Retrograded Eclogite From Chicheng, North China Craton: New Insights Into the Fidelity of U-Pb-Hf-O Isotopes in Zircon During High-grade Metamorphism

Abstract Zircon is the most abundantly used mineral for dating igneous and metamorphic events and for tracing source characteristics. Understanding the geochemical behavior of the U-Pb-Hf-O isotope systems during high-grade metamorphism is therefore important for accurate interpretation of the isotopic information. We report zircon U-Pb-Hf-O isotopes and trace elements of retrograded eclogites and host gneisses from Chicheng, North China Craton, with the aim to obtain new insights into the fidelity of U-Pb-Hf-O isotopes in zircon as recorders of high-grade metamorphism. U-Pb dating suggested that the Chicheng mélange experienced eclogite facies metamorphism at ~1.84 Ga, and then exhumed to amphibolite facies at 320–300 Ma. Zircons with Paleoproterozoic ages formed in metamorphic melts-derived from the gneiss during the eclogite facies metamorphism. Zircons with ages of 300–320 Ma formed by recrystallization of peak metamorphic zircons during fluid-assisted amphibolite-facies retrograde metamorphism. This process led to the near-complete resetting not only of U-Pb ages but also of Hf-O isotopic compositions of the peak metamorphic zircons, while preserve REE patterns. These results contrast with the sluggish Hf diffusion rate predicted from experimental studies, and support findings that isotopic data from metamorphic zircons in retrograded high-grade metamorphic rocks need not be faithful recorders of their sources.