The zircon-age distribution in metamorphic rocks of the Taratash block, Southern Urals (an initial provenance signal)

Abstract

A concept for the interpretation of the initial provenance signal in rocks of the Taratash block (in the Southern Urals) using the zircon isotope dating of the Archean and Early Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks was substantiated and carried out. Based on 132 zircon-age datings with a discordance of as much as 10%, a probability-density diagram was compiled first to compare these age data with those of detrital zircons from Lower Riphean sandstones of the Ai Formation and, secondly, with the probability density of zircon ages in metamorphic rocks of the Aleksandrovsk block, which is located to the east. The similarity of the distributions was verified using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test.