ZIRCON TRACE ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY: PARTITIONING WITH GARNET AND THE LINK BETWEEN U-PB AGES AND METAMORPHISM

Abstract

With the aim to link zircon composition with paragenesis and thus metamorphic conditions, zircons from eclogite- and granulite-facies rocks were analysed for trace elements using LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP ion microprobe. Metamorphic zircons from these different settings display a large variation in trace element composition. In the granulites, zircon overgrowths formed in equilibrium with partial melt and are similar to magmatic zircon in terms of high Y, Hf and P content, steep heavy-enriched REE pattern, positive Ce anomaly and negative Eu anomaly. They are distinguishable from magmatic zircon because of their low Th/U ratio. Independently of whole rock composition, metamorphic zircon domains in eclogite-facies rocks have low Th/U ratio and reduced HREE enrichment and Eu anomaly. In a low grade metamorphic vein, zircon has low Th/U ratio but is extremely enriched in Y, Nb and HREE.