Spatial distributions of low-temperature thermochronometric data in Shikoku mountains and these interpretations

Fukuda, Shoma; Okamoto, Akira*; Kohn, B.*; Shinjo, Hironao*; Sueoka, Shigeru; Tagami, Takahiro*

Fuisshon, Torakku Nyusureta, (37), p.8 - 10, 2024/12

The Shikoku Mountains are a non-volcanic uplift zone parallel to the subduction zone of the Philippine Sea Plate, and elucidation of its mountain building process is expected to contribute to constraining the long-term strain accumulation and release mechanism in the Nankai Trough. In this study, we attempted thermochronological analysis of nine granitoids of the Permian to Miocene age in the Shikoku Mountains using apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He (AHe, ZHe) and apatite fission-track (AFT) methods, which can provide thermal and exhumation history in the shallower crust (2 to 6 km depth). AHe and ZHe dating was conducted at the University of Melbourne, and AFT dating at the Tono Geoscience Center. AHe ages for eight samples ranged from about 55 to 7 Ma, AFT ages for five samples ranged from about 90 to 70 Ma, and ZHe ages for nine samples ranged from about 200 to 70 Ma. These data showed a consistent relationship considering the closure temperature of each method. They are also generally consistent with previously reported ZFT ages, biotite K-Ar ages, and AHe, AFT, and ZHe ages.

Annual report for research on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of radioactive waste in fiscal year 2023

Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Koji; Sueoka, Shigeru; Ishihara, Takanori; Hakoiwa, Hiroaki; Asamori, Koichi; Murakami, Osamu; Fukuda, Shoma; Ogita, Yasuhiro; Kagami, Saya; et al.

JAEA-Research 2024-013, 65 Pages, 2024/11

JAEA-Research-2024-013.pdf:4.22MB

This annual report documents the progress of research and development (R&D) in the 2nd fiscal year of the JAEA 4th Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2022-2028) to provide the scientific base for assessing geosphere stability for long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste. The plan framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques. The current status of R&D activities with previous scientific and technological progress is summarized.

Short communication: Inverse correlation between radiation damage and fission-track etching time on monazite

Nakajima, Toru; Fukuda, Shoma; Sueoka, Shigeru; Niki, Sota*; Kawakami, Tetsuo*; Danhara, Toru*; Tagami, Takahiro*

Geochronology (Internet), 6(3), p.313 - 323, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-313-2024

In this study, we explored the impacts of radiation damage and chemical composition on the etching time of fission tracks in monazite. Despite the potential of monazite fission-track (MFT) dating as an ultralow-temperature thermochronology, the comprehensive effects of radiation damage and non-formula elements, especially on the etching rate of MFTs, remain unexplored, and established analytical procedures are lacking. We quantified the degree of radiation damage (dFHWM) in Cretaceous to Quaternary monazites distributed in the Japan arc through Raman spectroscopy and chemical composition analyses. Subsequently, MFT etching was performed to examine the correlation between these parameters and the etching time. Estimation of the degree of radiation damage showed an increase in radiation damage corresponding to the cooling age of each geological unit. For example, the Toya ignimbrite (ca. 0.1 Ma) and the Kurobegawa granodiorite (0.8 Ma), both of which are types of monazite from Quaternary geological units, have dFHWM values of 0.27 and 0.55 cm, respectively. In contrast, the Muro ignimbrite (ca. 15 Ma) has a dFHWM value of 4.01 cm, while the Kibe granite and the Sagawa granite, both of which are Cretaceous granitoids, yielded 7.35 and 6.31 cm, respectively. MFT etching of these samples according to the existing recipe (6M HCl at 90C for 60-90 min) was completed at 1200, 860, 210, 120, and 90 min for the Toya ignimbrite, Kurobegawa granodiorite, Muro ignimbrite, Sagawa granite, and Kibe granite, respectively.

Evaluation of suitability of zircon as standard materials based on thermal history; Example of the Wassogatake Formation in Ishikawa Prefecture

Nagata, Mitsuhiro; Nakajima, Toru; Fukuda, Shoma; Sueoka, Shigeru; Yagi, Koshi*; Yokoyama, Tatsunori

Fuisshon, Torakku Nyusureta, (36), p.9 - 13, 2023/12

Zircon U-Pb and fission track (FT) dating and moonstone (sanidine) K-Ar dating of the Wassogatake Formation in the southern part of Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture were carried out as part of the search for zircon standard materials for dating. The weighted average U-Pb dates obtained from the three samples are ca. 21.9-21.7 Ma, overlapping within the uncertainty range. Zircon FT and moonstone K-Ar dates were obtained younger ages from some samples. In addition, the track lengths of the three samples are short. Based on the above results, the zircons of the Wassogatake Formation are effective for the high closure temperature dating method (e.g., U-Pb dating), but are not suitable for the low closure temperature dating method (e.g., FT dating).

Zircon U-Pb dates from the Taiheizan Complex Plutons in Akita Prefecture, NE Japan

Nakajima, Toru; Nagata, Mitsuhiro; Fukuda, Shoma; Sueoka, Shigeru

Chishitsugaku Zasshi (Internet), 129(1), p.503 - 507, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.5575/geosoc.2023.0016

Zircon U-Pb dating was carried out on granitic rocks from plutons in the Taiheizan Complex in Akita Prefecture, NE Japan. Two granodiorites from the Main Intrusive Rocks yielded weighted mean 206Pb/238U dates of 103.41.0 Ma and 115.61.1 Ma (1SE). Three porphyrygranite from the Young Intrusive Rocks yielded weighted mean 206Pb/238U dates of 11.40.1 Ma, 4.70.1Ma, and 4.80.1 Ma (1SE). The older and younger dates can be interpreted as the ages of early and later stages of granitic intrusion at the sampling locations. The Pliocene U-Pb dates suggest that the Nibetsu Body in the Young Intrusive Rocks is one of the youngest granitic plutons currently exposed on Earth.

