New Insights into Crustal Evolution:

The Role of Hf Isotopes and Detrital Zircons

Paul Mueller Darrell Henry Joseph Wooden

George Kamenov Louisiana State University Frank Mazdab
University of Florida U. S. G. S.

Hellroaring Plateau, Beartooth Mountains, Montana

 Detrital Zircons, Hf, and Crustal Growth
Attributes

Representatives of periods when/where rock record not available

Hf and U-Pb age measured on same grain, or parts of grains, by

solution, ablation(LA-ICP-MS), and/or ion probe

Most robust record of initial Hf because zircons have low Lu and

high Hf (~1%), yielding typical 176Lu/177Hf ratios of 0.001

Consequently
Initial eHf can be determined more confidently
than common whole-rock parameters such as eNd or eSr
 Relation to Plate Tectonics

Q: What can detrital zircon systematics tell us about

plate tectonics?

A: A single grain captures the initial Hf isotopic composition

of the rock in which it formed, so, barring subsequent exchange,
it can tell us something about reservoirs, such as existence of
crust and depleted mantle.

A: More significantly, populations of grains can tell us about

orogenic processes, some of which we would associate with plate
tectonics. Unfortunately, this becomes progressively more
difficult as we examine older grains, i.e. when we need it most.
 Crustal Growth: Age vs. Initial Ratio
Magmatic and tectonic accretion yield distinct patterns

0.2835 DM_T
Dupont
Ordovician
0.2832 176Lu/177Hf=0.007
176Lu/177Hf=0.018
176Hf/177Hf (Lu corrected)

176Lu/177Hf=0.007 model

0.2829 176Lu/177Hf=0.018 model

Granite-Rhyolite
176/177=0.018 Gran/Rhyolite

0.2826

0.2823

0.2820
G-R
0.2817

0.2814
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Age (Ma)

LA-ICPMS U-Pb and Hf in zircons from Florida heavy mineral mine

 Extending This Approach to Earlier Times
1. Because Lu/Hf fractionation in Early Archean and
Hadean time is expected to produce limited variations
in 177Hf/176Hf (regardless of exact values assigned to
decay and BSE constants), it is necessary to accurately
determine initial177Hf/176Hf.

DM
BSE
Depending on Model, eHf
Expected Range of eHf
at 4.0 Ga = 4-6
~Lower Crust

Time (Ga)

This requires accurate assessment of all measured values used

to calculate initial 177Hf/176Hf, i.e., Lu/Hf, 177Hf/176Hf, and age.
 Extending This Approach to Earlier Times
2. Assure that Hf, U, and Pb isotopes are measured on a
homogeneous volume of material. Particularly critical
for older zircons that commonly have distinct volumes
with distinct ages; good imaging necessary.

BSE Transmitted Light

Best opportunity is to sequentially apply spatially resolved
techniques such as ion probes (U-Pb) and laser ablation (Lu-Hf)
 Assessing Integrity of Measured Values

Maximum Confidence Associated With

Concordance of U-Pb ages

Low common Pb content
“Igneous” Th/U (e.g., > 0.1)
Low contents of alteration-related trace elements (e.g., F, Fe, Al)
Consistency of measured Lu-Hf system isotopes during ablation
Low O-isotope ratios
Consistent trace element patterns
Low Lu/Hf corroborated by SIMS
 Consistency of Trace Element Patterns
Important for Populations
FFC

10000

1000

100
Ce Series12
Series11
Series10
Series9
Chondritic

Series8
Series7
10
Series6
Series5
Series4
Series3
1
Series2
Series1

0.1
Eu

0.01
56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72
REE

Pattern Suggests All Zircons Formed in Equilibrium with Plagioclase

Y vs. Lu/Hf for Standard Zircon FC-1
From Forest City Site, Duluth Gabbro

0.020

0.016

0.012
Lu/Hf wt

0.008

0.004

0.000
0 1000 2000 3000
Y ppm

35 Analyses of 27 Grains Using the SHRIMP RG

Significance of Link Between Y and Lu/Hf

The Most Challenging Link in Correcting Observed eHf

to Initial eHf is an Accurate Determination of the
176Lu/177Hf Ratio and the Subsequent Age Correction

Because
A 0.001 Change in the 176Lu/177Hf Ratio Will Produce an
~ 3 e Unit Change in Initial Hf in 4 Ga, Compared to
Typical Measurement Errors of Better than 1 e by LA
So
Measuring Y Content (by EMP) Is a Particularly Useful
Pre-ablation Step Because of the Strong Positive Correlation
Between Y and Lu/Hf
 Trace Elements As Guides
Y & Ce Along Cross-section of Complex Late
Archean Igneous Zircon (Metamict Zones in Gray)

Transect
Application: Northern Wyoming Province

MMP

BBMZ
 Detrital Zircon Ages
Northern Wyoming Province

Eastern Beartooth Mountains

~20% = 3.4 - 4.0 Ga

Multi-grain Lu-Hf
eHf = +3 to -3
 Conclusion
Accurate Initial Hf Isotopic Compositions
Can Be Obtained From Detrital and Other Zircons,
However
Care Must be Taken to Assure
That All Measured Parameters Are Co-genetic
(easier said than done!)

Plane Light BSE X-Nicols