Simultaneous determination of zircon U–Pb age and titanium concentration using LA-ICP-MS: Analysis data and crystallization temperature

Abstract

Simultaneous determination of zircon U–Pb age and titanium concentration for a single analysis spot gives both the crystallization age and temperature. In laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis, it is challenging to quantitatively analyse a low level of titanium concentration. Two approaches were employed using a quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with a collision/reaction cell (CRC). In the first approach, the MS/MS mass-shift mode with oxygen reaction gas provided reliable and consistent measurement of titanium as 48Ti16O+. In the second approach, the titanium concentration was determined quantitatively from the signal intensity of 49Ti in the non-gas mode (without the inflow of collision/reaction gas into the CRC). The methods were applied to zircon samples of the Kurobegawa granite (KRG), the Okueyama granite (OKG), the Toki granite (TKG), and the Tono plutonic complex (TCP). The biotite K–Ar geochronology were employed for rock samples of the KRG, OKG, and TPC (N = 3) of which the zircon crystals were analysed. The obtained titanium concentrations of the zircon crystals can lead to the crystallization temperatures through Ti-in-zircon geothermometer.

Keywords

• Zircon U–Pb age and titanium concentration
• Crystallization age and temperature
• Time–temperature (t–T) path
• LA-ICP-MS
• Granitic rock
• Biotite K–Ar age