Recent advances in tracing petrogenesis through Zircon multi-isotopes and trace elements

ZHU Renzhi; WANG Rongzhang; ZHANG Yu

doi:10.16152/j.cnki.xdxbzr.2025-03-005

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Recent advances in tracing petrogenesis through Zircon multi-isotopes and trace elements

更新时间：2025-06-26

- Recent advances in tracing petrogenesis through Zircon multi-isotopes and trace elements
- Journal of Northwest University (Natural Science Edition) Vol. 55, Issue 3, Pages: 539-552(2025)
- 作者机构：
  
  西北大学　地质学系/大陆演化与早期生命全国重点实验室，陕西　西安　 710069
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.16152/j.cnki.xdxbzr.2025-03-005
  CLC： P588.15
- Received：08 November 2024，
  
  Published：25 June 2025
- 稿件说明：
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ZHU Renzhi, WANG Rongzhang, ZHANG Yu. Recent advances in tracing petrogenesis through Zircon multi-isotopes and trace elements[J]. Journal of northwest university (natural science edition), 2025, 55(3): 539-552.
DOI：

ZHU Renzhi, WANG Rongzhang, ZHANG Yu. Recent advances in tracing petrogenesis through Zircon multi-isotopes and trace elements[J]. Journal of northwest university (natural science edition), 2025, 55(3): 539-552. DOI： 10.16152/j.cnki.xdxbzr.2025-03-005.

摘要

锆石广泛存在于固体地球的岩浆岩、变质岩和沉积岩中，因其具有耐高温及风化等稳定特性，从而可以记录岩石的结晶年龄、温度、氧逸度以及地球化学特征等信息，对岩石成因及深部过程研究具有重要意义。该研究对锆石在岩石成因研究中的进展做了分析发现，锆石含有大量放射性同位素及其稳定的衰变产物，其中

238

U衰变为

206

Pb，

235

U衰变为

207

Pb，

232

Th衰变为

208

Pb，因此U-Pb同位素衰变体系是示踪锆石寄主岩石结晶年龄的最优途径。锆石中，

176

Lu可衰变为

176

Hf，可以利用Lu-Hf放射性同位素体系很好地示踪锆石寄主岩石的岩浆源区。同时，锆石的O稳定同位素很好地记录了其源区O同位素特征，可用来示踪寄主岩石源区物质的壳幔属性特征。新开发的锆石Zr稳定同位素为揭示锆石寄主岩石的岩浆过程提供了新的视角（比如示踪酸性岩浆分异及岩浆演化的动力学过程）。利用锆石晶格中的微量元素建立的温度计和氧逸度计等可定量约束锆石记录的结晶温度和氧逸度等物理化学参数。依托于锆石的同位素体系、温度计和氧逸度计等各种方法，在岩石成因研究中发挥了重要科学价值，锆石是地学研究者广泛使用的科学研究载体，为解决地学及相关行星学问题将持续发挥作用。

Abstract

Zircon is ubiquitously distributed in magmatic

metamorphic

and sedimentary rocks of the solid Earth. Owing to its exceptional stability under high temperatures and weathering conditions

zircon preserves critical information about the crystallization age

temperature

oxygen fugacity

and geochemical characteristics of its host rocks

making it a vital tool for studying petrogenesis and deep Earth processes. This paper provides a preliminary analysis of recent advances in zircon applications for petrogenetic research. Zircon contains abundant radioactive isotopes and their stable decay products. Notably

the decay of

238

U to

206

235

U to

207

and

232

Th to

208

Pb enables the U-Pb isotopic decay system to serve as the most reliable method for determining the crystallization age of zircon-bearing rocks. Additionally

the decay of

176

Lu to

176

Hf in zircon allows the Lu-Hf isotopic system

to effectively trace the magma source regions of host rocks. Meanwhile

the oxygen stable isotopes (δ

O) in zircon faithfully record the oxygen isotopic signature of its source

providing insights into the crustal or mantle affinity of the parental material. The recently developed zircon Zr stable isotope system offers novel perspectives for understanding magmatic processes

such as tracking felsic magma differentiation and dynamic magma evolution. Furthermore

trace elements (e.g.

Eu) within the zircon lattice can be utilized to construct thermometers and oxygen fugacity sensors

quantitatively constraining physicochemical parameters like crystallization temperature and redox conditions. Methods based on zircon isotopic systems (U-Pb

Lu-Hf

Zr)

thermometers

and oxygen fugacity meters have played a significant scientific role in petrogenetic studies. As a robust scientific medium

zircon remains indispensable for geoscientists and will continue to address fundamental questions in Earth and planetary sciences

from crustal evolution to magmatic dynamics.

关键词

Keywords

references

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