Magmatic zircons from I-, S- and A-type granitoids in Tibet: Trace element characteristics and their application to detrital zircon provenance study

This study reports a dataset of 21 trace elements of magmatic zircons from typical I-type (93 analyses) and S-type (73 analyses) granitoids from the Lhasa and Himalayan terranes, southern Tibet, and A-type granitoids (21 analyses) from the Songpan-Ganzi terrane, eastern Tibet. Our results indicate that magmatic zircons from the I-type granitoids are characterized by relatively lower Pb concentrations and higher (Nb/Pb)(N) ratios, distinct from those of the S-type granitoids that reveal higher Pb, lower (Nb/Pb)N and significant Eu negative anomalies (Eu/Eu* <= 0.3); while these values are transitional in zircons from the A-type granitoids. Such differences, most likely governed by compositional variations in the host magmas, are considered as a useful tool, in addition to U-Pb and Hf isotopes, for tracing the source provenance of detrital zircons. Consequently, the trace element compositions of detrital zircons with a diagnostic age peak (similar to 1170 Ma) from the Lhasa Terrane indicate the presence of coeval S-type magmatism in their source region. This study exemplifies the usefulness of zircon trace element geochemistry in investigating sedimentary source provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.