0000000000165674
AUTHOR
Andreas Kronz
Zircon M257 - a homogeneous natural reference material for the ion microprobe U-Pb analysis of zircon
We introduce and propose zircon M257 as a future reference material for the determination of zircon U-Pb ages by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry. This light brownish, flawless, cut gemstone specimen from Sri Lanka weighed 5.14 g (25.7 carats). Zircon M257 has TIMS-determined, mean isotopic ratios (2s uncertainties) of 0.09100 ± 0.00003 for 206pb/238U and 0.7392 ± 0.0003 for 207pb/235U. Its 206pb/238U age is 561.3 ± 0.3 Ma (unweighted mean, uncertainty quoted at the 95% confidence level); the U-Pb system is concordant within uncertainty of decay constants. Zircon M257 contains ∼ 840 μg g−1 U (Th/U ∼ 0.27). The material exhibits remarkably low heterogeneity, with a virtual absence of…
Zircon M127 - A Homogeneous Reference Material for SIMS U-Pb Geochronology Combined with Hafnium, Oxygen and, Potentially, Lithium Isotope Analysis
Faculty of Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna; Beijing SHRIMP Centre, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; European Commission [MEXC-CT-2005-024878]; FWF Austrian Science Fund [P20028-N10, P24448-N19]; U.S. National Science Foundation [EAR 1524336]
Rutile crystals as potential trace element and isotope mineral standards for microanalysis
Abstract The present paper reports trace element concentrations of 15 elements (V, Cr, Fe, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, W, Lu, Pb, Th and U) as well as Pb and Hf isotope data for four relatively homogeneous and large (centimeter size) rutile grains. Methods employed are SIMS, EMP, LA-ICP-MS, ID-MC-ICP-MS and TIMS. For most elements homogeneity is usually within ± 10% and occasionally variations are even narrower (± 5%), particularly in the core of two of the studied grains. The trace element concentrations of the grains span a broad compositional range (e.g., Zr concentrations are ca. 4, 100, 300 and 800 ppm). Provisional concentration values, calculated based on the homogeneity of the eleme…
Effects of natural radiation damage on back-scattered electron images of single crystals of minerals
Generally, it has been assumed that signal intensity variations in back-scattered electron (BSE) images of minerals are mainly controlled by chemical heterogeneity. This is especially true for images of single crystals, where effects of different crystal orientations with respect to the incident beam on the observed BSE are excluded. In contrast, we show that local variations of the structural state within single-crystals (i.e., degree of lattice order or lattice imperfectness) may also have dramatic effects on the back-scattering of electrons. As an example, we present BSE images of single-crystals of natural zircon, ZrSiO 4 , whose intensity patterns are predominantly controlled by struct…
Nano-inclusion suite and high resolution micro-computed-tomography of polycrystalline diamond (framesite) from Orapa, Botswana
Abstract A single polycrystalline diamond aggregate from the Orapa kimberlite (Botswana) contains a syngenetic micro- and nano-inclusion suite of magnetite, pyrrhotite, omphacite, garnet, rutile and C–O–H fluid in order of abundance. This suite of inclusions is distinctly different from those in fibrous diamonds, although the presence of sub-micrometer fluid inclusions provides evidence for a similarly important role of fluids in the genesis of polycrystalline diamond. It is the first study of polycrystalline diamond by High resolution μ-CT (Computed Tomography) reaching a resolution of 1.3 μm using polychromatic X-rays. Combined with Focused Ion Beam assisted Transmission Electron Microsco…
Coralline alga reveals first marine record of subarctic North Pacific climate change
[1] While recent changes in subarctic North Pacific climate had dramatic effects on ecosystems and fishery yields, past climate dynamics and teleconnection patterns are poorly understood due to the absence of century-long high-resolution marine records. We present the first 117-year long annually resolved marine climate history from the western Bering Sea/Aleutian Island region using information contained in the calcitic skeleton of the long-lived crustose coralline red alga Clathromorphum nereostratum, a previously unused climate archive. The skeletal δ18O-time series indicates significant warming and/or freshening of surface waters after the middle of the 20th century. Furthermore, the ti…
Internal structures and dating of complex zircons from Meissen Massif monzonites, Saxony
