Age relations and volcanology of zircon bearing basalts from Eastern Saxony (Germany)

Pages:

pp. 57-58

Jörg Büchner

Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz, PF 300154, 02806 Görlitz,

Olaf Tietz

Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz, PF 300154, 02806 Görlitz,

Axel Gerdes

Geozentrum der Universität Frankfurt, Altenhöferallee 1, 60438 Frankfurt a. M.,

Ulf Linnemann

Senckenberg Naturhist. Slg. Dresden, Königsbrücker Landstraße 159, D-01109 Dresden

Abstract:

In alkali basaltic rocks scarcely appear accessory minerals such as zircon and corundum. The origin of these mostly gem stone like mega-crystals is unknown and controversial. However, if zircon crystals present they are important tools to clarify petrogenetic questions of the host melts. Host magmas of the zircon mega-crystals are normally SiO₂ under saturated such as basanites and nephelinites.
   In several localities we could observe some zircon mega-crystals and in a quarry in Saxony (eastern Germany) we collected 36 crystals up to 15 mm in size in situ from the basanitic rock. Zircons occur in agglutinates of lower crater facies of a scoria cone. The related lava flows are almost free of zircons and their Zr contents reaches up to 900 ppm. There is a good correlation between Ar/Ar data of the basanites (30 to 31 Ma) and the zircon U/Pb data which show ages about 30.5 Ma.
   A further known locality of zircon mega-crystals is the so called Seufzergründel placer in Elbsandsteingebirge / Saxon Switzerland (eastern Germany). There are observed zircon mega-crystals up to 9 mm in size. Their host rock is a lapilli bearing volcanic breccia, implying here a polyphase explosive volcanism. The age data of zircons have various values; while the Pb/Pb crystallization-ages range by 54±6 Ma the U/Pb dating gets about 35 Ma.
   Furthermore zircon mega-crystals were sampled from placers and residual soil of basanitic and nephelinitic as well as phonolitic rocks from different localities via heavy mineral separation techniques. The crystals show an intensive magmatic corrosion in alkalibasaltic rocks (including nephelinites), while zircons out of phonolites are mostly euhedral.
   Thus the zircon mega-crystals were carried by alkali basaltic magmas but were not in equilibrium with these melts. Basaltic host rocks of the mega-crystals are developed of primitive mantle melts, implying a short residence time for zircons in the melt. The solution rates of zircon in such melts are possibly high which could be seen in the intense magmatic corrosion. Therefore zircon mega-crystals occur mostly in pyroclastic rocks and are scarce or absent in massive lava flows. The latter have a much longer cooling time.
   Another possibility for enrichment of mega-crystals in pyroclastic rocks should be that the ascending bubbles in the vent carry away the solid parts, like xenocrystals or phenocrystals of the magma column. This could be the reason for lacking of in situ proofs of zircons in massive basalts.
   The age data of the zircons in relation to that of the host rocks imply a cogenetic development of both.

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Age relations and volcanology of zircon bearing basalts from Eastern Saxony (Germany)

VOLUME 39 (1-2)/September 2010 XIX Congress of the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association Thessaloniki, Greece, 23-26 September 2010

Maria Economou-EliopoulosDepartment of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784 Athens GR

Ioan SeghediInstitute of Geodynamics, 19-21, Jean-Luis Calderon str., Bucharest 020032, Romania

Gérard StampfliInstitut de Géologie et Paléontologie, Université de Lausanne – Anthropole, CH 1015 Lausannne, Switzerland

Alexandru AndrasanuDepartment of Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Bd., sect.1, Bucharest, Romania

Ion ArgyriadisCERGEM (Euro mediterranean geological Studies and Research Center). 975 ch. du Pré de Caune, 83740 La Cadière d'Azur, France

Kürşad AsanDepartment of Geological Engineering, Selçuk University, Konya, 42079, Türkiye | Hüseyin KurtDepartment of Geological Engineering, Selçuk University, Konya, 42079, Türkiye

Argyro AsvestaDepartment of Geotechnology and Environmental Engineering, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of West Macedonia, Kila, 50100 Kozani, Greece | Sarantis DimitriadisSchool of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Athanassios AthanassiouHellenic Ministry of Culture, Department of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology, Ardittou 34B, 116 36 Athens, Greece | Dimitris BouzasHellenic Ministry of Culture, Department of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology, Ardittou 34B, 116 36 Athens, Greece

