Fluid effect on zircon O and U-Pb isotopes during ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism: Insights from the Dora-Maira Massif of the Western Alps

• Published in: Di xue qian yuan. 2023-11, Vol.14 (6), p.101651-232, Article 101651
• Main Authors: Zhou, Kun, Chen, Yi-Xiang, Xiong, Jia-Wei, Schertl, Hans-Peter, Xia, Xiao-Ping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fluid action; Metasomatism; O isotope; Subduction zone; U-Pb dating; Zircon
• ISSN: 1674-9871
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2023.101651

[Display omitted] •Coesite in the relict magmatic domains suggest fluid metasomatism at UHP metamorphism.•The metamorphic zircon domain shows Pb loss without O isotope modification.•The metasomatically grown zircon domains exhibit both Pb loss and modification of O isotope compositions.•The fluid effect of zircon O and U-Pb isotopes provides valuable insights for geochemical tracing. Zircon geochemistry such as U-Pb and O isotopes have been widely used in dating and tracing complex geological processes. However, it still remains unclear how fluid action affects zircon geochemistry during metamorphic and metasomatic processes in subduction zones. Here a systematic study on zircon U-Pb dating, O isotopes and trace elements as well as whole-rock O isotopes was carried out for the coesite-bearing whiteschists, jadeite quartzites and granitic gneisses from the Dora-Maira Massif, Western Alps. Whole-rock and zircon geochemistry supports a common protolith, i.e., Permian S-type granites, for the above three types of rocks and an intense fluid metasomatism during the Alpine orogeny to form whiteschists and jadeite quartzites. Zircon cores in all samples have nearly identical δ18O values (9‰–11‰), whereas their apparent 206Pb/238U ages show a greater variability due to Pb loss during metamorphism. Zircon rims formed in the late Eocene to early Oligocene can be categorized into two types. Type-I rims occur in granitic gneisses and jadeite quartzites. They have high δ18O values consistent with zircon cores, but much lower contents of P and Y as well as lower Th/U ratios than the cores. Their growth can be attributed to internal metamorphic fluid action at the UHP metamorphic stage. Type-II rims occur in whiteschists and jadeite quartzites. They have remarkably lower δ18O values (5‰–8‰) and Th/U ratios (