Diffusion in Zircon

Abstract

Despite its low abundance in most rocks, zircon is extraordinarily useful in interpreting crustal histories. The importance of U-Th-Pb isotopic dating of zircon is well and long established (Davis et al., this volume; Parrish et al., this volume). Zircon also tends to incorporate trace elements useful as geochemical tracers, such as the REE, Y, and Hf. A number of characteristics of zircon encourage the