Athanassios AthanassiouMinistry of Culture, Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology, Ardittou 34B, 116 36 Athens, Greece | Dimitris KostopoulosUniversity of Thessaloniki, Department of Geology, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Artemios AtzemoglouInstitute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 54626 Thessaloniki, Greece, | Panagiotis TsourlosDepartment of Geophysics, school of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece,

Krisztina BabákDepartment of General and Applied Environmental Geography, Institute of Geography, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6., Hungary

Vassil BalinovUniversity of Mining and Geology, Stoudentski grad, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria | Mariana DonchevaUniversity of Mining and Geology, Stoudentski grad, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria | Efrosima Zaneva-DobranovaUniversity of Mining and Geology, Stoudentski grad, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria

Alexey BaranovInstitute of Physics of the Earth, 123995, Moscow, Russia, B. Gruzinskaya 10 | Valeriy TrubitsynInstitute of Physics of the Earth, 123995, Moscow, Russia, B. Gruzinskaya 10 | Alexander TrubitsynInstitute of Physics of the Earth, 123995, Moscow, Russia, B. Gruzinskaya 10

Mehrdad BaratiDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, 65174, Hamedan, Iran | Insung LeeSeoul National University, Korea

Anikó BatkiDepartment of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, University of Szeged, H-6701, POBox 651., Szeged, Hungary | Elemér Pál-MolnárDepartment of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, University of Szeged, H-6701, POBox 651., Szeged, Hungary

Peter BaumgartnerInstitut de Géologie et Paléontologie, Université de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland | Špela GoričanInstitute of Paleontology, ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia | Marko ChiariCNR - Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy

Ali BayramDepartment of Geology Engineering, Engineering and Architecture Faculty, Selcuk University, 42079, Konya, Turkey

Lucian BesutiuSolid Earth Dynamics Department, Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy, 19-21, Jean-Louis Calderon St., 020032 Bucharest

Gabriel BindeaGeological Institute of Romania, Caransebes str. 1, 012271 Bucharest, Romania

Julita Biszczuk-JakubowskaCentre of Aerology, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Zegrzynska 38, 05-119 Legionowo, Poland

Jennifer BoothSchool of Geography and the Environment, OUCE, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom

Nikola BotoucharovDepartment of Geology, Paleontology and Fossil Fuels, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 1504, Sofia, Bulgaria | Hristo Chemberski

Nikita BraginGeological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia | Liubov BraginaGeological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia

Liubov BraginaGeological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia | Nikita BraginGeological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia

Aynur BüyükutkuDepartment of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100, Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey

Nicoleta CadicheanuInstitute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy, 19-21, Jean-Louis Calderon St., Bucharest-37, 020032, Romania | Michel van RuymbekeRoyal Observatory of Belgium, ORB-avenue circulaire 3, 1180, Bruxelles, Belgium

William CavazzaDept. of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy | Aral OkayEurasia Institute of Earth Sciences and Dept. of Geology, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey | Massimiliano ZattinDept. of Geosciences, University of Padua, Italy

Aura CehlarofGeology-Geophysics Department, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, 100680, Ploiesti, Romania

Yakup ÇelikIstanbul University, Department of Geological Engineering, Avcılar, TR-34320 İstanbul, Turkey

Valentina CeteanProcema Geologi S.R.L., Preciziei street, No.6, RO-062203 Bucharest, Romania | Laszlo SzéllProcema Cercetare S.R.L., Cluj-Napoca, Beiusului street, No. 1, RO-400394 Cluj county, Romania | Neculai CiorneiProcema Geologi S.R.L., Preciziei street, No.6, RO-062203 Bucharest, Romania

Maria ChatziangelouDepartment of Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece | Basile ChristarasDepartment of Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

Maria Economou-Eliopoulos
Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784 Athens GR

Ioan Seghedi
Institute of Geodynamics, 19-21, Jean-Luis Calderon str., Bucharest 020032, Romania

