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U–Pb zircon dating of Paleozoic volcanic rocks from the Rheno-Hercynian Zone: new age constraints for the Steinkopf formation, Lahn-Dill area, Germany

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Abstract

Small and volumetrically subordinate outcrops of alkali-rhyolitic to trachytic metavolcanic rocks are widespread in the Lahn-Dill area of the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany. These occurrences are either related to late Early Devonian or to Middle Devonian episodes of volcanic activity. An unambiguous age assignment for the time of eruption could not be established so far. Most volcanic rocks of the study area are not suitable for application of U–Pb geochronology. A notable exception is the Steinkopf rock suite in the SW Lahn-Dill area, but a straightforward interpretation of the LA-ICP-MS U–Pb data is hampered by complex zircon populations recording various processes including crystallization from newly formed melt, inheritance, assimilation of country rocks, variable degrees of Pb-loss and fluid-assisted Zr-mobility. A plausible evaluation of U–Pb zircon data of two metatrachytes and a metavolcaniclastic rock document a coherent age group at ca. 390–384 Ma and a probable eruption age at ca. 385 Ma, suggesting a relationship to Middle Devonian (Givetian) igneous processes. Zircon-bearing veinlets in a metatrachyte indicate post-eruptive infiltration of external hydrothermal fluids and/or internal Zr-redistribution in Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous time (364 ± 10 Ma), but this process is of rather limited importance.

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(modified after HLUG 2007; Nesbor 2004)

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(modified after Koch and Schneider 1986; Michels and Anderle 2010; Requadt and Weidenfeller 2007; German Stratigraphic Commission 2016; Cohen et al. 2013)

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Acknowledgements

Beate Schmitte is thanked for technical assistance on the electron microprobe and the LA-ICP-MS. Johannes Zieger and Hans-Dieter Nesbor provided critical and constructive comments that helped to improve this paper.

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  1. Jan Schulz-Isenbeck

    Present address: Institut für Mineralogie, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599, Freiberg, Germany

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  1. Institut für Mineralogie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstr. 24, 48149, Munster, Germany

    Jan Schulz-Isenbeck, Michael Bröcker & Jasper Berndt

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Schulz-Isenbeck, J., Bröcker, M. & Berndt, J. U–Pb zircon dating of Paleozoic volcanic rocks from the Rheno-Hercynian Zone: new age constraints for the Steinkopf formation, Lahn-Dill area, Germany. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 108, 1835–1855 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-019-01736-4

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