I think it is possible to use monazite minerals just like it has been done with zircons. U-Pb dating of such monazites and ages obtained could link to the parent rock from which such sediments came from. In the case of zircons, their typology can also be a good tool to trace their provenance.

Dear Uriah,

Thanks for your comment. I am currently working on zircon, and hope to develop a research project on monazite. I had worked on rutile, corundums, and chrysoberyl. I will soon submit a research paper on three indicator mineral (zircon, corundum and chrysoberyl).

Monazite can crystallize in metamorphic and  magmatic rocks. What can be trace elementary difference between a magmatic and metamorphic source monazite? The Th/U dating will lead directly to the age of the source rock. But how can  we understand the petrogenetic history of the crystallized monazite?

Dear Uriah,

I have just come across with your question. Please find attached a paper in which your question may find an answer for monazite and zircon:

DILL, H.G., WEBER, B. and KLOSA, D. (2012) Crystal morphology and mineral chemistry of monazite–zircon mineral assemblages in continental placer deposits (SE Germany):Ore guide and provenance marker.- Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 112: 322-346.

You will find more studies on provencance analysis on my RG profile . If you cannot dowload a paper your are interested in, please  let me know this and I will send you a copy of these papers on request.

Good luck !

Harald G. Dill

Dear Professor,

Thanks for the paper.  In my PhD research Thesis, I red and refered your papers on  zircon ( example  Dill et al., 2009). How can I download this paper (Dill et al., 2012)?

In my recently submitted paper entitled: A possible links between the Mamfe sedimentary basin and two west African Megastructures ( The Cameroon Volcanic Line and Benue Trough): evidence from geochronology correlations'; I used Dill et al. (2009) suggestions to support my discussion.

Professor, we have the same research ( petrogenetic and provenance studies of depositions). I  have submitted a PhD research Thesis entitled: 'Geology of the Western Mamfe Corundum deposits, SW Cameroon: Petrography, geochemistry, geochronology, genesis and origin'. Three research papers have been published  from this Thesis ( Kanouo et al. 2012a,b,c; see my publications on researchgate). The other paper  entitled:A possible links between the Mamfe sedimentary basin and two west African Megastructures ( The Cameroon Volcanic Line and Benue Trough): evidence from geochronology correlations' is under review. 

Can I contact you for any preoccupation?

Cordially

Dear Professor,

Can we work on the Mamfe Sedimentary Basin. This basin have limited data. I would  like to use detrital zircon geochemistry and U-Pb dating for basin reconstitution and provenance study of the lithified clasts in the western part of the basin. This part of the basin is covered by clastic rocks of the Cross River Formation of Le Fur (1965). The age of rocks found in this formation is assumed to Cretaceous (Dumort, 1968). My recent study of overlying corundum placer deposits shows that most zircon clasts found in the placers are Cenozoic in age. Igneous and metamorphic rocks from which the zircon could be sorted are very far from the placers (the placers are exclusively in the sedimentary part of the Basin).

I will be happy to work with you, and in your laboratory.

Dear Mr. Sylvestre,

I am glad to hear that your Ph.D. studies benefited from our research on placer deposits and heavy mineral analysis. I am open for a cooperation like that and still interested in this topic. As far as the papers of mine are concerned, send me a request through RG and I will send you a digital copy of them for your personal use.

For now best regards

Harald G. Dill

Dear Professor,

Thanks for this reply. I will really be happy to work in collaboration with you, on heavy mineral and placers studies. Most of the currently mined gold and corundum in Cameroon are found in placers, with few paleo-placers. Their origin and provenance are still not well known. With your collaboration we can develop large projects on placers deposits and lithified clasts found in some area in Cameroon (example Mamfe Basin, Djerem Basin, and Garoua Basin.)

I will be glad to work with you.

 You can send your paper; Dill et al (2012) to this address:[email protected] This  is my personal address. I will send the table of content of My PhD research Thesis for you to see on which aspect I have work.

Cordially

Dear Professor,

The attached file is a copy of the Table of Content of my submitted PhD Research Thesis. I would present thisThesis before the 15 of next month. This PhD research was submitted since 01-01-2014. But, because of admistrative dilay, the authorization for its presentation is still to be issued. Experts gave a positive comment for this Thesis since 15-05-2014. But the admistration in Cameroon in slow.

I hope to read your reply. I hope to visit Germany next year for research. I hope to come to your Laboratory next year.

Cordially

Dear Professor,

The attached file is a copy of the Table of Content of my submitted PhD Research Thesis. I would present thisThesis before the 15 of next month. This PhD research was submitted since 01-01-2014. But, because of admistrative dilay, the authorization for its presentation is still to be issued. Experts gave a positive comment for this Thesis since 15-05-2014. But the admistration in Cameroon in slow.

I hope to read your reply. I hope to visit Germany next year for research. I hope to come to your Laboratory next year.

Cordially

Dear Professor

Good morning.

The attached files are images of coarse- grained heavy minerals from the Western Mamfe corundum placers. If possible, I  will also send the images of microscopic size heavy minerals from those gem placers, and from sedimentary rocks around the placers. 

Dear Mr. Kanouo,

thank you very much for your photographs which are impressive.

Best regards

Harald G. Dill