Helium diffusion in natural zircon: radiation damage, anisotropy, and the interpretation of zircon (U-TH)/He thermochronology

American Journal of Science

Volumn 313, Issue 3, 2013, Pages 145-198

  Guenthner, William R ^a   Reiners, Peter W ^a   Ketcham, Richard A ^b   Nasdala, Lutz ^c   Giester, Gerald ^c  

^a University of Arizona   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA   (Austria)

Author keywords

He diffusion; Radiation damage; Thermochronology; Zircon

Indexed keywords

EID: 84881315206     PISSN: 00029599     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2475/03.2013.01     Document Type: Article

References (75)

1. Ault, A. K., and Flowers, R. M., 2012, Is apatite U-Th zonation information necessary for accurate interpretation of apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry data?: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 79, p. 60-78, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.11.037
2. Bengston, A., Ewing, R. C., and Becker, U., 2012, He diffusion and closure temperatures in apatite and zircon: A density functional theory investigation: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 86, p. 228-238, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.03.004
3. Bernet, M., Zattin, M., Garver, J. I., Brandon, M. T., and Vance, J. A., 2001, Steady-state exhumation of the European Alps: Geology, v. 29, n. 1, p. 35-38, http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029-0035: SSEOTE-2.0.CO;2
4. Blackburn, T. J., Stockli, D. F., and Walker, J. D., 2007, Magnetite (U-Th)/He dating and its application to the geochronology of intermediate to mafic volcanic rocks: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 259, n. 3-4, p. 360-371, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.04.044
5. Capitani, G. C., Leroux, H., Doukhan, J. C., Rios, S., Zhang, M., and Salje, E. K. H., 2000, A TEM investigation of natural metamict zircons: Structure and recovery of amorphous domains: Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, v. 27, n. 8, p. 545-556, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002690000100
6. Chakraborty, S., 2008, Diffusion in solid silicates: A tool to track timescales of processes comes of age: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science, v. 36, p. 153-190, http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev. earth.36.031207.124125
7. Cherniak, D. J., and Watson, E. B., 2003, Diffusion in zircon in Hanchar J. M., and Hoskin, P. W. O., editors, Zircon: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 53, p. 113-143, http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/0530113
8. Cherniak, D. J., Watson, E. B., and Thomas, J. B., 2009, Diffusion of helium in zircon and apatite: Chemical Geology, v. 268, n. 1-2, p. 155-166, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2009.08.011
9. Clay, P. L., Baxter, E. F., Cherniak, D. J., Kelley, S. P., Thomas, J. B., and Watson, E. B., 2010, Two diffusion pathways in quartz: A combined UV-laser and RBS study: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 74, n. 20, p. 5906-5925, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2010.07.014
10. Cussler, E. L., 1984, Diffusion: Mass transfer in fluid systems: New York, Cambridge University Press, 525 p.
11. DeCelles, P. G., 1994, Late Cretaceous-Paleocene synorogenic sedimentation and kinematic history of the Sevier thrust belt, northeast Utah and southwest Wyoming: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 106, n. 1, p. 32-56, http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1994)106-0032:LCPSSA-2.3.CO;2
12. Devanathan, R., Corrales, L. R., Weber, W. J., Chartier, A., and Meis, C., 2006, Molecular dynamics simulation of energetic uranium recoil damage in zircon: Molecular Simulation, v. 32, n. 12-13, p. 1069-1077, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08927020600959929
13. Dijkman, F. G., and van der Maas, J. H., 1976, Dependence of bandshape and depolarization ratio on slitwidth: Applied Spectroscopy, v. 30, n. 5, p. 545-546, http://dx.doi.org/10.1366/000370276774456859
14. Epstein, N., 1989, On tortuosity and the tortuosity factor in flow and diffusion through porous media: Chemical Engineering Science, v. 44, n. 3, p. 777-779, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(89)85053-5
15. Ewing, R. C., Meldrum, A., Wang, L., Weber, W. J., and Corrales, L. R., 2003, Radiation effects in zircon, in Hanchar J. M., and Hoskin, P. W. O., editors, Zircon: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 53, p. 387-425, http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/0530387
16. Farley, K. A., 2000, Helium diffusion from apatite: General behavior as illustrated by Durango fluorapatite: Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, v. 105, n. B2, p. 2903-2914, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/1999JB900348
17. 2007, He diffusion systematics in minerals: Evidence from synthetic monazite and zircon structure phosphates: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 71, n. 16, p. 4015-4024, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2007.05.022
