Hf-W dating of zircon in mesosiderite with high-pressure sintered standard

Abstract

Abstract New standard zircons applicable to in situ analysis of Hf/W ratio by Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometer (NanoSIMS) were prepared and applied to Hf-W dating of a differentiated meteorite classified as mesosiderite. The standard zircons were synthesized by high-pressure experiment from starting materials which were mixture of hafnium oxide, tungsten oxide and high-purity zircon powder. The mixed powders were stirred and pulverized by a high-energy ball mill. They were then sintered at 1000 °C and 6 GPa using multi-anvil apparatus. Homogeneity of Hf/W ratios of synthesized zircons was examined by SEM–EDS, EPMA, and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICPMS). Hf/W ratios of the same zircons were measured by a NanoSIMS with 2 nA oxygen primary beam and mass resolving power of 10,000. The relative sensitivity factor (RSF) of Hf/W ratio was determined by comparing zircon data measured by LA-ICPMS and NanoSIMS. Observed RSF (Hf/W) of zircon is 0.585 ± 0.180 (hereafter all error 2σ) consistent with 0.855 ± 0.468 of previous work within experimental error margin. The value is higher than observed RSF of glass matrix, 0.301 ± 0.062, and significantly higher than glass data of 0.21–0.22 in references. Based on the RSF, the Hf/W ratios of zircons extracted from mesosiderite “Asuka 882,023” were measured together with W isotopic compositions by NanoSIMS. Observed data in 180Hf/186W–182W/186W diagram are fitted by a straight line, yielding a slope (182Hf/180Hf) of 8.19 ± 3.50 × 10–6. This slope is converted into an absolute zircon Hf-W age of 4536.5+4.6 –7.2 Ma using the age anchor of CV3 chondrite. This age agrees well with a reference value of 4532.0+11.4 –20.8 Ma.

Keywords

• Standard zircon
• High-pressure synthesis
• Relative sensitivity factor
• Hf-W dating
• NanoSIMS