General relations in the trace-element composition of zircons from eclogites with implications for the age of eclogites in the belomorian mobile belt

Analysis of currently available data (877 individual high-precision zircon analyses) on the composition of zircons from eclogite complexes worldwide reveals general relations in the zircon composition: an anomalous decrease in the Th concentration (no higher than 3 ppm on average) and the Th/U ratio (0.33 on average), a significant decrease in the concentrations of all REE (to 22 ppm) and particularly LREE (< 2 ppm), and relatively low concentrations of Y (34 ppm), U (100 ppm), and P (41 ppm) at an elevated Hf concentration (11 400 ppm on average). The REE patterns of eclogitic zircons are noted for pronounced flat HREE patterns, poorly pronounced (if any) negative Eu anomalies, strongly reduced positive Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 11 on average), and U-shaped configurations of LREE patterns up to the development of negative Nd anomalies. The relations detected in the distribution of trace elements and REE in eclogitic zircons are of universal nature and occur irrespective of the rock type (metabasites, metaultrabasites, or gneisses) and the metamorphic pressure (eclogites of high and ultrahigh pressure). The application of the aforementioned criteria makes it possible to reliable distinguish eclogitic zircons from those of magmatic or metamorphic genesis (not related to high-pressure metamorphism). Eclogites in the Belomorian Mobile Belt (in the Salma and Gridino areas) were determined to contain zircons in metagabbro eclogites; the cores of these zircons have an age of 2.8-2.9 Ga and are of magmatic genesis, whereas their outer metamorphic zones have an age of 1.9 Ga and a trace-element composition typical of eclogitic zircons. Hence, the Belomorian Mobile Belt was affected only by single (Svecofennian, at similar to 1.9 Ga) episode of eclogite metamorphism of Archean rocks.