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Origin of magnetite in Hadean zircons

12.31.18 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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The Internal Zoning of Jack Hills Zircon, Recording Its Formation Nearly 4 Billion Years Ago
The internal zoning of Jack Hills zircon, recording its formation nearly 4 billion years ago. Credit: Image courtesy of Richard J. M. Taylor.

Although zircon crystals from Jack Hills, Australia are some of the oldest minerals on Earth, dating to the early Hadean Eon, researchers report that magnetite within the zircons, which could preserve a record of Earth's earliest magnetic field, is most likely a secondary deposit, formed long after the zircons crystallized; the results suggest that without evidence of primary magnetite, the existence of a magnetic field in the Hadean Eon remains unknown.

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Article #18-11074: "Secondary magnetite in ancient zircon precludes analysis of a Hadean geodynamo," by Fengzai Tang et al.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rich J. M. Taylor, University of Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM; e-mail: < rjt79@cam.ac.uk >

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Additional Media

Direct Observation of Secondary Iron Transport through Microstructures in the Ancient Zircon Grain
Direct observation of secondary iron transport through microstructures in the ancient zircon grain. Credit: Image courtesy of Richard J. M. Taylor.

Keywords

Australia Magnetic Fields Magnetite

Article Information

Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Contact Information

Rich J. M. Taylor
rjt79@cam.ac.uk

How to Cite This Article

APA:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (2018, December 31). Origin of magnetite in Hadean zircons. Brightsurf News. https://www.brightsurf.com/news/L76K7JD1/origin-of-magnetite-in-hadean-zircons.html
MLA:
"Origin of magnetite in Hadean zircons." Brightsurf News, Dec. 31 2018, https://www.brightsurf.com/news/L76K7JD1/origin-of-magnetite-in-hadean-zircons.html.