18. Farley, K. A., Wolf, R. A., and Silver, L. T., 1996, The effects of long alpha-stopping distance on (U-Th)/He ages: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 60, n. 21, p. 4223-4229, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(96)00193-7
19. Farley, K. A., Reiners, P. W., and Nenow, V., 1999, An apparatus for high-precision helium diffusion measurements from minerals: Analytical Chemistry, v. 71, n. 10, p. 2059-2061, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac9813078
20. Farley, K. A., Shuster, D. L., and Ketcham, R. A., 2011, U and Th zonation in apatite observed by laser ablation ICPMS, and implications for the (U-Th)/He system: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 75, n. 16, p. 4515-4530, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.05.020
21. Fechtig, H., and Kalbitzer, S., 1966, The diffusion of argon in potassium-bearing solids, in Schaeffer, O. A., and Zahringer, J., editors, Potassium Argon Dating: New York, Springer-Verlag, p. 68-107.
22. Flowers, R. M., and Kelley, S. A., 2011, Interpreting data dispersion and "inverted" dates in apatite (U-Th)/He and fission-track datasets: An example from the US midcontinent: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 75, n. 18, p. 5169-5186, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.06.016
23. Flowers, R. M., Shuster, D. L., Wernicke, B. P., and Farley, K. A., 2007, Radiation damage control on apatite (U-Th)/He dates from the Grand Canyon region, Colorado Plateau: Geology, v. 35, n. 5, p. 447-450, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1130/G23471A.1
24. Flowers, R. M., Ketcham, R. A., Shuster, D. L., and Farley, K. A., 2009, Apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry using a radiation damage accumulation and annealing model: Geochimica et Cosmochimia Acta, v. 73, n. 8, p. 2347-2365, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2009.01.015
25. Garver, J. I., Reiners, P. W., Walker, L. J., Ramage, J. M., and Perry, S. E., 2005, Implications for timing of Andean uplift from thermal resetting of radiation-damaged zircon in the Cordillera Huayhuash, northern Peru: The Journal of Geology, v. 113, n. 2, p. 117-138, http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/427664
26. Gautheron, C., and Tassan-Got, L., 2010, A Monte Carlo approach to diffusion applied to noble gas/heliumthermochronology: Chemical Geology, v. 273, n. 3-4, p. 212-224, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2010.02.023
27. Gautheron, C., Tassan-Got, L., Barbarand, J., and Pagel, M., 2009, Effect of alpha-damage annealing on apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronology: Chemical Geology, v. 266, n. 3-4, p. 157-170, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2009. 06.001
28. Gautheron, C., Tassan-Got, L., Ketcham, R. A., and Dobson, K. J., 2012, Accounting for long alpha-particle stopping distances in (U-Th-Sm)/He geochronology: 3D modeling of diffusion, zoning, implantation, and abrasion: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 96, n. 1, p. 44-56, http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.gca.2012.08.016
29. Gibbons, J. F., 1972, Ion implantation in semicondoctors-Part II: Damage production and annealing: Proceedings of the IEEE, v. 60, n. 9, p. 1062-1096, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/PROC.1972.8854
30. Green, P. F., Crowhurst, P. V., Duddy, I. R., Japsen, P., and Holford, S. P., 2006, Conflicting (U-Th)/He and fission track ages in apatite: Enhanced He retention, not anomalous annealing behavior: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 250, n. 3-4, p. 407-427, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2006.08. 022
31. Hacker, B. R., and Christie, J. M., 1991, Observational evidence for a possible new diffusion path: Science, v. 251, n. 4989, p. 67-70, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.251.4989.67
32. Holland, H. D., 1954, Radiation damage and its use in age determination, in Faul, H., editor, Nuclear Geology: New York, Wiley, p. 175-179.
33. Holm, D. K., Darrah, K. S., and Lux, D. R., 1998, Evidence for widespread-1760 Ma metamorphism and rapid crustal stabilization of the early Proterozoic (1870-1820 Ma) Penokean Orogen, Minnesota: American Journal of Science, v. 298, n. 1, p. 60-81, http://dx.doi.org/10.2475/ajs.298.1.60
34. Hourigan, J. K., Reiners, P. W., and Brandon, M. T., 2005, U-Th zonation-dependent alpha-ejection in (U-Th)/He chronometry: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 69, n. 13, p. 3349-3365, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca. 2005.01.024
35. Hurley, P. M., 1952, Alpha ionization damage as a cause of low helium ratios: Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, v. 33, p. 174-183, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/TR033i002p00174
36. 1954, The helium age method and the distribution and migration of helium in rocks, in Faul, H., editor, Nuclear Geology: New York, Wiley, p. 301-329.
37. Hurley, P. M., Larsen, E. S., Jr., and Gottfried, D., 1956, Comparison of radiogenic helium and lead in zircon: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 9, n. 1-2, p. 98-102, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(56)90060-6
