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    The phenomenon of deficient electron microprobe totalsin radiation-damaged and altered zircon

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Nasdala, L.
    Kronz, A.
    Wirth, R.
    Vaczi, T.
    Perez-Soba, C.
    Willner, A.
    Kennedy, Allen
    Date
    2008
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Nasdala, Lutz and Kronz, Andreas and Wirth, Richard and Vaczi, Tamas and Perez-Soba, Cecilia and Willner, Arne and Kennedy, Allen K. 2008. The phenomenon of deficient electron microprobe totalsin radiation-damaged and altered zircon. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73: pp. 1637-1650.
    Source Title
    Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
    DOI
    10.1016/j.gca.2008.12.010
    ISSN
    00167037
    Faculty
    School of Science and Computing
    Faculty of Science and Engineering
    Department of Imaging and Applied Physics
    Remarks

    The link to the journal’s home page is: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/212/description#description

    Copyright © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32404
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The phenomenon of deficient electron microprobe analyses, with sums of analyzed constituents often below 95 wt%, is assigned to the analysis of altered, porous minerals. With the example of three zircon populations we show that low totals are related to textural features (i.e., numerous pores of tens to hundreds of nanometers size) as well as to the chemical composition (i.e., water content well within the wt% range, which may affect partial sample degradation under the electron beam). The formation of the spongy texture is explained by the alteration of a previously radiation-damaged and, thus, volume expanded material in a fluid-driven replacement reaction. The smaller volume of the reaction product (crystalline, non volume-expanded zircon) accounts for the formation of numerous voids and pores, which are perfect candidates for the incorporation of water. The alteration has also resulted in uptake of non-formula elements such as Al, P, Ca, Fe, Y, and REEs whereas Si and Zr are depleted. In one case, strong uptake of non-radiogenic Pb in altered zircon was observed. Because porous, low-total zircon has formed in secondary alteration process, its occurrence can be considered as an indicator of a secondary alteration history of the host rock. Low-total zircon is easily recognized by very low electron back-scatter intensities, which are closely related to the two main causes of the analytical shortfall (i.e., water content and porosity) and often lowered furthermore by the presence of light non-formula elements (especially P and Fe) up to the wt% range.

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