The relative diffusion of Pb, Nd, Sr and O in garnet

Kevin W. Burton, Matthew J. Kohn, Anthony S. Cohen, R. Keith O'Nions

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

152 Scopus citations

Abstract

Garnet and coexisting minerals from a granulite-facies coronite from Gaupås in the Bergen Arcs, western Norway have been analysed for U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, major element cation and oxygen isotope compositions. Garnet, plagioclase and clinopyroxene separated from the corona structure give precise and concordant U-Pb ages that relate directly to mineral crystallisation, with a best estimate given by the238U-206Pb age of 1151.2±4.7 Ma (2σ). In contrast,147Sm-143Nd and87Rb-87Sr ages for the same minerals are around 900 Ma, and indicate that the final exchange of these elements in the corona occurred some 250 Ma after U and Pb. Analysis on different scales across the corona structure indicates that the exchange of Sm-Nd ceased at different times, depending on the nature of the coexisting phase and on the sampled grain size. Measured oxygen isotope profiles in the same minerals show them to be homogeneous, except for a small systematic decrease in δ18O in garnet adjacent to plagioclase which can be attributed to diffusional exchange during cooling. These results, taken with those of other terrains and experimental data, enable a revised estimate of the diffusion rate of Nd in garnet and the measured age differences across the corona imply a simple cooling rate of ca. 4.0°C Ma-1. These results illustrate the utility of U-Pb, Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic systems for determining both the timing of peak metamorphic mineral growth and the high-temperature cooling history.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)199-211
Number of pages13
JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume133
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1995

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The relative diffusion of Pb, Nd, Sr and O in garnet'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this