0000000000049520
AUTHOR
Delia Rösel
LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating of detrital rutile and zircon from the Reynolds Range: A window into the Palaeoproterozoic tectonosedimentary evolution of the North Australian Craton
Abstract The Palaeoproterozoic Reynolds Range of the Arunta Region, central Australia, comprises a series of shallow marine clastic sediments (Reynolds Range Group) which overlies deeper water sequences of turbidites (Lander Rock Formation) and minor sandstones (“unnamed sandstone”). U–Pb age data collected from detrital rutile and zircon in these rocks indicates these sequences contain very similar age spectra, although with a notable and important shift to younger ages within the stratigraphically younger Reynolds Range Group. Detrital zircons from the “unnamed sandstone” directly underlying the unconformity with the Reynolds Range Group contain a major age component at ca. 1860 Ma, toget…
Indo-Antarctic derived detritus on the northern margin of Gondwana: evidence for continental-scale sediment transport
Provenance studies from Cambro-Ordovician sediments of the North Gondwana passive margin typically ascribe a North African source, a conclusion that cannot be reconciled with all observations. We present new U-Pb ages from detrital rutile and zircon from Late Ordovician sediments from Saxo-Thuringia, Germany. Detrital zircons yield age populations of 500–800 Ma, 900–1050 Ma and 1800–2600 Ma. The detrital rutile age spectra are unimodal with ages between 500 and 650 Ma and likely represent, together with the 500–800 Ma and 1800–2600 Ma zircon populations, detritus sourced predominantly from North Africa. In contrast, the c. 950 Ma zircons, which are persistently found in Cambro-Ordovician se…
Assessment of Five Monazite Reference Materials for U-Th/Pb Dating Using Laser-Ablation ICP-MS
Monazite is a common accessory phosphate mineral that occurs under a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions in sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. Monazite contains high amounts of Th and U, rendering single monazite grains suitable for in-situ U-Th/Pb dating using laser ablation inductively-coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Two key aspects of monazite dating that are critical for accurate age data with maximum precision are (i) optimized instrumental conditions to minimize analytical scatter and (ii) a well characterized reference material to ensure the accuracy of the obtained aged. Here, we analyzed five monazite reference materials (USGS 44069, 94-222, MAdel, Moa…
Direct dating of gold by radiogenic helium: Testing the method on gold from Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
New analytical developments have made radiogenic helium ( 4 He) applicable to archeological gold artifacts for age determinations. Here we report the application of the U/Th– 4 He method to the direct dating of gold from the historically important gold deposit in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The U/Th– 4 He age of 515 ± 55 Ma for the Diamantina gold is corroborated by a new U/Pb age of 524 ± 16 Ma for rutile recovered from auriferous pockets. These ages tie the Diamantina gold mineralization to the Brasiliano orogenic event, in the context of the Gondwana amalgamation. Our results indicate that U/Th– 4 He dating of gold is possible, opening new perspectives for the dating of gold deposi…
Sapphire-bearing magmatic rocks trace the boundary between paleo-continents: A case study of Ilmenogorsky alkaline complex, Uralian collision zone of Russia
Abstract Metamorphic gem corundum (mainly ruby) deposits are robust indicators of continent-continent collision processes. However, a systematic link of primary magmatic blue sapphire occurrences to orogenic belts is less understood. An example is the Ilmenogorsky alkaline complex, within the Ilmen Mountains region and part of the Uralian orogenic belt. The mobile belt is a product of the collision among Kazakhstania, Laurussia, and Siberia continents prior to the closure of the Paleo-Uralian ocean and formation of the Laurasia supercontinent (330–250 Ma). It is believed that the alkaline complex became inсluded into the separate Sysertsk-Ilmenogorsk microcontinent with unconstrained border…