Nuclear microprobe (PIXE) analyses of zircons as indicators of granite type

Petrochemical investigation of the Cape Granite Suite illustrated that thre e major granitoid types exist namely S-, I- and A-types. Studies of zircon typologies of these granites confirmed that the three major types and their subtypes could be distinguished with relative ease. Using the typological classification as a base, zircons from the three granite groups were analys ed by proton microprobe. The proton microprobe was utilized to enable the d etection of elements normally present in low quantities in zircon. The resu lts clearly illustrated that PIXE analyses may readily be used to discrimin ate zircons from S-, I- and A-type granites using the elements Th, Y and Yb . (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.