Quantification of radiation damage in natural and synthetic zircon by Raman spectroscopy:application to low-temperature thermochronology

Due to its ubiquitous occurrence in igneous,metamorphic,and sedimentary rocks and its wide application in geochronology and geochemistry,zircon has become the most widely used accessory mineral in the geological community.Nevertheless,the decay of U and Th causes radiation damage to the zircon structure,resulting in various degrees of metamictization,which can affect the accuracy of U–Pb dates and Hf and O isotope results.If the degree of zircon radiation damage can be quantified,the influence on geochemical analyses can be evaluated,and the results can be corrected more precisely.In this paper,synthetic and natural zircon crystals with different crystallization ages were selected for Raman spectroscopy analysis,cathodoluminescence imaging,and determination of the U and Th concentrations.The results show that Raman FWHM(full width at half bandmaximum)and Raman shift correlate with alpha dose(Da)ofzirconsfollowingtheseequations,FWHM=44.36(±2.32)×[1-exp(-2.74×Da)]-+1.7(±0.19),Raman Shift=-6.53×Da+1007.69.Analysis of synthetic zircon crystals shows that doped REEs(rare earth elements and P)can also lead to an increase in the FWHM.However,this effect can be ignored for natural zircon samples with REE contents at a normal level of hundreds to a few thousand ppm.The FWHM and Raman shift can be used as proxies to measure the degree of zircon radiation damage.Using the updated equations to calculate the latest age when zircon began to accumulate radiation damage,a more accurate and more meaningful“radiation damage age”can be obtained.

Reverse metasomatism of subduction zone fluids

1.Fluid metasomatism in subduction zones Subduction zones are the key tectonic setting that links Earth's surficial sphere to deep sphere(Zheng and Chen,2016).Fluid action occurring in subduction zones is closely related to many important geological processes such as volcanic and seismic activity,the migration,enrichment and mineralization of metallogenic elements,mass transport and crust-mantle material cycling,and the evolution of Earth's surface environment.Therefore,it is of great significance to study the sources,properties and geochemical effects of subduction zone fluids(Zheng,2019).

Metamorphic evolution of the East Tethys tectonic domain and its tectonic implications

The China Central Orogenic System(CCOS),extending in an east-west direction in the middle part of China,is composed of the Early Paleozoic Altyn-North Qilian-North Qaidam-East Kunlun-North Qinling-North Tongbai orogens in the west and the Late Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic South Tongbai-Hong'an-Dabie-Sulu orogens in the east.They were produced by oceanic subduction and continental subduction/collision during the closure of the Proto-Tethys and the Paleo-Tethys oceans,respectively.Different types of metamorphic rocks with various ages are extensively exposed in these orogens,and they were produced at different geothermal gradients in different stages during the tectonic evolution of convergent continental margins,making them ideal targets to reconstruct the spatiotemporal evolution of the Eastern Tethys tectonic domain.In this article,an integrated study of metamorphic temperature(T)-pressure(P)-time(t)records is presented for metamorphic rocks along the CCOS,aiming to ascertain the change of metamorphic T/P ratios in both time and space,and then shed light on the tectonic evolution of the East Tethys tectonic domain in association with the thermal state change of convergent continental margins.The results indicate that despite the difference in metamorphic ages,metamorphic rocks in different orogens show a common trend with clockwise P-T-t paths.With respect to plate convergence for subduction and collision,regional metamorphism is categorized into three stages:(1)an early convergent stage,corresponding to low T/P Alpine-type blueschist-to eclogite-facies high-P to ultrahigh-P metamorphism;(2)a later convergent stage,corresponding to the medium T/P Barrovian-type medium-P amphibolite to high-P granulite-facies metamorphism;and(3)a post-convergent stage,corresponding to the high T/P Buchan-type lowP amphibolite to MP granulite-facies metamorphism.Nonetheless,a few metamorphic rocks only record a two-sage metamorphic evolution,with an early Barrovian-type high-P granulite-facies metamorphism and a late Buchan-type low-P granulitefacies metamorphic overprinting.In modern convergent plate margins,Alpine-type metamorphism mainly occurs in the stages of oceanic subduction and continental collision,Barrovian-type metamorphism takes pace in both stages of crustal thickening during continental hard collision and slab exhumation when continental subduction zones have evolved from compressional to extensional regimes,and Buchan-type metamorphism occurs in intracontinental rifting stage after the plate convergence.Therefore,the tectonic evolution of convergent continental margins can be reconstructed by combining metamorphic T/P ratios with their corresponding metamorphic facies series and metamorphic timing of metamorphic rocks.Based on the reported metamorphic rocks of different types and ages along the CCOS,it appears that the continental subduction/collision occurred at 500–490 Ma in the Altyn-North Qinling-North Tongbai orogens but 450–430 Ma in the North Qaidam-East Kunlun orogens,and the intracontinental rifting occurred at 460–450 Ma in the Altyn-North Qinling-North Tongbai orogens but 410–400 Ma in the North Qaidam-East Kunlun orogens,respectively,in the western Proto-Tethys domain.For the eastern Paleo-Tethys domain,in contrast,the continental subduction/collision occurred at 250–220 Ma and post-collisional intracontinental rifting occurred at 140–120 Ma.Furthermore,metamorphic evolution from low T/P ratios in the subduction/collision stage to high T/P ratios in the intracontinental rifting stage needs 40–60 Myr in the Proto-Tethys domain but about 110 Myr in the Paleo-Tethys domain.For the two different orogenic domains,therefore,the convergent continental margins underwent a common tectonic evolution from warm collision/cold subduction to hot rifting,which starts from continental subduction/collision characterized by the formation of medium-P amphibolite to high-P granulite facies series or high-P to ultrahigh-P eclogite facies series in compressional regimes,through exhumation of the deeply subducted crustal rocks,and terminates with intracontinental rifting featured by highT to ultrahigh-T granulite facies series in extensional regimes.

