GZ7 and GZ8 – Two Zircon Reference Materials for SIMS U-PbGeochronology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2018
Abstract
Here, we document a detailed characterization of two zircon gemstones, GZ7 and GZ8. Both stones had the same mass at 19.2 carats (3.84 g) each; both came from placer deposits in the Ratnapura district, Sri Lanka. The U‐Pb data are in both cases concordant within the uncertainties of decay constants and yield weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages (95% confidence uncertainty) of 530.26 Ma ± 0.05 Ma (GZ7) and 543.92 Ma ± 0.06 Ma (GZ8). Neither GZ7 nor GZ8 have been subjected to any gem enhancement by heating. Structure‐related parameters correspond well with the calculated alpha doses of 1.48 × 1018 g−1 (GZ7) and 2.53 × 1018 g−1 (GZ8), respectively, and the (U‐Th)/He ages of 438 Ma ± 3 Ma (2s) for GZ7 and 426 Ma ± 9 Ma (2s) for GZ8 are typical of unheated zircon from Sri Lanka. The mean U mass fractions are 680 μg g−1 (GZ7) and 1305 μg g−1 (GZ8). The two zircon samples are proposed as reference materials for SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) U‐Pb geochronology. In addition, GZ7 (Ti mass fractions 25.08 μg g−1 ± 0.18 μg g−1; 95% confidence uncertainty) may prove useful as reference material for Ti‐in‐zircon temperature estimates.
Publication Information
Wall, Corey J. and Schmitz, Mark D.. (2018). "GZ7 and GZ8 – Two Zircon Reference Materials for SIMS U-PbGeochronology". Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 42(4), 431-457. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggr.12239
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