38. Ketcham, R. A., 2005, Forward and inverse modeling of low-temperature thermochronometry data, in Reiners, P. W., and Ehlers, T. A., editors, Low-temperature thermochronology: Techniques, interpretations, and applications: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58, p. 275-314, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.2138/rmg.2005.58.11
39. Ketcham, R. A., Carter, A., Donelick, R. A., Barbarand, J., and Hurford, A. J., 2007, Improved modeling of fission-track annealing in apatite: American Mineralogist, v. 92, n. 5-6, p. 799-810, http://dx.doi.org/10.2138/am.2007.2281
40. Ketcham, R. A., Guenthner, W. R., and Reiners, P. W., 2013, Geometric analysis of radiation damage connectivity in zircon and its implications for helium diffusion: American Mineralogist, http://dx.doi.org/10.2138/am.2013.4249
41. Meesters, A. G. C. A, and Dunai, T. J., 2002, Solving the production-diffusion equation for finite diffusion domains of various shapes: Part II. Application to cases with-ejection and nonhomogeneous distribution of the source: Chemical Geology, v. 186, n. 1-2, p. 57-73, http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/S0009-2541(01)00423-5
42. Meldrum, A., Boatner, L. A., Weber, W. J., and Ewing, R. C., 1998, Radiation damage in zircon and monazite: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 62, n. 14, p. 2509-2520, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(98)00174-4
43. Nasdala, L., Irmer, G., and Wolf, D., 1995, The degree of metamictization in zircon: A Raman spectroscopic study: European Journal of Mineralogy, v. 7, n. 3, p. 471-478.
44. Nasdala, L., Wenzel, M., Vavra, G., Irmer, G., Wenzel, T., and Kober, B., 2001, Metamictisation of natural zircon: Accumulation versus thermal annealing of radioactivity-induced damage: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 141, n. 2, p. 125-144, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004100000235
45. Nasdala, L., Lengauer, C. L., Hanchar, J. M., Kronz, A., Wirth, R., Blanc, P., Kennedy, A. K., and Seydoux-Guillaume, A., 2002, Annealing radiation damage and the recovery of cathodoluminescence: Chemical Geology, v. 191, n. 1-3, p. 121-140, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(02)00152-3
46. Nasdala, L., Reiners, P. W., Garver, J. I., Kennedy, A. K., Stern, R. A., Balan, E., and Wirth, R., 2004a, Incomplete retention of radiation damage in zircon from Sri Lanka: American Mineralogist, v. 89, p. 219-231.
47. Nasdala, L., Gotze, J., Hanchar, J. M., Gaft, M., and Krbetschek, M. R., 2004b, Luminescence techniques in earth sciences, in Beran, A., and Libowitzky, E., editors, Spectroscopic methods in mineralogy: EMU Notes in Mineralogy, v. 6, p. 43-91.
48. Nasdala, L., Grambole, D., Gotze, J., Kempe, U., and Vaczi, T., 2011, Helium irradiation study on zircon: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 161, n. 5, p. 777-789, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00410-010-0562-7
49. Rahn, M. K., Brandon, M. T., Batt, G. E., and Garver, J. I., 2004, A zero-damage model for fission-track annealing in zircon: American Mineralogist, v. 89, p. 473-484.
50. Reich, M., Ewing, R. C., Ehlers, T. A., and Becker, U., 2007, Low-temperature anisotropic diffusion of helium in zircon: Implications for zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 71, n. 12, p. 3119-3130, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2007.03.033
51. Reiners, P. W., 2005, Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry, in Reiners P. W., and Ehlers, T. A., editors, Low-temperature thermochronology: Techniques, interpretations, and applications: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58, p. 151-179, http://dx.doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2005.58.6
52. Reiners, P. W., and Farley, K. A., 1999, Helium diffusion and (U-Th)/He thermochronometry of titanite: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 63, n. 22, p. 3845-3859, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(99)00170-2
53. Reiners, P. W., Brady, R., Farley, K. A., Fryxell, J. E., Wernicke, B., and Lux, D., 2000, Helium and argon thermochronometry of the Gold Butte block, south Virgin Mountains, Nevada: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 178, n. 3-4, p. 315-326, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0012-821X(00)00080-7
54. Reiners, P. W., Farley, K. A., and Hickes, H. J., 2002, He diffusion and (U-Th)/He thermochronometry of zircon: Initial results from Fish Canyon Tuff and Gold Butte: Tectonophysics, v. 349, n. 1-4, p. 297-308, http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/S0040-1951(02)00058-6
55. Reiners, P. W., Spell, T. L., Nicolescu, S., and Zanetti, K. A., 2004, Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry: He diffusion and comparisons with 40Ar/39Ar dating: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 68, n. 8, p. 1857-1887, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2003.10.021
56. Saadoune, I., Purton, J. A., and de Leeux, N. H., 2009, He incorporation and diffusion pathways in pure and defective zircon ZrSiO4: A density functional theory study: Chemical Geology, v. 258, n. 3-4, p. 182-196, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2008.10.015
