of years, rapid Pleistocene changes in base level recently triggered significant incision of major drainages.<br></div>
174

Magma, Mass Spectrometry, and Models: Insights into Sub-Volcanic Reservoirs and the Processes that Form Them

Disha Chandrakan Okhai (18403560) 19 April 2024 (has links)
<p dir="ltr">To better predict volcanic behavior, we must understand the processes that occur in the underlying magma reservoirs. This thesis contains three chapters that work together to better understand processes that occur in sub-volcanic reservoirs. Chapter 2 is a study of an ancient, coupled volcanic-plutonic system to determine the link between the volcanic and plutonic parts of the system. The IXL-Job Canyon magmatic system is an ~28-29 Ma system, which shows a rapid transition between eruption of tuffs and lava flows to construction of an upper-crustal pluton, via incremental emplacement. The system experienced an eruptive hiatus during and after pluton construction, until the eruption of a newly identified, younger, rhyolitic tuff. This work suggests that the absence of volcanic activity at the surface does not mean that the underlying magmatic plumbing system is also inactive. Chapter 3 compiles existing U-Pb zircon ID-TIMS data for upper-crustal, silicic magmatic systems, to determine the size and frequency of magmatic increments that accumulate to build up these systems. A Monte Carlo-based model is used to investigate the underlying distributions of the increment size and time between increments, and results in sizes and inter-event times that follow an exponential distribution. This work helps guide how we can try to introduce broadly generalizable complexities into thermal models of such systems. Chapter 4 focuses on organic interferences, a common issue that impacts the speed and quality of U-Pb and Pb-Pb data collected on TIMS instruments. We share two techniques used at the Purdue Radiogenic Isotope Geology Lab to first reduce and then avoid any residual organic interferences. These techniques help shorten analytical times, increasing throughput, and provide a means to reduce uncertainties on our measurements, since the presence of organic interferences can bias and increase the uncertainties on U-Pb dates.</p>
175

The Role of Cenozoic Oceanic Plateau Collision in the Tectonic Growth of Western North America

Erin Elizabeth Donaghy (18243379) 15 April 2024 (has links)
<p dir="ltr">This dissertation uses a multidisciplinary basin analysis approach to document the sedimentary, structural, and volcanic response to Cenozoic oceanic plateau collision and translation along the northwestern Cordillera. During this time, two fragments of oceanic plateau accreted in the Pacific Northwest (Siletzia terrane) and in southeastern Alaska (Yakutat terrane). My research aims to test if the Siletzia and Yakutat terranes have an early shared history as the same spreading ridge-centered plateau in the Pacific Northwest and constrain timing of breakup and translation of the Yakutat terrane to southeastern Alaska. Chapter 2 focuses on development of a new U-Pb zircon geochronology technique to aid in a more accurate and precise understanding of sediment routing systems. The goal of developing this technique is to utilize it in pinpointing the source regions along the northwestern Cordillera supplying sediment to the basin on the Yakutat terrane as it made its northward journey to southeastern Alaska. Chapter 3 focuses on creating a regional chronostratigraphy for deep-marine Cenozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the peripheral rock sequence on the northern Olympic Peninsula in Washington. These sedimentary rocks directly overlie the Siletzia plateau and record basin evolution before, during, and following its collision to the continental margin. Chapter 4 uses detailed lithofacies mapping and U-Pb geochronology of metasedimentary and volcanic rocks in the Olympic subduction complex to document the structural response to seamount subduction in the Eocene. Seamount subduction began shortly after collision of the Siletzia oceanic plateau to the Pacific Northwest and played a critical role in development of the early forearc region and Ancestral Cascades arc. Chapter 5 compares the lowermost sedimentary and geochronologic basin record on both Siletzia and Yakutat terranes to test if they have an early shared history in the Pacific Northwest.</p>
176

FIELD, GEOCHRONOLOGIC, AND GEOCHEMICAL CONSTRAINTS ON LATE PRECAMBRIAN TO EARLY PALEOZOIC TERRANE ACCRETION IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BLUE RIDGE PROVINCE

