Zircon M257 -: a homogeneous natural reference material for the ion microprobe U-Pb analysis of zircon

We introduce and propose zircon M257 as a future reference material for the determination of zircon U-Pb ages by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry. This light brownish, flawless, cut gemstone specimen from Sri Lanka weighed 5.14 g (25.7 carats). Zircon M257 has TIMS-determined, mean isotopic ratios (2s uncertainties) of 0.09100 +/- 0.00003 for (206)pb/U-238 and 0.7392 +/- 0.0003 for (207)pb/U-235. Its (206)pb/U-238 age is 561.3 +/- 0.3 Ma (unweighted mean, uncertainty quoted at the 95% confidence level); the U-Pb system is concordant within uncertainty of decay constants. Zircon M257 contains similar to 840 mu g g(-1) U (Th/U similar to 0.27). The material exhibits remarkably low heterogeneity, with a virtual absence of any internal textures even in cathodoluminescence images. The uniform, moderate degree of radiation damage (estimated from the expansion of unit-cell parameters, broadening of Raman spectral parameters and density) corresponds well, within the Sri Lankan trends, with actinide concentrations, U-Pb age, and the calculated alpha fluence of 1.66 x 10(18) g(-1). This, and a (U+Th)/He age of 419 +/- 9 Ma (2s), enables us to exclude any unusual thermal history or heat treatment, which could potentially have affected the retention of radiogenic Pb. The oxygen isotope ratio of this zircon is 13.9%o VSMOW suggesting a metamorphic genesis in a marble or calc-silicate skarn.