Is Myanmar jadeitite of Jurassic age? A result from incompletely recrystallized inherited zircon

Zircons from two Myanmar jadeitite samples were separated for texture, mineral inclusion, U–Pb dating and trace element composition analyses. Three types of zircons, with respect to U–Pb isotope system, were recognized. Type I zircons are inherited ones, yielding an igneous protolith age of 160 ± 1 Ma; Type II zircons are metasomatic/hydrothermal ones, giving a (minimum) jadeitite formation age of 77 ± 3 Ma; and Type III zircons are incompletely recrystallized ones, with non-coherent and geologically meaningless ages from 153 to 105 Ma. These Myanmar jadeitites would therefore have formed through whole-sale metasomatic replacement processes.Compared with Type I zircons, Type II zircons show typical metasomatic/hydrothermal geochemical signatures, with low Th/U ratio (< 0.1), small Ce anomaly (Ce/Ce* = < 5) and low ΣREE content (40–115 ppm). Type III zircons, however, commonly have the above geochemical signatures straddle in between Type I and Type II zircons. It is shown that the resetting rates of various trace element compositions and U–Pb isotope system of inherited zircons are not coupled “in phase” in response to zircon recrystallization during jadeitite formation. The observed abnormally low Th/U ratio and small Ce anomaly of some Type I zircons, as well as the lack of negative Eu anomaly of all Type I zircons, should be suspected to be of secondary origin. In extreme cases, incompletely recrystallized zircons may show typical metasomatic/hydrothermal geochemical signatures, but leave U–Pb isotope system partially reset or even largely unchanged. Such zircons easily lead to incorrect age interpretation, and hence erroneous geological implication.The Myanmar jadeitites, based on the present study, might have formed during the Late Cretaceous subduction before the beginning of India–Asia continental collision at Paleocene. Previously proposed Late Jurassic ages for Myanmar jadeitites are suggested as results rooted on data retrieved from incompletely recrystallized inherited zircons.

► Zircons in two Myanmar jadeitite samples can be categorized into 3 types.
► Type I zircons are inherited, Type II are completely recrystallized, and Type III are incompletely recrystallized.
► The (minimum) formation age of Myanmar jadeitite is 77 ± 3 Ma, retrieved from Type II zircons.
► Previously proposed Jurassic ages for Myanmar jadeitites were based on Type III zircons.