Larkin, Emma A. 01 January 2016 (has links)
Xenolith-bearing orthogneiss of Amazonian affinity discovered in the Dellwood quadrangle in the Blue Ridge basement complex represents the oldest crustal component of the southern Appalachians (1.33 – 1.37 Ga: Quinn, 2012). New U-Pb zircon ages for migmatitic paragneiss of the Cartoogechaye terrane exposed in the Dellwood quadrangle reveal two unique detrital zircon age signatures that indicate either a local eastern Laurentian margin source or an exotic source. Detailed mapping, whole rock geochemistry, and U-Pb zircon geochronology were conducted to determine whether this exotic crustal component extends farther south into the Hazelwood 7.5” quadrangle. Lithological similarities exist between paragneisses in the Dellwood quadrangle and those in the Hazelwood quadrangle. However, the increase in proportion of leucosome and polyphase folding prevent direct correlation of lithologies between the areas. Whole rock major element compositions overlap the composition of basement orthogneisses. Zircon ages of six paragneiss samples reveal multiple detrital zircon age modes that are dominated by two Grenville modes at ~1050 and 1150 Ma. Minor zircon populations exist at ~450 – 480, 700 – 900, and 1300 – 1500 Ma. Age distributions and compositional trends are evidence that the protolith of the paragneiss in the Hazelwood quadrangle was Neoproterozoic rift sediments with a dominant Laurentian margin source.
177

Triassic to Neogene Evolution of the Andean Retroarc: Neuquén Basin, Argentina

Balgord, Elizabeth A. January 2016 (has links)
The Andes Mountains provide an ideal natural laboratory to analyze the relationship between the tectonic evolution of a subduction margin, retroarc shortening, basin morphology, and volcanic activity. Timing of initial shortening and foreland basin development in Argentina is diachronous along strike, with ages varying by 20-30 million years. The Neuquén Basin (32°S-40°S) of southern-central Argentina sits in a retroarc position and provides a geological record of sedimentation in variable tectonic settings from the Late Triassic to the early Cenozoic including: 1.) active extension and deposition in isolated rift basins in the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic; 2.) post-rift back-arc basin from Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous; 3.) foreland basin from Late Cretaceous to Oligocene; and 4.) variable extension and contraction along-strike from Oligocene to present. The goal of this study is to determine the timing of the transition from post-rift thermal subsidence to foreland basin deposition in the northern Neuquén Basin and then assess volcanic activity and composition during various tectonic regimes. The Aconcagua and Malargüe areas (32°S and 35°S) are located in the northern segment of the Neuquén Basin and preserve Upper Jurassic to Miocene sedimentary rocks, which record the earliest phase of shortening at this latitude. This study presents new sedimentological and detrital zircon U-Pb data from the Jurassic to latest Cretaceous sedimentary strata to determine depositional environments, stratigraphic relations, provenance, and maximum depositional ages of these units and ultimately evaluate the role of tectonics on sedimentation in this segment of the Andes. The combination of provenance, basin, and subsidence analysis shows that the initiation of foreland basin deposition occurred at ~100 Ma with the deposition of the Huitrín Formation, which recorded an episode of erosion marking the passage of the flexural forebulge. This was followed by an increase in tectonic subsidence, along with the appearance of recycled sedimentary detritus, recorded in petrographic and detrital zircons analyses, as well development of an axial drainage pattern, consistent with deposition in the flexural forebulge between 95 and 80 Ma. By ca. 70 Ma the volcanic arc migrated eastward and was a primary local source for detritus. Growth structures recorded in latest Cretaceous units very near both the Aconcagua and Malargüe study areas imply 35-40 km and 80-125 km of foreland migration between 95 and 60 Ma in the Aconcagua and Malargüe areas, respectively. Strata ranging in age from Middle Jurassic to Neogene were analyzed to determine their detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra and Hf isotopic composition to determine the relationship between magmatic output rate, tectonic regime, and crustal evolution. When all detrital zircon data are combined, significant pulses in magmatic activity occur from 190-145 Ma, and at 128 Ma, 110 Ma, 69 Ma, 16 Ma, and 7 Ma. The duration of magmatic lulls increased markedly from 10-30 million years during back-arc deposition (190-100 Ma) to ~40-50 million years during foreland basin deposition (100-~30 Ma). The long duration of magmatic lulls during foreland basin deposition could be caused by flat-slab subduction events during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic or by long magmatic recharge events. There are three major shifts towards positive Hf isotopic values and all are associated with regional extension events whereas compression seems to lead to more evolved isotopic values.
178

U-Pb geochronology of the Late Cretaceous Eagle Ford Shale, Texas; defining chronostratigraphic boundaries and volcanic ash source