Abstract U–Pb zircon ages were determined for accessory zircons from two monzonites from the Meissen Massif (Northern Bohemian Massif, Germany) by SHRIMP ion microprobe. BSE and CL imaging revealed that the monzonite zircons, showing oscillatory growth zoning, often contain inherited cores. Raman microprobe measurements showed that zoned rims (U 277–1426 ppm, Th 144–910 ppm) are slightly disordered to moderately metamict whereas cores have a wide spectrum of structural states, from well-crystallized to highly metamict. The radionuclide (U+Th) content of cores varies from a few hundred to more than 20,000 ppm. SHRIMP ion probe measurements on zoned rims, interpreted as zircon growth during c…
HIGH-RESOLUTION MG/CA RATIOS IN A CORALLINE RED ALGA AS A PROXY FOR BERING SEA TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS FROM 1902 TO 1967
We present the first continuous, high-resolution record of Mg/Ca variations within an encrusting coralline red alga, Clathromorphum nereostratum, from Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands. Mg/Ca ratios of individual growth increments were analyzed by measuring a singlepoint, electron-microprobe transect, yielding a resolution of ~15 samples/year and a 65-year record (1902–1967) of variations. Results show that Mg/Ca ratios in the high-Mg calcite algal framework display pronounced annual cyclicity and archive late spring–late fall sea-surface temperatures (SST) corresponding to the main season of algal growth. Mg/Ca values correlate well to local SST, as well as to an air temperature record fro…
Effects of irradiation damage on the back-scattering of electrons: silicon-implanted silicon
Radiation damage in an (initially crystalline) silicon wafer was generated by microbeam implantation with 600 keV Si+ ions (fluence 5 x 1014 ions/cm²). To produce micro-areas with different degrees of damage, 14 implantations at different temperatures (between 23 and 225 °C) were done. The structural state of irradiated areas was characterized using Raman spectroscopy and electron back-scatter diffraction. All irradiated areas showed strong structural damage in surficial regions (estimated depth <1 μm), and at implant substrate temperatures of below 130 °C, the treatment has caused complete amorphization. Back-scattered electron (BSE) images exhibited that observed BSE intensities correlate…
High-resolution analysis of trace elements in crustose coralline algae from the North Atlantic and North Pacific by laser ablation ICP-MS
We have investigated the trace elemental composition in the skeleta of two specimens of attached-living coralline algae of the species Clathromorphum compactum from the North Atlantic (Newfoundland) and Clathromorphum nereostratum from the North Pacific/Bering Sea region (Amchitka Island, Aleutians). Samples were analyzed using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) yielding for the first time continuous individual trace elemental records of up to 69 years in length. The resulting algal Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, U/Ca, and Ba/Ca ratios are reproducible within individual sample specimens. Algal Mg/Ca ratios were additionally validated by electron microprobe analyses (Amch…
Long-term stability of alpha particle damage in natural zircon
Abstract We report the first discovery of radiation damage haloes generated by alpha particles in zircon. Proterozoic zircon crystals from a potassium-rich leucogranite from the Adirondack Mountains, New York State, have interior regions that are generally low in actinide elements (UO 2 + ThO 2 ≤ 0.02 wt.%) but show a remarkable pattern of heterogeneous metamictisation. The degree of radiation damage in these regions is not uniformly low, as would be expected if it corresponded to the observed actinide distribution patterns and age of the crystals. Rather, radiation damage is significantly increased in the outermost micro-areas of the low-actinide regions. The additional radiation damage …
Further characterisation of the 91500 zircon crystal
This paper reports the results from a second characterisation of the 91500 zircon, including data from electron probe microanalysis, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and laser fluorination analyses. The focus of this initiative was to establish the suitability of this large single zircon crystal for calibrating in situ analyses of the rare earth elements and oxygen isotopes, as well as to provide working values for key geochemical systems. In addition to extensive testing of the chemical and structural homogeneity of this sample, the occurrence of banding in 91500 in both backscattered electron and cathodolumines…