Zircon geochronology unveils processes of oceanic plate evolution

A paper recently published in the Earth Science Reviews journal deals with dating of zircons from folded marine sediments on the edges of oceanic plates (i.e., in accretionary wedges). A comparison of data from different sites provided a more precise interpretation of source rocks for these parts of oceanic crust. This study, performed in close cooperation with Faculty of Science of Charles University (J. Žák, J. Hajná) and co-authored by M. Svojtka and L. Ackerman of the Institute of Geology CAS, introduces a new concept of the dependence of zircon ages on the distance from source rocks. It considerably contributes to the understanding of sedimentary and tectonic processes affecting oceanic crust during its evolution.