Annual report for research on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of radioactive waste in fiscal year 2022

Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Koji; Sueoka, Shigeru; Ishihara, Takanori; Ogawa, Hiroki; Hakoiwa, Hiroaki; Watanabe, Tsuyoshi; Nishiyama, Nariaki; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Ogata, Manabu; et al.

JAEA-Research 2023-005, 78 Pages, 2023/10

JAEA-Research-2023-005.pdf:6.51MB

This annual report documents the progress of research and development (R&D) in the 1st fiscal year of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency 4th Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2022-2028) to provide the scientific base for assessing geosphere stability for long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste. The plan framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques. The current status of R&D activities with previous scientific and technological progress is summarized.

An Experiment of complete dissolution of zircon crystals by high-temperature and pressure acid digestion for the (U-Th)/He method

Fukuda, Shoma; Kagami, Saya

Fuisshon, Torakku Nyusureta, (35), p.11 - 14, 2022/12

In this study, we firstly attempted the wet-chemical analyses at Tono Geoscience Center based on a high-temperature and pressure acid digestion for determination of U-Th contents in zircon crystals. In the beginning, zircon crystals were annealed at 900 degrees Celsius for 48 hours to recover radiation damages, and annealed zircons were transferred and sunk into 29 M HF, and finally zircons were digested at 220 degrees Celsius for 70 hours. To verify that zircons were digested completely, Zr contents in zircons were measured as major elements by using ICP-MS (Agilent 7700x) based on the calibration curve method. As a result, theoretical values for Zr contents were obtained, these experimental conditions are thus valid for zircon digestion. Now, we are considering to perform these analyses in the clean booth and to select more appropriate analyses instruments and conditions for decreasing a blank level, which contributes to improve the determination of U-Th contents for zircon (U-Th)/He dating.

Thermochronological data in the Kitakami Mountains and their interpretation

Kajita, Yuya*; Sueoka, Shigeru; Fukuda, Shoma; Tagami, Takahiro*

Fuisshon, Torakku Nyusureta, (35), p.19 - 21, 2022/12

no abstracts in English

Research plan on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of radioactive waste (Scientific program for fiscal year 2022)

Sasao, Eiji; Ishimaru, Tsuneari; Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Akiomi; Shimada, Koji; Watanabe, Takahiro; Sueoka, Shigeru; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Fujita, Natsuko; Ogita, Yasuhiro; et al.

JAEA-Review 2022-022, 29 Pages, 2022/09

JAEA-Review-2022-022.pdf:0.97MB

This report is a plan of research and development (R&D) on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), in fiscal year 2022. The objectives and contents in fiscal year 2022 are described in detail based on the JAEA 4th Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2022-2028). In addition, the background of this research is described from the necessity and the significance for site investigation and safety assessment, and the past progress. The plan framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques

Low-temperature thermochronology of active arc-arc collision zone, South Fossa Magna region, central Japan

Sueoka, Shigeru; Kobayashi, Yumi*; Fukuda, Shoma; Kohn, B. P.*; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Sano, Naomi*; Hasebe, Noriko*; Tamura, Akihiro*; Morishita, Tomoaki*; Tagami, Takahiro*

Tectonophysics, 828, p.229231_1 - 229231_17, 2022/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2022.229231

The South Fossa Magna zone, central Japan, has been an active collision zone between the Honshu Arc and the Izu-Bonin Arc since the middle Miocene and provides an excellent setting for reconstructing the earliest stages of continent formation. Multi-system geo-thermochronometry was applied to different domains of the South Fossa Magna zone, together with some previously published data, to reveal mountain formation processes, i.e., vertical crustal movements. Nine granitic samples yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 10.2-5.8 Ma ( = 2), apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) ages of 42.8-2.6 Ma ( = 7), and apatite fission-track (AFT) ages of 44.1-3.0 Ma ( = 9). Thermal history inversion modeling based on the AHe and AFT data suggested rapid cooling events confined within the study region at 6-2 Ma. The Kanto Mountains may have undergone a domal uplift in association with their collision with the Tanzawa Block at 5 Ma. However, this uplift may have slowed down following the migration of the plate boundary and late Pliocene termination of the Tanzawa collision. The Minobu Mountains and possibly adjacent mountains may have been uplifted by the motional change of the Philippine Sea plate at 3 Ma. Therefore, the mountain formation in the South Fossa Magna zone was mainly controlled by collisions of the Tanzawa and Izu Blocks and motional change of the Philippine Sea plate. Earlier collisions of the Kushigatayama Block at 13 Ma and Misaka Block at 10 Ma appeared to have had little effect on mountain formation. Together with a 90 deg. clockwise rotation of the Kanto Mountains at 12-6 Ma, these observations suggest that horizontal deformation predominated during the earlier stage of arc-arc collision, and vertical movements due to buoyancy resulting from crustal shortening and thickening developed at a later stage.