Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Oxygen isotopes in Pilbara Craton zircons support a global increase in crustal recycling at 3.2Ga

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Van Kranendonk, M.
    Kirkland, Chris
    Cliff, J.
    Date
    2015
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Van Kranendonk, M. and Kirkland, C. and Cliff, J. 2015. Oxygen isotopes in Pilbara Craton zircons support a global increase in crustal recycling at 3.2Ga. Lithos. 228-229: pp. 90-98.
    Source Title
    Lithos
    DOI
    10.1016/j.lithos.2015.04.011
    ISSN
    0024-4937
    School
    Department of Applied Geology
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4252
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Oxygen isotopes were measured in zircon crystals from a suite of Paleo- to Mesoarchean igneous and sedimentary rocks from the Pilbara Craton in order to test prevailing models of early Earth tectonic evolution. Our results indicate that igneous zircon crystals older than 3.2 Ga in the Pilbara Craton have mantle-like oxygen isotope signatures, whereas zircon grains younger than c. 3.2 Ga show, on average, isotopically heavier δ18O values. Stringent tests on the validity of the isotopically heavy oxygen values – in terms of whether they reflect primary properties of the zircon crystals acquired under magmatic genesis, or the result of later alteration – were conducted in some cases by simultaneous measurement of 16O1H/16O, in conjunction with evaluating more traditional indicators of metamictisation. These data demonstrate that whereas some of the heaviest values are anomalous and due to post-crystallisation alteration via incorporation of water into the zircon structure, others record primary values. The data presented here are used to support a previously documented change in tectonic style in the Pilbara Craton at 3.2 Ga, from early crustal growth through magmatic accretion above upwelling, hot mantle, to crustal growth that involved significant amounts of crustal recycling arising from the onset of modern-style plate tectonics (steep subduction of old cold oceanic lithosphere). These results align with global datasets of oxygen isotopes, and point to a more general change in the geodynamics of Earth associated with the secular decrease in heat output of our planet.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Zircon U–Pb, Lu–Hf and O isotopes from the 3414 Ma Strelley Pool Formation, East Pilbara Terrane, and the Palaeoarchaean emergence of a cryptic cratonic core
      Gardiner, Nicholas; Wacey, D.; Kirkland, Chris; Johnson, Tim; Jeon, H. (2019)
      The detrital zircon record yields important information on crustal evolution that may be missing from extant magmatic rocks. The Palaeoarchaean to Neoarchaean East Pilbara Terrane (EPT), Western Australia, is the ancient ...
    • Two collisions, two sutures: Punctuated pre-1950 Ma assembly of the West Australian Craton during the Ophthalmian and Glenburgh Orogenies
      Johnson, S.; Sheppard, S.; Rasmussen, Birger; Wingate, M.; Kirkland, C.; Muhling, J.; Fletcher, Ian; Belousova, E. (2011)
      The Gascoyne Province lies at the western end of the Capricorn Orogen, and includes a range of Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic gneisses and metasedimentary basins (the Glenburgh Terrane) that record the amalgamation of the ...
    • Hf isotopes in detrital and inherited zircons of the Pilbara Craton provide no evidence for Hadean continents
      Kemp, A.; Hickman, A.; Kirkland, Chris; Vervoort, J. (2015)
      Predictions of large volumes of stabilized continental crust by the early Archaean stand in stark contrast to the actual amount of pre-3.5. Ga rocks presently exposed on Earth's surface. The Pilbara Craton of Western ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.