Zircon dating definition
A heart of gold or a heart of stone? A tiny crystal of zircon found in northwestern Australia is estimated to be about 4. Zircons, made primarily of the elements zirconium, oxygen and silicon , are extremely hard and durable. Zircon has a tremendous capacity to resist breakdown during erosion , weathering , melting , and metamorphism. Zircon is found mainly in silica-rich rocks such as granite.
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4-Billion-Year-Old Crystals Offer Clues to the Origins of Life
Definition > Zircon
Detrital zircon geochronology is the science of analyzing the age of zircons deposited within a specific sedimentary unit by examining their inherent radioisotopes , most commonly the uranium—lead ratio. Zircon is a common accessory or trace mineral constituent of most granite and felsic igneous rocks. Due to its hardness, durability and chemical inertness, zircon persists in sedimentary deposits and is a common constituent of most sands. Zircons contain trace amounts of uranium and thorium and can be dated using several modern analytical techniques. Detrital zircon geochronology has become increasingly popular in geological studies from the s mainly due to the advancement in radiometric dating techniques. Detrital zircons are part of the sediment derived from weathering and erosion of pre-existing rocks. Since zircons are heavy and highly resistant at Earth's surface, [5] many zircons are transported, deposited and preserved as detrital zircon grains in sedimentary rocks.
Zircon Dating
Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. For centuries people have argued about the age of the Earth; only recently has it been possible to come close to achieving reliable estimates. In the 19th century some geologists realized that the vast thicknesses of sedimentary rocks meant that the Earth must be at least hundreds of millions of years old. On the other hand, the great physicist Lord Kelvin vehemently objected and suggested that the Earth might only be a few tens of millions of years old, based on his calculations of its cooling history.
What did Earth look like more than 4 billion years ago? But scientists do have some clues in the form of an extremely tough mineral known as zircon. Zircon crystals are almost indestructible; some still around today are nearly 4.