Multiple Episodes of Zircon Growth during Anatectic Metamorphism of Metasedimentary Rocks in Collisional Orogens:Constraints from Felsic Granulites in the Bohemian Massif

Zircon is a key accessary mineral for metamorphic geochronology and geochemical tracing,but it has been a challenge to interpret its complex chemical zoning and age record acquired during multiple episodes of anatectic metamorphism in collisional orogens.This is illustrated by a combined study of petrography,phase equilibrium modeling and metamorphic P-T-t determination for granulites from the Bohemian Massif in the Variscan Orogen.These rocks record multiple episodes of zircon growth during anatectic metamorphism.They started from the compressional heating for prograde metamorphism to high-pressure(HP)to ultrahigh-pressure(UHP)eclogite facies with low degrees of partial melting.Afterwards,they underwent a decompressional stage from UHP eclogite facies to HP granulite facies for dehydration melting.These were followed by a further decompressional stage either to kyanite granulite facies or to sillimanite granulite facies at ultrahigh-temperature(UHT)conditions.Episodes of zircon growth are linked to specific metamorphic conditions for peritectic reactions on the basis of zoning patterns,trace element signatures,index mineral inclusions in dated domains and textural relationships to coexisting minerals.The results indicate that relict zircon domains are preserved even at UHT granulite facies conditions.A few zircon domains in the kyanite granulite grew during the prograde to peak UHP metamorphism,possibly corresponding to consumption of biotite and plagioclase but growth of garnet.During the decompressional exhumation to the HP granulite-facies,relict or prograde zircon domains were mostly dissolved into anatectic melts produced by muscovite breakdown.Most zircon grains grew during this transition to the HP granulite-facies in the kyanite granulite and are chemically related to continuous growth of garnet,whereas abundant zircon grains grew subsequently at the UHT granulite facies in the sillimanite granulite and are chemically related to garnet breakdown reactions.Another peak of zircon growth occurred at the final crystallization of anatectic melts in the sillimanite granulite rather than in the kyanite granulite,and these zircon grains mostly show oscillatory zoning,low HREE+Y contents and significantly negative Eu anomalies.In terms of the inference for protolith nature,it appears that zircon in metasedimentary rocks can grow at a short timescale in different stages of anatectic metamorphism,and its dissolution and growth are mainly dictated by anatectic conditions and extent,the property of peritectic reactions,and the stability of Ti-rich minerals.

