Bull 055 A geochronological framework for the Gawler Craton, South Australia
Created: 15 Nov 2024 Revised: 15 Nov 2024

This bulletin contains geochronological data and interpretations from the Gawler Craton of South Australia that have been completed by Mark Fanning of The Australian National University, by Geological Survey of South Australia personnel, and by...

This bulletin contains geochronological data and interpretations from the Gawler Craton of South Australia that have been completed by Mark Fanning of The Australian National University, by Geological Survey of South Australia personnel, and by industry and university collaborators. The data have been collected over the period 1992 to 2005 by performing Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) analyses of rock samples, using equipment based at the Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, as part of collaborative research programmes. The geochronology presented in this bulletin builds on the work done throughout the 1970s and early 1980s by Alan Webb and co-workers, who systematically surveyed the crystalline, and in some instances, sedimentary rocks of the Gawler Craton, and other geological provinces of South Australia, using Rb-Sr and K-Ar techniques (Steveson et al., 1971; Webb, 1978; Webb et al., 1982; Webb et al., 1986). However, the relatively low closure temperatures of the Rb-Sr and K-Ar isotopic systems and the mobility of the elements during overprinting thermal or metamorphic events resulted in many of the ages being more indicative of these later events, rather than of the age of rock formation; or else they reflected mixtures thereof. As these early studies were being completed, analysis of the U-Pb isotopic system via thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) became routine, and was applied to zircons from the major rock units of the Gawler Craton (Cooper et al., 1985; Fanning et al., 1988). The results of Fanning et al. (1988), in particular, provided a useful platform for the numerous other geochronological studies that were undertaken across the craton throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s. Our understanding of the crustal evolution of the Gawler Craton was further refined with the application of the high spatial resolution afforded by the SHRIMP instrumentation. The ca. 15 to 30 mm diameter spot size that characterises a SHRIMP analysis allows the study of small portions within individual zircon crystals. Because it has been found that zircon grains may record evidence of an earlier magmatic or metamorphic history within their crystal structure (e.g. Black et al., 1986), the spatial resolution of the SHRIMP tool provides a means for examining the fine-scale geochronological relationships preserved within complex zircon grains. This is extremely useful, since zircon is a common rock - forming accessory mineral that is able to survive metamorphism and melting, and thus is able to record evidence within an individual crystal of more than one magmatic or metamorphic cycle. The data reported herein have been collected over an extended period of time with the use of successively different design SHRIMP ion microprobes (types I, II and RG). Furthermore, the data were collected for a variety of purposes, ranging from reconnaissance to more detailed studies, and the mechanisms of data collection have been significantly refined as SHRIMP methods and understanding have developed over the 15-year period. Notably, when the SHRIMP program was intiated, cathodluminescence (CL) imaging of the sectioned zircon grains was not a standard part of the analytical protocol, as it did not come into use until the mid-1990s. Thus much of the SHRIMP I data from the early 1990s must be considered reconnaissance in nature, and such data is presented here in the interests of making it available on the public record, particularly as some of the ages have been presented in previous reports without a full data tabulation to support the geochronological interpretation. In all instances, however, the SHRIMP data have been reprocessed and so standardised to a common platform using SQUID software (Ludwig, 2001). Consequently, some of the ages presented here may differ slightly from those quoted in their original place of citation. Future use of the age of various units should therefore be referenced to this report. Age calculations, concordia plots and relative probability figures in this bulletin have been generated using ISOPLOT (Ludwig, 2003). The errors listed in the tables are given at the one sigma level, and the data have been plotted on concordia diagrams at this acceptance level. However, weighted mean ages and concordia intercept ages are presented as 95% confidence limits. The decay constants used are those recommended by the IUGS Subcommission on Geochronology (Steiger and Jäger, 1977). The featured samples are discussed according to geographic area of origin, within chapter sections reserved for the southern, central western and northern Gawler Craton. Two-thirds of the samples came from outcropping rocks, while the remainder were derived from drill cores.

