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    Shocked titanite records Chicxulub hydrothermal alteration and impact age

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Timms, Nick
    Kirkland, Chris
    Cavosie, Aaron
    Rae, A.S.P.
    Rickard, William
    Evans, Noreen
    Erickson, Timmons
    Wittmann, A.
    Ferrière, L.
    Collins, G.S.
    Gulick, S.P.S.
    Date
    2020
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Timms, N.E. and Kirkland, C.L. and Cavosie, A.J. and Rae, A.S.P. and Rickard, W.D.A. and Evans, N.J. and Erickson, T.M. et al. 2020. Shocked titanite records Chicxulub hydrothermal alteration and impact age. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 281: pp. 12-30.
    Source Title
    Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
    DOI
    10.1016/j.gca.2020.04.031
    ISSN
    0016-7037
    Faculty
    Faculty of Science and Engineering
    School
    School of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS)
    John de Laeter Centre (JdLC)
    Funding and Sponsorship
    http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE130100053
    http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE150100013
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/82056
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

    Hydrothermal activity is a common phenomenon in the wake of impact events, yet identifying and dating impact hydrothermal systems can be challenging. This study provides the first detailed assessment of the effects of shock microstructures and impact-related alteration on the U-Pb systematics and trace elements of titanite (CaTiSiO5), focusing on shocked granite target rocks from the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact structure, Mexico. A > 1 mm long, shock-twinned titanite grain preserves a dense network of irregular microcracks, some of which exploit shock twin interfaces. Secondary microcrystalline anatase and pyrite are heterogeneously distributed along some microcracks. In situ laser ablation multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS) analysis reveals a mixture of three end-member Pb components. The Pb components are: 1) common Pb, consistent with the Pb isotopic signature of adjacent alkali feldspar; 2) radiogenic Pb accumulated since magmatic crystallization; and 3) a secondary, younger Pb signature due to impact-related complete radiogenic Pb loss. The youngest derived ages define a regression from common Pb that intersects Concordia at 67 ± 4 Ma, in agreement with the established age of 66.04 ± 0.05 Ma for the Chicxulub impact event. Contour maps of LA-MC-ICPMS data reveal that the young ages are spatially restricted to microstructurally-complex domains that correlate with significant depletion in trace elements (REE-Y-Zr-Nb-Mo-Sn-Th) and reduction in magnitude of the Eu/Eu* anomaly. Mapping by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) show that patterns of localised element depletion in titanite are spatially related to microcracks, which are enriched in Al. The spatial correlation of ages and trace element abundance is consistent with localised removal of Pb and other trace elements from a pervasive network of fast fluid pathways in fractured domains via a fluid-mediated element transport process associated with the impact event. Here we interpret the 67 ± 4 Ma U-Pb age to represent hydrothermal Pb-loss in the Chicxulub peak ring in the wake of the impact event. These results highlight the potential of our analytical approach using titanite geochronology and geochemistry for dating post-impact hydrothermal activity in impact structures elsewhere.

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