Plate tectonics in the Archean:Observations versus interpretations

Plate tectonics theory,established in the 1960s,has been successful in explaining many geological phenomena,processes and events that occurred in the Phanerozoic.However,the theory has often struggled to provide a coherent framework in interpreting geological records in continental interior and Precambrian period.In dealing with the relationship between plate tectonics and continental geology,continental interior tectonics was often separated from continental margin tectonics in the inheritance and development of their structure and composition.This separation led to the illusion that the plate tectonics theory is not applicable to Precambrian geology,particularly in explaining the fundamental geological characteristics of Archean cratons.Although this illusion does not mean that the Archean continental crust did not originate from a regime of plate tectonics,it led to the development of alternative tectonic models,often involving vertical movements under a regime of stagnant lid tectonics,including not only endogenous processes such as gravitational sagduction,mantle plumes and heat pipes but also exogenous processes such as bolide impacts.These vertical processes were not unique to the Archean but persisted into the Phanerozoic.They result from mantle poloidal convection at different depths,not specific to any particular period.Upgrading the plate tectonics theory from the traditional kinematic model in the 20th century to a holistic kinematic-dynamic model in the 21st century and systematically examining the vertical transport of matter and energy at plate margins,it is evident that plate tectonics can explain the common geological characteristics of Archean cratons,such as lithological associations,structural patterns and metamorphic evolution.By deciphering the structure and composition of convergent plate margins as well as their dynamics,the formation and evolution of continental crust since the Archean can be divided into ancient plate tectonics in the Precambrian and modern plate tectonics in the Phanerozoic.In addition,there are the following three characteristic features in the Archean:(1)convective mantle temperatures were 200–300°C higher than in the Phanerozoic,(2)newly formed basaltic oceanic crust was as thick as 30–40 km,and(3)the asthenosphere had a composition similar to the primitive mantle rather than the depleted mantle at present.On this basis,the upgraded plate tectonics theory can successfully explain the major geological phenomena of Archean cratons.This approach provides a new perspective on and deep insights into the evolution of early Earth and the origin of continental crust.In detail,Archean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG)rocks would result from partial melting of the over-thick basaltic oceanic crust at convergent plate margins.The structural patterns of gneissic domes and greenstone keels would result from the buoyancy-driven emplacement of TTG magmas and its interaction with the basaltic crust at convergent margins,and komatiites in greenstone belts would be the product of mantle plume activity in the regime of ancient plate tectonics.The widespread distribution of high-grade metamorphic rocks in a planar fashion,rather than in zones,is ascrible to separation of the gneissic domes from the greenstone belts.The shortage of calc-alkaline andesites in bimodal volcanic associations suggests the shortage of sediment accretionary wedges derived from weathering of granitic continental crust above oceanic subduction zones.The absence of Penrose-type ophiolites suggests that during the subduction initiation of microplates,only the upper volcanic rocks of the thick oceanic crust were offscrapped to form basalt accretionary wedges.The absence of blueschist and eclogite as well as classic paired metamorphic belts suggests that convergent plate margins were over-thickened through either warm subduction or hard collision of the thick oceanic crust at moderate geothermal gradients.Therefore,only by correctly recognizing and understanding the nature of Archean cartons can plate tectonics reasonably explain their fundamental geological characteristics.

地球历史上两种范式的板块构造

板块构造在地球上开始出现的时间及其如何随着时间而演化,是地球科学中的最基本问题.尽管重力驱动的俯冲作用已经被看成是地球上板块构造运作的关键条件,但是地球历史上俯冲带动力机制和热状态变化如何影响板块构造范式这个问题依然值得探讨.沿汇聚板块边界分布的区域变质岩记录了地壳岩石在岩石圈深度通过脱水和熔融作用发生的再造.区域变质作用的性质受控于板块边缘热状态,在变质相系全球分布上随时间推移所发生的变化就记录了板块边缘动力体制随时间的演化.现代板块构造开始于新元古代,这时板块边缘具备了足够的刚性得以冷俯冲;远古板块构造则开始于太古代,那时板块边缘因具有足够的韧性而进行暖俯冲.这种差异主要是由于太古代地幔比显生宙地幔具有显著较高的温度,在冷和暖两种状态下的板块俯冲属性主要受控于板块边缘的流变学.因此,本文建立了地球历史上不同时期板块构造范式的功能性整体模型.