Microanalysis of radiation damage across a zoned zircon crystal

Palenik, C.S. and Ewing, R.C. (2002) Microanalysis of radiation damage across a zoned zircon crystal. Proceedings of the Materials Research Society v713, JJ8.8.1-JJ8.8.6..

Published on: 1/1/2002

An oscillatory-zoned single crystal of zircon (ZrSiO4) from Sri Lanka (560 Ma) provides a unique opportunity to study radiation effects over the dose range of 2.1 – 10.6·1015 á-decay events/mg (0.1 – 0.5 dpa). Each zone has a different radiation dose due to variations in the U (0.09 – 0.53 wt %) and Th (0 – 0.11 wt %) content, but all zones share the same thermal history. The zones span a nearly complete range of microstructures from crystalline to aperiodic. Measurements of birefringence show an inverse-linear correlation with dose over the range of doses observed. Micro-Raman spectroscopy results show that a decrease in peak frequency relative to an undamaged zircon, peak broadening and decreases in peak intensity occur with the accumulation of radiation damage.

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