57. Salje, E. K. H., Chrosch, J., and Ewing, R. C., 1999, Is "metamictization" of zircon a phase transition?: American Mineralogist, v. 84, n. 7-8, p. 1107-1116.
58. Shuster, D. L., and Farley, K. A., 2009, The influence of artificial radiation damage and thermal annealing on helium diffusion kinetics in apatite: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 73, n. 1, p. 183-196, http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.gca.2008.10.013
59. Shuster, D. L., Vasconcelos, P. M., Heim, J. A., and Farley, K. A., 2005, Weathering geochronology by (U-Th)/He dating of goethite: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 69, n. 3, p. 659-673, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca. 2004.07.028
60. Shuster, D. L., Flowers, R. M., and Farley, K. A., 2006, The influence of natural radiation damage on helium diffusion kinetics in apatite: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 249, n. 3-4, p. 148-161, http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.epsl.2006.07.028
61. Tagami, T., 2005, Zircon fission-track thermochronology and applications to fault studies, in Reiners, P. W., and Ehlers, T. A., editors, Low-temperature thermochronology: Techniques, interpretations, and applications: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58, p. 95-122.
62. Tagami, T., Ito, H., and Nishimura, S., 1990, Thermal annealing characteristics of spontaneous fission tracks in zircon: Chemical Geology: Isotope Geoscience Section, v. 80, p. 159-169, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168- 9622(90)90024-7
63. Vermeesch, P., Sherlock, S. C., Roberts, N. M. W., and Carter, A., 2012, A simple method for in-situ U-Th-He dating: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 79, p. 140-147, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011. 11.042
64. Watson, E. B., Wanser, K. H., and Farley, K. A., 2010, Anisotropic diffusion in a finite cylinder, with geochemical applications: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 74, n. 2, p. 614-633, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca. 2009.10.013
65. Weber, W. J., Ewing, R. C., and Wang, L.-M., 1994, The radiation-induced crystalline-to-amorphous transition in zircon: Journal of Materials Research, v. 9, n. 3, p. 688-698, http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1994.0688
66. Williams, I. S., 2001, Response of detrital zircon and monazite, and their U-Pb isotopic systems, to regional metamorphism and host-rock partial melting, Cooma Complex, southeastern Australia: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 48, n. 4, p. 557-580, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0952.2001. 00883.x
67. Wolfe, M. R., and Stockli, D. F., 2010, Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry in the KTB drill hole, Germany, and its implications for bulk He diffusion kinetics in zircon: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 295, n. 1-2, p. 69-82, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2010.03.025
68. Worden, R. H., Walker, F. D. L., Parsons, I., and Brown, W. L., 1990, Development of microporosity, diffusion channels and deuteric coarsening in perthitic alkali feldspars: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 104, n. 5, p. 507-515, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00306660
69. Yamada, R., Murakami, M., and Tagami, T., 2007, Statistical modeling of annealing kinetics of fission tracks in zircon; reassessment of laboratory experiments: Chemical Geology, v. 236, n. 1-2, p. 75-91, http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.chemgeo.2006.09.002
70. Yund, R. A., Smith, B. M., and Tullis, J., 1981, Dislocation-assisted diffusion of oxygen in albite: Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, v. 7, n. 4, p. 185-189, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00307264
71. Yund, R. A., Quigley, J., and Tullis, J., 1989, The effect of dislocations on bulk diffusion in feldspars during metamorphism: Journal of Metamorphic Geology, v. 7, n. 3, p. 337-341, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1525- 1314.1989.tb00601.x
72. Yurimoto, H., Morioka, M., and Nagasawa, H., 1989, Diffusion in single crystals of melilite: I. oxygen: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 53, n. 9, p. 2387-2394, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(89)90360-8
73. Zattin, M., Picotti, V., and Zuffa, G. G., 2002, Fission-track reconstruction of the front of the northern Apennine thrust wedge and overlying Ligurian unit: American Journal of Science, v. 302. n. 4, p. 346-379, http://dx.doi.org/10.2475/ajs.302.4.346
74. Zhang, M., Salje, E. K. H., Capitani, G. C., Leroux, H., Clark, A. M., Schluter, J., and Ewing, R. C., 2000, Annealing of decay damage in zircon: A Raman spectroscopic study: Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, v. 12, n. 13, p. 3131-3148, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/12/13/321
75. Zhang, M., Salje, E. K. H., and Ewing, R. C., 2010, OH species, U ions, and CO/CO2 in thermally annealed metamict zircon (ZrSiO4): American Mineralogist, v. 95, n. 11-12, p. 1717-1724, http://dx.doi.org/10.2138/am.2010. 3567