Early (≥ 4.5 Ga) formation of terrestrial crust:: Lu-Hf, δ18O, and Ti thermometry results for Hadean zircons

Large deviations in epsilon(Hf(T)) from bulk silicate Earth seen in >4 Ga detrital zircons from Jack Hills, Western Australia, have been interpreted as reflecting a major differentiation of the silicate Earth at 4.4 to 4.5 Ga. We have expanded the characterization of Hf-176/Hf-177 initial ratios (Hf) in Hadean zircons by acquiring a further 116 laser ablation Lu-Hf measurements on 87 grains with ion microprobe Pb-207/Pb-206 ages up to 4.36 Ga. Most measurements employed concurrent Lu-Hf and Pb-207/Pb-206 analyses, permitting assessment of the age of the volumetrically larger domain sampled by laser drilling against the spatially more restricted ion microprobe ages. Our new results confirm and extend the earlier observation of significant negative deviations in epsilon(Hf(T)) throughout the Hadean, although no positive epsilon(Hf(T)) values were documented in this study. Monte Carlo modelling of these data yields an essentially uniform spectrum of model ages between 4.56 and 4.20 Ga for extraction of the zircons' protoliths from a chondritic reservoir. To assess whether the five data plotting close to solar system initial epsilon(Hf(T)) are statistically robust, we derived the error propagation equation for a parameter, epsilon(o) which measures the difference of a sample from Hf-o. Our analysis suggests that this limited data is indicative of source sequestration in a crustal-type Lu/Hf environment prior to 4.5 Ga. Oxygen isotope data and Ti thermometry from Hadean zircons show little obvious correlation with Hf, consistent with their derivation through fusion of a broad suite of crustal rock types under water-saturated conditions. Together with other isotopic and trace element data obtained from these ancient zircons, our results indicate essentially continuous derivation of crust from the mantle from 4.5 to 4.2 Ga with concurrent recycling into the mantle and internal crustal re-working. These results represent further evidence that by 4.35 Ga, portions of the crust had taken on continental characteristics. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.