Classifying zircon: A machine-learning approach using zircon geochemistry

This study presented a novel, rapid, and accurate method for determining zircon origin via a comprehensive analysis of a dataset containing 27,818 zircon trace element sets. This method integrated back propagation neural networks with the AdaBoost algorithm. The optimal classifier characterized as a linear combination of a two-layer neural network model, comprised 100 base classifiers and 400 hidden neurons. It was rigorously trained over 1000 iterations, which resulted in an unbiased error rate of 8.31%. To facilitate practical application, the classifier was integrated into a macro-enabled Excel spreadsheet.