1. Brittle fracturing and fracture healing of zircon: An integrated cathodoluminescence, EBSD, U-Th-Pb, and REE study.
- Author
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RimšA, A., Whitehouse, M. J., Johansson, L., and Piazolo, S.
- Subjects
ZIRCON ,CATHODOLUMINESCENCE ,HYDRAULIC fracturing ,ROCK mechanics ,GEMS & precious stones - Abstract
The entire population of magmatic oscillatory zoned zircons in a migmatitic granite from the Tjärnesjö intrusion, southwest Sweden, reveal fine-scale brittle fracturing. The oscillatory zoned fragments are rotated but not dispersed. Fractures between individual fragments are sealed by newly formed CL-bright zircon. Hydraulic fracturing is the most probable mechanism. The internal structure of fractured zircons and the LREE-enriched, low Th character of CL-bright zircon both suggest that cracks between oscillatory zoned zircon fragments were rapidly sealed after fracturing by CL-bright zircon, precipitated from hydrothermal fluids. Zircon fracturing and crack-sealing has been dated by SIMS ion-probe and U-Th-Pb isotopes to 920 ± 51 Ma (lower intercept age, 2s, MSWD = 1.09) with a limit for the youngest possible age of 960± 16 Ma (
207 Pb/206 Pb, 2σ, MSWD = 0.23) dated by sector-zoned rims forming overgrowths on the fractured cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2007
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