Zircon Tiny but Timely

Research Article| February 01, 2007 Zircon Tiny but Timely Simon L. Harley; Simon L. Harley Grant Institute of Earth Science, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH9 3JW, United Kingdom E-mail: Simon.Harley@ed.ac.uk Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nigel M. Kelly Nigel M. Kelly Grant Institute of Earth Science, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH9 3JW, United Kingdom E-mail: Nigel.Kelly@ed.ac.uk Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Simon L. Harley Grant Institute of Earth Science, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH9 3JW, United Kingdom E-mail: Simon.Harley@ed.ac.uk Nigel M. Kelly Grant Institute of Earth Science, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH9 3JW, United Kingdom E-mail: Nigel.Kelly@ed.ac.uk Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1811-5217 Print ISSN: 1811-5209 © 2007 by the Mineralogical Society of America Elements (2007) 3 (1): 13–18. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.3.1.13 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Simon L. Harley, Nigel M. Kelly; Zircon Tiny but Timely. Elements 2007;; 3 (1): 13–18. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.3.1.13 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract Where would Earth science be without zircon? Tiny crystals of zircon occur in many rocks, and because their atomic structure remains stable over very long periods of geological time, they are able to provide a picture of the early history of the Earth and of the evolution of the crust and mantle. Zircon has long been recognized as the best geochronometer using the radioactive decay of uranium to lead. Recent developments in analytical techniques, using small-diameter laser, ion and electron beams, high-precision mass spectrometry and a variety of microscopic imaging methods, allow us to obtain the ages of tiny volumes of complex crystals that record stages in their long growth history. Coupled measurements of the isotopes of oxygen and hafnium provide a mineralogical window into the separation of the Earth's crust from the mantle and the temperature and character of processes involved in crustal evolution. Zircon is being used to unravel ever more complex geological systems, presenting exciting opportunities for research on this remarkable mineral. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.