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About this record

Record No 2018d037833
Topic Geoscientific Information
Type of Resource Document
Category Type
Document Type Departmental Publication - Bulletin
Contributor The Australian National University. Research School of Earth Sciences;PIRSA Minerals and Energy Div. Geological Survey Branch;Graham Teale and Associates Pty Ltd
Sponsor
Tenement
Tenement Holder
Operator
Geological Province
Mine Name
Stratigraphy
Commodity
Notes
Geographic Locality: Eyre Peninsula;Drummond Point;Mount Dutton;Mount Hope;Coffin Bay Peninsula;Lake Hamilton;Refuge Rocks;Bratten Cairn;The Frenchman;Plug Range;Chinmina Farm;Tumby Bay;Glengarra Station;Coles Point;Caralue Bluff;Tod River...

Geographic Locality: Eyre Peninsula;Drummond Point;Mount Dutton;Mount Hope;Coffin Bay Peninsula;Lake Hamilton;Refuge Rocks;Bratten Cairn;The Frenchman;Plug Range;Chinmina Farm;Tumby Bay;Glengarra Station;Coles Point;Caralue Bluff;Tod River Reservoir;Memory Cove;Cape Colbert;Kangaroo Island;Emu Bay;Spencer Gulf;Spilsby Island;Wardang Island;Yorke Peninsula;Moonta;Kadina;Bute;Wallaroo;Point Riley;Poverty Corner;Tunkillia;Childara Outstation;Little Pinbong Rockhole;Ceduna;Yarlbrinda Hill;Emmie Bluff;Menninnie Dam;Arcoordaby Rockhole;Calca Quarry;Yerda Shear Zone;Coorabie Shear Zone;Nundroo;Colona Homestead;Karari Shear Zone;Lake Ifould;Pidinga Tank;Coorabie Quarry;Barton Siding;White Gin Rockhole;Lake Tallacootra;Tallacootra Shear Zone;Lake Harris;Kokatha;Hornfels Hill;Mount Christie;Mount Eba;Mulgathing Station;Wynbring Rocks;Tarcoola;Paragon Bore;Peake and Denison Ranges;Peake Hill;Spring Hill;Mount Kingston;Lagoon Hill Doc No: Bull 055 Drillhole: MHAC16;MHAC19;MHAC12;LINC48;Broad View 1;Investigator 1;Spilsby DDH11;East Moonta DDH2;Devon DDH1;Bute DDH25;Bute DDH50;LED10;SAE11;MD30;Ooldea DDH2;Nundroo DDH2;NDR13;Colona DDH43;BAC23;TARDD92;Lake Harris DDH2;Blackfellow Hill DDH1;TD1;CR91-19;(188549);CR91-25;(188554);AM/PB2;Mallabie DDH1 Drillhole Unit No: 5929 00507;5929 00510;5929 00504;5929 00462;6131 00124;6426 00501;6128 00014;6429 00075;6430 00216;6530 00541;6430 00549;5835 00051;6235 00080;6132 00517;5236 00007;5334 00161;5334 00141;5235 00068;5336 00218;5836 00685;5935 00163;5637 00126;5836 01258;5739 00381;5739 00378;5640 00037;5034 00004

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Language English
Metadata Standard ISO 19115-3

Citations

Use constraints License
License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Persistent identifier https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/2018d037833
Citation Fanning, C.M.;Reid, A.J.;Teale, G.S. Bull 055 A geochronological framework for the Gawler Craton, South Australia. Departmental Publication - Bulletin. Government of South Australia.
https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/2018d037833

Technical information

Status
Maintenance and Update Frequency
Geographic Reference GDA2020 (EPSG:7844)
Geo bounding box {"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[130.5,-36],[139.5,-36],[139.5,-27],[130.5,-27],[130.5,-36]]]}
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