Distinguishing between barren and fertile batholiths in the same porphyry-Cu district using zircon trace element geochemistry

Zircon trace element chemistry, particularly when combined with U–Pb dating of zircon, can provide crucial information on the temporal, and chemical evolution of magmatic-hydrothermal systems. Sixteen samples representing six different igneous units were analysed for 33 elements using LA-ICPMS. Zircons from the mineralised Luhr Hill intrusion have smaller negative Eu/Eu* anomalies than zircons from the post-mineralisation Shamrock intrusion. Zircons from the Shamrock intrusion show a different trace element chemistry to zircons from either pre- or syn-mineralisation intrusions. Zircons from the Shamrock batholith contain elevated Ho, P, U, Yb and Er. Zircons from the Yerington batholith contain elevated Dy, Tb, Y, Lu, and Yb.