Morphology, chemistry and U-Pb geochronology of zircon grains in quartz monzodiorite from the Sunzhuang area, Fanshi County, Shanxi Province

Abstract

The morphology, REE geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology of zircons from quartz monzodiorite in the Sunzhuang area, Fanshi County, Shanxi Province are presented in this study. The zircon crystals can be classified into four main types as: AB, L, S and P, and 24 subtypes such as AB4, AB5, L5, and S3. The maximum crystallization temperature of zircon was estimated as 850°C, with the minimum of 550°C. The peak temperatures of the zircon crystallization range from 650°C to 700°C. The abundances of Th and U in the zircon grains show large variation with the Th/U values > 0.4. The Th and U values also show a positive correlation in most zircons. The REE abundance of zircon in the quartz monzodiorite ranges from 280.4 ppm to 2143 ppm with an average of 856.4 ppm. The chondrite normalized zircon REE patterns show two types, one is characterized by HREE enrichment and LREE depletion with positive Ce-anomaly and negative Eu-anomaly whereas the other is HREE enriched and LREE depleted with negative Eu-anomaly but without positive Ce-anomaly, and relatively flat patterns. The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology on the zircons yields a mean age of 133±0.87 Ma. Our data on zircon morphology, composition and U-Pb geochronology reveal that the parent magma of the quartz monzodiorite which was emplaced during late Yanshanian had a mixed crust-mantle source, with crustal components dominating. The magma is inferred to have been water rich and alkaline with initial high oxygen fugacity. Post-magmatic hydrothermal activity occurred under relatively reducing conditions which was conductive for gold precipitation in the Yixingzhai gold deposit.