Sub-micron scale Ti variations in zircons of known provenance

Abstract

The Ti-in-zircon geothermometer has been applied to zircons from rocks of both known (e.g., [1]) and unknown (e.g., [2]) provenance. Hofmann et al. [3] have recently shown that Ti concentrations ([Ti]) in Hadean zircons from the Jack Hills, Australia, are positively correlated with other trace elements and cathodoluminescent (CL) banding at the submicron scale; these correlations suggest that Ti partitioning in zircon is dependent upon non-equilibrium effects in addition to temperature and/or that the incorporation of co-varying trace elements (e.g., Y, P, Ce) affects Ti partitioning. Here we consider whether younger zircons of known provenance show similarly correlated trace-element distributions.

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