U-Pb dating of large zircons in low-temperature jadeitite from the Osayama serpentinite melange, southwest Japan: Insights into the timing of serpentinization

T. Tsujimori; J. G. Liou; J. Wooden; T. Miyamoto

doi:10.2747/0020-6814.47.10.1048

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U-Pb dating of large zircons in low-temperature jadeitite from the Osayama serpentinite melange, southwest Japan: Insights into the timing of serpentinization

T. Tsujimori·J. G. Liou·J. Wooden·T. Miyamoto

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Abstract

Crystals of zircon up to 3 mm in length occur in jadeitite veins in the Osayama serpentinite mélange, Southwest Japan. The zircon porphyroblasts show pronounced zoning, and are characterized by both low Th/U ratios (0.2-0.8) and low Th and U abundances (Th = 1-81 ppm; U = 6-149 ppm). They contain inclusions of high-pressure minerals, including jadeite and rutile; such an occurrence indicates that the zircon crystallized during subduction-zone metamorphism. Phase equilibria and the existing fluid-inclusion data constrain P-T conditions to P > 1.2 GPa at T > 350°C for formation of the jadeitite. Most U/Pb ages obtained by SHRIMP-RG are concordant, with a weighted mean 206 Pb/ 238 U age of 472 ± 8.5 Ma (MSWD = 2.7, n = 25). Because zircon porphyroblasts contain inclusions of high-pressure minerals, the SHRIMP U-Pb age represents the timing of jadeitite formation, i.e., the timing of interaction between alkaline fluid and ultramafic rocks in a subduction zone. Although this dating does not provide a direct time constraint for serpentinization, U-Pb ages of zircon in jadeitite associated with serpentinite result in new insights into the timing of fluid-rock interaction of ultramafic rocks at a subduction zone and the minimum age for serpentinization.

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International Geology Review Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 34.30714385628804° to 35.8356283888737° latitude; 131.396484375° to 135.9228515625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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T. Tsujimori, J. G. Liou, J. Wooden, T. Miyamoto. 2011-06-12. U-Pb dating of large zircons in low-temperature jadeitite from the Osayama serpentinite melange, southwest Japan: Insights into the timing of serpentinization. https://doi.org/10.2747/0020-6814.47.10.1048

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