Pierce, John Donald 27 October 2014 (has links)
The Eagle Ford Shale and equivalent Boquillas Formation (Late Cretaceous) contain abundant volcanic ash beds of varying thickness. These ash beds represent a unique facies that displays a range of sedimentary structures, bed continuity, and diagenetic alteration. They are prominent not only in West Texas outcrops, but also in the subsurface of South Texas where hydrocarbon production is actively occurring. The ash beds have the potential to be used for stratigraphic correlation for understanding early diagenesis and — most importantly — for obtaining high-resolution geochronology, which can then be used for defining depositional rates and chronostratigraphy. Study of the ash beds was conducted at outcrops along U.S. 90, west of Comstock, Texas, the subsurface in Atascosa and Karnes County, and at a construction site in South Austin. Bed thicknesses range from 0.1–33 cm and were collected throughout the entirety of the Eagle Ford succession. Mineral separation yielded abundant non-detrital zircons for U-Pb dating. Dating was conducted using LA-ICP-MS at The University of Texas at Austin, to attain a base level understanding of the age range for the Eagle Ford. High-resolution ages for the base and top of the Eagle Ford were obtained, in addition to radioisotopically defining the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary within the section. U-Pb ages for the Eagle Ford Shale range from Early Cenomanian to Late-Coniacian near Comstock, Mid-Cenomanian to the Turonian-Coniacian boundary in the subsurface, and Early Cenomanian to Late Turonian in Austin area. These findings contrast with many of the regional biostratigraphic studies across the Eagle Ford and indicate a more prolonged period of Eagle Ford deposition than previously observed. / text
179

Geochemistry and Basin Analysis of Laramide Rocky Mountain Basins

Fan, Majie January 2009 (has links)
The Laramide Rocky Mountains in western U.S.A is an important topographic feature in the continental interior, yet its formation and evolution are poorly constrained. This study uses the oxygen and strontium isotope geochemistry of freshwater bivalve fossils from six Laramide basins in order to reconstruct the spatial evolution of the paleotopography and Precambrian basement erosion in late Cretaceous-early Eocene. In addition it uses the sedimentology, detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, and isotope paleoaltimetry of early Eocene sedimentary strata to constrain the tectonic setting, paleogeography and paleoclimate of the Wind River basin. Annual and seasonal variation in ancient riverwater δ¹⁸O reconstructed from shell fossils shows that the Canadian Rocky Mountains was 4.5±1.0 km high in late Cretaceous-early Paleocene, and the Laramide ranges in eastern Wyoming reached 4.5±1.3 km high, while the ranges in western Wyoming were 1-2 km high in late Paleocene. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of riverwaters reconstructed from the same fossils show that Proterozoic metamorphic carbonates in the Belt-Purcell Supergroup were not exposed in the Canadian Rocky Mountains during Late Cretaceous-early Paleocene, but that Precambrian silicate basement rock was exposed and eroded in the Laramide ranges during late Paleocene-early Eocene. The sedimentary environment of the early Eocene Wind River basin changed from gravelly fluvial and/or stream-dominated alluvial fan to low-sinuosity fluvial systems. Tectonic uplift of the Washakie and Wind River Range in early Eocene formed the modern paleodrainage system, although the elevation of the basin floor was only ~500 m high at that time, and early Eocene paleoclimate is more humid than modern climate.
180

Limitations and Improvements in Methods for Precise U-Pb Isotopic Dating of Precambrian Zircon

Das, Abin 11 December 2012 (has links)
This thesis addresses various issues in U-Pb zircon geochronology, proposing new experimental protocols in conventional chemical abrasion-isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry or CA-(ID)-TIMS and developing a new method for Pb evaporation-condensation from zircon that allows high precision Pb-Pb age determination on Precambrian samples. Various experiments are also done on zircon to extract U-Pb information by in situ flux aided fusion methods and to optimize a better silica gel Pb-ionization activator. Radiation damage caused by U decay in zircon disrupts its ‘closed system’ behavior leading to the loss of daughter radiogenic Pb and resulting in inaccurate ages. A high temperature thermal annealing procedure has been proposed to prevent such Pb loss. Studies presented here have been carried out using Laser Raman Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy to characterize radiation damage and effects of laboratory induced thermal annealing on such damage. Backscattered electron images reveal a variety of textures for ZrO2 overgrowths on zircon annealed at 1450oC. Highly damaged zircon produces finer polycrystalline aggregates (<5µm) than zircon with less damage. Raman spectroscopy indicates that crystals with different levels of radiation damage are only partially restored by annealing at 1000oC for 2–3 or 20 days. Annealing at 1450oC for 1 h results in partial breakdown of zircon but restores Raman peak widths and wave numbers. Raman spectra are much less sensitive to polarization angle for annealed highly damaged grains than for weakly damaged zircon showing that when highly damaged zircon is recrystallized, it becomes a polycrystalline aggregate that pseudomorphs the original single crystal. The whole grain Pb evaporation-condensation method is based on 206Pb-207Pb age analyses where zircon grains are pre-treated at 1450oC to drive out all disturbed Pb and then they are kept at 1600oC for an hour or two during which Pb atoms are evaporated out of the grain and deposited directly into a clean Savillex teflon vial or a wide Re filament. This technique allows the use of a 202Pb-205Pb double spike for precise isotopic fractionation correction. Examples are shown in which application of this technique to zircon from Precambrian samples has successfully yielded sub-million year age precisions.

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