Changes

[[Image:zircon microscope.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Optical microscope photograph; the length of the crystal is about 250 [[µm]].]]

[[Image:zircon microscope.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Optical microscope photograph; the length of the crystal is about 250 [[µm]].]]

'''Zircon Titanium Geothermometry''', or "Ti-in-zircon [[Geothermometry]]" is a technique by which the crystallization temperature of a [[zircon]] crystal can be estimated by the amount of titanium atoms found in the crystal lattice. Zircon is a useful mineral due to its abundance in the Earth's crust, its ability to incorporate various [[radioactive]] and nonradioactive isotopes, its durability, and its resistance to isotopic diffusion.<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006">{{cite journal|last1=Watson|first1=E.B.|last2=Wark|first2=D.A.|last3=Thomas|first3=J.B.|title=Crystallization thermometers for zircon and rutile|journal=Contributions to Mineral Petrology|date=3 March 2006|volume=151|pages=413–433|doi=10.1007/s00410-006-0068-5}}</ref> In zircon crystals, [[Titanium]] is commonly incorporated, replacing similarly charged [[Zirconium]] and [[Silica]] atoms. This process is relatively unaffected by pressure and highly temperature dependent, with the amount of Ti incorporated rising exponentially with temperature,<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006" /><ref name="Watson and Harrison 2005">{{cite journal|last1=Watson|first1=E.B.|last2=Harrison|first2=T.M.|title=Zircon Thermometer Reveals Minimum Melting Conditions on Earliest Earth|journal=Science Magazine|date=6 May 2005|volume=308|pages=841–843|doi=10.1126/science.1110873}}</ref> making this an accurate geothermometry method. This method is extremely useful, as it can be combined with radiometric dating techniques that are commonly used with zircon crystals (see [[Uranium-lead dating]]), to correlate quantitative temperature measurements with specific absolute ages.

'''Zircon Titanium Geothermometry''', or "Ti-in-zircon [[Geothermometry]]" is a technique by which the crystallization temperature of a [[zircon]] crystal can be estimated by the amount of titanium atoms found in the crystal lattice. Zircon is a useful mineral due to its abundance in the Earth's crust, its ability to incorporate various [[radioactive]] and nonradioactive isotopes, its durability, and its resistance to isotopic diffusion.<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006">{{cite journal|last1=Watson|first1=E.B.|last2=Wark|first2=D.A.|last3=Thomas|first3=J.B.|title=Crystallization thermometers for zircon and rutile|journal=Contributions to Mineral Petrology|date=3 March 2006|volume=151|pages=413–433|doi=10.1007/s00410-006-0068-5}}</ref> In zircon crystals, [[Titanium]] is commonly incorporated, replacing similarly charged [[Zirconium]] and [[Silica]] atoms. This process is relatively unaffected by pressure and highly temperature dependent, with the amount of Ti incorporated rising exponentially with temperature,<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006" /><ref name="Watson and Harrison 2005">{{cite journal|last1=Watson|first1=E.B.|last2=Harrison|first2=T.M.|title=Zircon Thermometer Reveals Minimum Melting Conditions on Earliest Earth|journal=Science Magazine|date=6 May 2005|volume=308|pages=841–843|doi=10.1126/science.1110873}}</ref> making this an accurate geothermometry method. This method is extremely useful, as it can be combined with radiometric dating techniques that are commonly used with zircon crystals (see [[Uranium-lead dating]]), to correlate quantitative temperature measurements with specific absolute ages.