Abstract
We report data from two new zircon annealing experiments in which spontaneous fission tracks are heated at 398°C and 498°C for 10000 hours. These supplement 29 previous experiments conducted on the same zircon. We fit fanning and parallel Arrhenius models to the 31 experiments using a recently developed modelling procedure, which provides efficient estimates of the kinetic parameters and their precisions. For both fanning and parallel models the fitted mean lengths agree well with the observed ones, although formal statistical tests suggest that the fanning model is a better representation of the data. We discuss the validity of extrapolations of these models to geological time scales, and make comparisons with various geological constraints, including ultra-deep borehole data and fossil partial annealing zones. The model extrapolations are consistent with these constraints, suggesting that the revised kinetics work well, within the limitations of current knowledge. This supports the future use of the zircon fission track system for geological thermal history analysis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brandon, M.T. and Vance, J.A. (1992): Tectonic evolution of the Cenozoic Olympic subduction complex, Washington State, as deduced from fission track ages for detrital zircons. Am. J. Sci., 292, 565–636.
Coyle, D.A. and Wagner, G.A. (1996): Fission-track dating of zircon and titanite from the 9101m deep KTB: observed fundamentals of track stability and thermal history reconstuction. Abstract of presentation at International Workshop on Fission Track Dating, Gent, 1996.
Galbraith, R.F. and Laslett, G.M. (1997): Statistical modelling of thermal annealing of fission tracks in zircon. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 140, 123–135.
Green, P.F., Duddy, I.R., Gleadow, A.J.W., Tingate, P.R. and Laslett, G.M. (1986): Thermal annealing of fission tracks in apatite, 1. A qualitative description. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 59, 237–253.
Green, P.F., Duddy, I.R., Gleadow, A.J.W. and Lovering, J.F. (1989a): Apatite fissiontrack analysis as a palaeotemperature indicator for hydrocarbon exploration. In: Thermal History of Sedimentary Basins–Methods and Case Histories. (eds Naeser, N.D. and McCulloch, T.H.) Springer, NY, pp. 181–195.
Green, P.F., Duddy, I.R., Laslett, G.M., Hegarty, K.A., Gleadow, A.J.W. and Lovering, J.F. (1989b): Thermal annealing of fission tracks in apatite, 4. Quantitative modelling techniques and extension to geological timescales. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 79, 155–182.
Green, P.F., Hegarty, K.A., Duddy, I.R., Foland, S.S. and Gorbachev, V. (1996): Geological constraints on fission track annealing in zircon. Abstract of presentation at International Workshop on Fission Track Dating, Gent, 1996.
Hasebe, N.,Tagami, T. and Nishimura, S. (1993): Evolution of the Shimanto accretionary complex. A fission-track thermochronologic study. In: Thermal Evolution of the Tertiary Shimanto Belt, Southwest Japan: An Example of Ridge-Trench Interaction. (ed Underwood, M.B.) Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 273, 121–136.
Hasebe, N., Tagami, T. and Nishimura, S. (1994): Towards zircon fission-track thermochronology: reference framework for confined track length measurements. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 112, 169–178.
Kamp, P.J.J., Green, P.F. and White, S.H. (1989): Fission track analysis reveals character of collisional tectonics in New Zealand. Tectonics 8, 169–195.
Laslett, G.M., Green, P.F., Duddy, I.R. and Gleadow, A.J.W. (1987): Thermal annealing of fission tracks in apatite, 2. A quantitative analysis. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 65, 1–13.
Laslett, G.M. and Galbraith, R.F. (1996): Statistical modelling of thermal annealing of fission tracks in apatite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 60, 5117–5131.
Tagami, T., Ito, H. and Nishimura, S. (1990): Thermal annealing characteristics of spon- taneous fission tracks in zircon. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 80, 159–169.
Tagami, T. and Dumitru, T.A. (1996): Provenance and thermal history of the Franciscan accretionary complex: constraints from zircon fission track thermochronology. J. Geophys. Res. 101, 8245–8255.
Tagami, T. and Shimada, C. (1996): Natural long-term annealing of the zircon fission track system around a granitic pluton. J. Geophys. Res. (Solid Earth) 101, 8245–8255.
Tagami, T., Carter, A. and Hurford, A.J. (1996): Natural long-term annealing of the zircon fission-track system in Vienna Basin deep borehole samples: constraints upon the partial annealing zone and closure temperature. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 130, 147–157.
Yamada, R., Tagami, T. and Nishimura, S. (1993): Assessment of overetching factor for confined fission-track length measurement in zircon. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 104, 251–259.
Yamada, R., Tagami, T., Nishimura, S. and Ito, H. (1995a): Annealing kinetics of fission tracks in zircon: an experimental study. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 122, 249–258.
Yamada, R., Tagami, T. and Nishimura, S. (1995b): Confined fission track length measurement in zircon.: assessment of factors affecting the palaeotemperature estimate. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.) 119, 293–306.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tagami, T., Galbraith, R.F., Yamada, R., Laslett, G.M. (1998). Revised Annealing Kinetics of Fission Tracks in Zircon and Geological Implications. In: van den Haute, P., de Corte, F. (eds) Advances in Fission-Track Geochronology. Solid Earth Sciences Library, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9133-1_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9133-1_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4977-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9133-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive