Journal article

A la-icpms zircon record of magmatic crystallization and compositional alteration in meta-igneous rocks of the eastern kaapvaal craton

R Bolhar, A Hofmann, CM Allen, R Maas

South African Journal of Geology | GEOLOGICAL SOC SOUTH AFRICA | Published : 2021

Abstract

Archaean zircons from the Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa, were analyzed by Laser Ablation (LA)-ICP-MS to obtain a coupled record of U-Th-Pb isotope ratios and selected trace elements with the aim to develop insights into physico-chemical conditions during igneous zircon crystallization and subsequent compositional alteration. Four rock samples previously dated by SIMS U-Pb using zircon were selected: 3.56 Ga Ngwane Gneiss, 3.55 Ga Theespruit felsic metavolcanic, 3.50 Ga Steynsdorp Gneiss and 2.98 Ga Nhlangano Gneiss. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages agree with published SIMS U-Pb ages within analytical uncertainty. Assessment of the magmatic crystallization histories was based on near-concordant gr..

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Funding Acknowledgements

RB acknowledges financial support through a start-up grant from the Dean of Science, University of the Witwatersrand and through a travel grant (to AH). RB and AH were also supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. Comments by Alexander Rocholl helped to improve the text. Mike Palin assisted with LA-ICPMS analysis and data reduction, Lorraine Paterson provided hands-on support during CL-imaging and Marlin Patchappa and Allan Wilson provided solution ICPMS analyses. Dewashish Upadhyay and Hugo Moreira provided constructive reviews, and Marlina Elburg is thanked for her patience, scientific insight and efficient editorial handling.