The geological roots of South America: 4.1 Ga and 3.7 Ga zircon crystals discovered in N.E. Brazil and N.W. Argentina

Abstract

We present new LA-ICP-MS in situ geochronological results for seven Eoarchean zircons dated at 3.7Ga coming from Cretaceous ash layers of NW Argentina and one Hadean single crystal sampled within the São Francisco Craton in NE Brazil. This zircon comprises a zoned magmatic core dated at 4.1Ga surrounded by a 1.9Ga overgrowth related to Paleoproterozoic reworking. This Hadean age is consistent with previously published Nd model ages on orthogneisses from the same domain. These two results represent among the oldest geological witnesses discovered to date in South America, which demonstrates the occurrence of a primitive crust. The contrasting age patterns recorded in both samples and localities indicate that at least two different nuclei of early crust survived in the continental domain. The São Francisco Craton in Brazil can be now considered as one of the very few areas where rare occurrences of Hadean zircon record the early evolution of the Earth.