Gérard Stampfli
Institut de Géologie et Paléontologie, Université de Lausanne – Anthropole, CH 1015 Lausannne, Switzerland

Alexandru Andrasanu
Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Bd., sect.1, Bucharest, Romania

Ion Argyriadis
CERGEM (Euro mediterranean geological Studies and Research Center). 975 ch. du Pré de Caune, 83740 La Cadière d'Azur, France

Kürşad Asan
Department of Geological Engineering, Selçuk University, Konya, 42079, Türkiye

|

Hüseyin Kurt
Department of Geological Engineering, Selçuk University, Konya, 42079, Türkiye

Argyro Asvesta
Department of Geotechnology and Environmental Engineering, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of West Macedonia, Kila, 50100 Kozani, Greece

|

Sarantis Dimitriadis
School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Athanassios Athanassiou
Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Department of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology, Ardittou 34B, 116 36 Athens, Greece

|

Dimitris Bouzas
Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Department of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology, Ardittou 34B, 116 36 Athens, Greece

Athanassios Athanassiou
Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology–Speleology, Ardittou 34B, 116 36 Athens, Greece

|

Dimitris Kostopoulos
University of Thessaloniki, Department of Geology, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Artemios Atzemoglou
Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 54626 Thessaloniki, Greece,

|

Panagiotis Tsourlos
Department of Geophysics, school of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece,

Krisztina Babák
Department of General and Applied Environmental Geography, Institute of Geography, University of Pécs, 7624, Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6., Hungary

Vassil Balinov
University of Mining and Geology, Stoudentski grad, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria

|

Mariana Doncheva
University of Mining and Geology, Stoudentski grad, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria

|

Efrosima Zaneva-Dobranova
University of Mining and Geology, Stoudentski grad, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria

Alexey Baranov
Institute of Physics of the Earth, 123995, Moscow, Russia, B. Gruzinskaya 10

|

Valeriy Trubitsyn
Institute of Physics of the Earth, 123995, Moscow, Russia, B. Gruzinskaya 10

|

Alexander Trubitsyn
Institute of Physics of the Earth, 123995, Moscow, Russia, B. Gruzinskaya 10

Mehrdad Barati
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, 65174, Hamedan, Iran

|

Insung Lee
Seoul National University, Korea

Anikó Batki
Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, University of Szeged, H-6701, POBox 651., Szeged, Hungary

|

Elemér Pál-Molnár
Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, University of Szeged, H-6701, POBox 651., Szeged, Hungary

Ali Bayram
Department of Geology Engineering, Engineering and Architecture Faculty, Selcuk University, 42079, Konya, Turkey

Lucian Besutiu
Solid Earth Dynamics Department, Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy, 19-21, Jean-Louis Calderon St., 020032 Bucharest

Gabriel Bindea
Geological Institute of Romania, Caransebes str. 1, 012271 Bucharest, Romania

Julita Biszczuk-Jakubowska
Centre of Aerology, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Zegrzynska 38, 05-119 Legionowo, Poland

Jennifer Booth
School of Geography and the Environment, OUCE, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom

Nikola Botoucharov
Department of Geology, Paleontology and Fossil Fuels, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 1504, Sofia, Bulgaria

|

Hristo Chemberski

Nikita Bragin
Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia

|

Liubov Bragina
Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia

Liubov Bragina
Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia

|

Nikita Bragin
Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky 7, Moscow 119017, Russia

Aynur Büyükutku
Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100, Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey

Nicoleta Cadicheanu
Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy, 19-21, Jean-Louis Calderon St., Bucharest-37, 020032, Romania

|

Michel van Ruymbeke
Royal Observatory of Belgium, ORB-avenue circulaire 3, 1180, Bruxelles, Belgium

William Cavazza
Dept. of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

|

Aral Okay
Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences and Dept. of Geology, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey

|

Massimiliano Zattin
Dept. of Geosciences, University of Padua, Italy

Aura Cehlarof
Geology-Geophysics Department, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, 100680, Ploiesti, Romania

Yakup Çelik
Istanbul University, Department of Geological Engineering, Avcılar, TR-34320 İstanbul, Turkey

Maria Chatziangelou
Department of Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

|

Basile Christaras
Department of Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece