Cathodoluminescence images of zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region
![Cathodoluminescence images of zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/media/images/zircon_fig.jpg?itok=N1QU_VkQ)
Detailed Description
Cathodoluminescence images generated by the interaction of electromagnetic radiation ranging in energy from ultraviolet to near infrared with sectioned and polished zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region. These images show textures commonly associated with igneous-grown zircon—the regularly repeating bands of light and dark are formed as the mineral crystallizes from magma. The dark hexagon in the image on the right is a mineral inclusion that the zircon incorporated while it grew. The round white circles show the analyzed locations for uranium-lead age determinations using the USGS-Stanford Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Micro-Probe (SHRIMP), a mass spectrometer that can excavate tiny amounts of solid minerals using a beam of ions that are then separated by their mass-to-charge-ratio and counted with sensitive electronic equipment. Images taken by Lauren Harrison in May 2022.
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.