Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 11 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1098–1102 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Geology |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Sep 2019 |
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A Yilgarn seed to the Pilbara Craton (Australia)? Evidence from inherited zircons. / Petersson, Andreas; Kemp, Anthony; Whitehouse, Martin J.
In: Geology, Vol. 47, No. 11, 11, 25.09.2019, p. 1098–1102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - A Yilgarn seed to the Pilbara Craton (Australia)? Evidence from inherited zircons
AU - Petersson, Andreas
AU - Kemp, Anthony
AU - Whitehouse, Martin J.
PY - 2019/9/25
Y1 - 2019/9/25
N2 - Knowledge of the age and compositional architecture of Archean cratonic lithosphere is critical for models of geodynamics and continental growth on early Earth, but can be difficult to unravel from the exposed geology. We report the occurrence of numerous >3.7 Ga zircon crystals in 3.45 Ga rhyolites of the eastern Pilbara Craton (Western Australia), which preserve evidence for an Eoarchean meta-igneous component in the deep Pilbara crust. This inherited zircon population shares similar and distinctive age and Hf-O isotope characteristics with the oldest gneissic components of the Yilgarn Craton ∼500 km farther south, suggesting a common ca. 3.75 Ga felsic crustal nucleus to these two Archean granite-greenstone terranes. We infer a pivotal role for such ‘seeds’ in facilitating the growth and persistence of Archean continental lithosphere.
AB - Knowledge of the age and compositional architecture of Archean cratonic lithosphere is critical for models of geodynamics and continental growth on early Earth, but can be difficult to unravel from the exposed geology. We report the occurrence of numerous >3.7 Ga zircon crystals in 3.45 Ga rhyolites of the eastern Pilbara Craton (Western Australia), which preserve evidence for an Eoarchean meta-igneous component in the deep Pilbara crust. This inherited zircon population shares similar and distinctive age and Hf-O isotope characteristics with the oldest gneissic components of the Yilgarn Craton ∼500 km farther south, suggesting a common ca. 3.75 Ga felsic crustal nucleus to these two Archean granite-greenstone terranes. We infer a pivotal role for such ‘seeds’ in facilitating the growth and persistence of Archean continental lithosphere.
U2 - 10.1130/G46696.1
DO - 10.1130/G46696.1
M3 - Article
VL - 47
SP - 1098
EP - 1102
JO - Geology
JF - Geology
SN - 0091-7613
IS - 11
M1 - 11
ER -