Abstract
We report the discovery of Archean (2980-2670 Ma) zircons from the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia that record unusually low δ18O signatures (to -0.5‰). These zircons occur in cordierite-orthopyroxene granulites that retain the geochemical signature of intense premetamorphic hydrothermal alteration. We propose a model whereby the low-δ18O zircons crystallized within protoliths that record multiple stages of high-temperature interaction and hydrothermal exchange between shallow crustal material and 18O-depleted meteoric fluids, in a setting analogous to that of the Yellowstone caldera. Burial and subsequent granulitefacies metamorphism of this crust led to the crystallization of zircon, which acquired and preserved the extremely 18O-depleted signature of the whole rock. The apparent absence of strongly 18O depleted Archean zircons has been a puzzling feature of the global zircon record, but we suggest this is an artifact of poor preservation potential. Our findings suggest that long-lived, shallow crustal magmatic-hydrothermal systems similar to those operating in modern caldera complexes were also a feature of Archean Earth.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 411-414 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Geology |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2018 |