Award Abstract # 0838391
Laboratory Measurements of Trace Element Partition Coefficients Between Zircon, Aqueous Fluid and Silicate Melt at High and Ultrahigh Pressures

NSF Org: EAR
Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: June 5, 2009
Latest Amendment Date: June 5, 2009
Award Number: 0838391
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Jennifer Wade
jwade@nsf.gov
 (703)292-4739
EAR
 Division Of Earth Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: June 1, 2009
End Date: May 31, 2012 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $261,031.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $261,031.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2009 = $261,031.00
ARRA Amount: $261,031.00
History of Investigator:
  • John Ayers (Principal Investigator)
    john.c.ayers@vanderbilt.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Vanderbilt University
110 21ST AVE S
NASHVILLE
TN  US  37203-2416
(615)322-2631
Sponsor Congressional District: 05
Primary Place of Performance: Vanderbilt University
110 21ST AVE S
NASHVILLE
TN  US  37203-2416
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
05
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): GTNBNWXJ12D5
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Petrology and Geochemistry
Primary Program Source: 01R00910DB RRA RECOVERY ACT
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, 6890, 9150, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 157300
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."

Laboratory Measurements of Trace Element Partition Coefficients Between Zircon, Aqueous Fluid and Silicate Melt at High and Ultrahigh Pressures

Intellectual Merit. Although zircon is widely used for dating geologic events and identifying the source (mantle versus recycled crust) of crustal rocks, it has not been developed as a tool for characterizing fluid-rock interaction. Zircon could potentially be used to date fluid infiltration events and estimate the trace element composition of fluids. This would be particularly useful for evaluating the role of fluids in the formation of High- and Ultrahigh-Pressure (HP and UHP) rocks that typically form in subduction zones. Laboratory experiments are proposed to characterize the behavior of zircon in the presence of aqueous fluids and silicate melts. D(zircon/fluid) partition coefficients will be measured for P, Na, Ca, Mg, Sc, Sr, Y, Nb, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Pb, Th and U at 1.5-3.5 GPa. In subsolidus synthesis (forward) experiments at 800-1100°C the assemblages zircon + quartz and zircon + baddeleyite will be equilibrated with various fluid compositions (H2O, 1m NaOH, 1m HCl) at fO2 = NNO to allow measurement of zircon aqueous solubility and D(zircon/fluid) values. D(zircon/fluid) values measured in recrystallization (reversal) experiments at similar conditions will be used to test for equilibrium. Measured D(zircon/fluid) values will be compared with D(zircon/melt) values recently measured at the same conditions to identify the distinctive features of the trace element patterns of hydrothermal and magmatic zircons. Supersolidus experiments at 1000-1200°C in which zircon, melt and aqueous fluid are equilibrated will allow simultaneous measurement of D(melt/fluid), D(zircon/melt), and D(zircon/fluid) for all 25 trace elements. These values will be compared with D(zircon/melt) and D(zircon/fluid) values measured at the same conditions using other methods to check for internal consistency. The applicability of lattice strain theory to mineral/fluid systems will also be tested. Characterizing the trace element signatures of magmatic and hydrothermal zircons will allow for more accurate identification of hydrothermal zircons and interpretation of zircon U-Pb ages measured in-situ. Measured D(zircon/fluid) and D(zircon/melt) values can be used to estimate compositions of fluids and melts that equilibrated with zircons in subducting slabs or other HP-UHP settings. Zircon partition coefficients will enable more accurate classification of 'out of context' zircons, including Hadean detrital and xenocrystic zircons, some of which have been shown to contain diamond inclusions, and can be used to calculate the composition of the source rock (e.g., REE pattern) and to identify by analogy the type of source (crust vs. mantle, granite vs. tonalite).

Broader Impacts. This project will fund one post-doctoral researcher, one current Vanderbilt Ph.D. student, 1-2 future M.S. or Ph.D. students, and 1-2 undergraduate students. It will also fund the research of 1-2 high school students through a research internship program that the P.I. is involved in. Results will be presented by the P.I. and students at national and international meetings and in journal publications. The P.I. will continue outreach activities such as primary school presentations and publication of popular accounts of his research. He has written or contributed to three popular articles about his research in the last two years.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

Print this page

Back to Top of page