U and Th zonation in Fish Canyon Tuff zircons: Implications for a zircon (U–Th)/He standard

Abstract

The inability to accurately determine the distribution of U and Th in zircon crystals analysed using (U–Th)/He is a major source of error, and limits the confidence in subsequent data interpretation. The Fish Canyon Tuff (FCT) zircon standard shows (U–Th)/He age reproducibility in excess of ±10%. We have tested the extent to which this is due to U and Th zonation using a combination of cathodoluminescence and ion probe analysis of a population of FCT zircons. Primarily we find that FCT zircons exhibit extreme U and Th zonation, and the population has large inter-crystalline variability. Furthermore, the net cathodoluminescence intensity from the FCT zircons is negatively correlated with U and Th concentration, allowing cathodoluminescence emission to be used as a proxy for U and Th zonation. This correlation was exploited to constrain the U and Th zonation within the crystal population, and to show that the poor age reproducibility of the FCT zircons is consistent with the observed zonation.