Towards identifying the origin of metamorphic components in Austrian loess: insights from detrital rutile chemistry, thermometry and U-Pb geochronology

Despite the uncertainties of Cr-Nb-based source discriminations in some cases and the potential decoupling of Zr- and U-Pb systematics recognized in rutiles, this study demonstrates that rutiles may provide unique details on the nature and metamorphic history of their parent rocks, if used with caution and by knowing its limitations under certain conditions. It is anticipated that, beyond zircon, rutile geochemistry will become a powerful provenance tracer in loess studies too. This seems to be particularly important to gain a better understanding on the erosion and rutile fertility of different metamorphic terrains and their contributions to loess material, issues that have not been adequately addressed thus far.