Magnetic fabrics of Paleozoic rocks across the Lachlan Transverse Zone from eastern New South Wales ∗

The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) was systematically measured for samples collected across the Lachlan Transverse Zone in the Eastern Subprovince of the Lachlan Orogen, New South Wales. Although the degree of anisotropy is usually moderate to low, it can be shown that the origin of the magnetic fabric is generally composite. Many localities are witness to a tectonic influence in addition to a magnetic foliation preserved from the time of rock formation (compaction). Furthermore, some localities indicate the presence of superimposed magnetic fabrics, potentially associated with a Silurian east–west direction of shortening, and a younger north–south (?) direction of shortening. Finally, the progressive southwards change in orientation of the magnetic lineation in the Molong area from north–south to east–west and then back to north–south again south of the Lyndhurst–Neville Fault suggests that the Lachlan Transverse Zone coincides with, and reflects, a major cross-structure in the Eastern Subprovince. AMS is thus a powerful tool to help map the fabric of Paleozoic rocks in the Tasmanides. Additional data will be required to help obtain a comprehensive picture of the tectonic history of the region.     

Seismic interpretation of crustal structure in the flinders‐mt lofty ranges and gulf regions,South Australia

There appears to be little correlation of earthquake epicentres with known surface geological features in South Australia. Seismic wave travel‐time residuals are used to derive corrections for the velocity and depth parameters for the simple uniform crustal model which approximates to that in South Australia. Local studies of Moho depth in the seismic zone and analysis of travel‐time station corrections from both local earthquake and teleseismic data suggest that lateral and vertical variations in the South Australian crust are small. Data presented in this paper appear to be consistent with a plate tectonic model derived from focal mechanism studies (Stewart & Mount, 1972) for the active South Australian seismic zones.     

Isotopic constraints on crustal architecture and Permo‐Triassic tectonics in New Guinea: Possible links with eastern Australia

New U–Pb zircon ages and Sr–Nd isotopic data for Triassic igneous and metamorphic rocks from northern New Guinea help constrain models of the evolution of Australia's northern and eastern margin. These data provide further evidence for an Early to Late Triassic volcanic arc in northern New Guinea, interpreted to have been part of a continuous magmatic belt along the Gondwana margin, through South America, Antarctica, New Zealand, the New England Fold Belt, New Guinea and into southeast Asia. The Early to Late Triassic volcanic arc in northern New Guinea intrudes high‐grade metamorphic rocks probably resulting from Late Permian to Early Triassic (ca 260–240 Ma) orogenesis, as recorded in the New England Fold Belt. Late Triassic magmatism in New Guinea (ca 220 Ma) is related to coeval extension and rifting as a precursor to Jurassic breakup of the Gondwana margin. In general, mantle‐like Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of mafic Palaeozoic to Tertiary granitoids appear to rule out the presence of a North Australian‐type Proterozoic basement under the New Guinea Mobile Belt. Parts of northern New Guinea may have a continental or transitional basement whereas adjacent areas are underlain by oceanic crust. It is proposed that the post‐breakup margin comprised promontories of extended Proterozoic‐Palaeozoic continental crust separated by embayments of oceanic crust, analogous to Australia's North West Shelf. Inferred movement to the south of an accretionary prism through the Triassic is consistent with subduction to the south‐southwest beneath northeast Australia generating arc‐related magmatism in New Guinea and the New England Fold Belt.     

Ordovician‐Silurian accretion tectonics of the Lachlan Fold Belt,southeastern Australia

Palaeolatitude data obtained from palaeomagnetic studies of Australian formations are described and compared with the palaeoclimatic zones inferred from geological observations. The two techniques produce results which agree for most of the Palaeozoic. Only for the Early Cambrian (and late Proterozoic) and Mesozoic do the climatic indicators appear to contradict the palaeolatitude evidence. It is pointed out that each of these geological intervals follows immediately a period of widespread glaciation.     

Geological interpretation of a deep seismic‐reflection transect across the boundary between the Delamerian and Lachlan Orogens,in the vicinity of the Grampians,western Victoria

A deep seismic‐reflection transect in western Victoria was designed to provide insights into the structural relationship between the Lachlan and the Delamerian Orogens. Three seismic lines were acquired to provide images of the subsurface from west of the Grampians Range to east of the Stawell‐Ararat Fault Zone. The boundary between the Delamerian and Lachlan Orogens is now generally considered to be the Moyston Fault. In the vicinity of the seismic survey, this fault is intruded by a near‐surface granite, but at depth the fault dips to the east, confirming recent field mapping. East of the Moyston Fault, the uppermost crust is very weakly reflective, consisting of short, non‐continuous, west‐dipping reflections. These weak reflections represent rocks of the Lachlan Orogen and are typical of the reflective character seen on other seismic images from elsewhere in the Lachlan Orogen. Within the Lachlan Orogen, the Pleasant Creek Fault is also east dipping and approximately parallel to the Moyston Fault in the plane of the seismic section. Rocks of the Delamerian Orogen in the vicinity of the seismic line occur below surficial cover to the west of the Moyston Fault. Generally, the upper crust is only weakly reflective, but subhorizontal reflections at shallow depths (up to 3 km) represent the Grampians Group. The Escondida Fault appears to stop below the Grampians Group, and has an apparent gentle dip to the east. Farther east, the Golton and Mehuse Faults are also east dipping. The middle to lower crust below the Delamerian Orogen is strongly reflective, with several major antiformal structures in the middle crust. The Moho is a slightly undulating horizon at the base of the highly reflective middle to lower crust at 11–12 s TWT (approximately 35 km depth). Tectonically, the western margin of the Lachlan Orogen has been thrust over the Delamerian Orogen for a distance of at least 25 km, and possibly over 40 km.     

Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr dating of Archaean gneisses,eastern Yilgarn Block,Western Australia

Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr isotopic data for Archaean gneisses from three localities within the eastern Yilgarn Block of Western Australia indicate that the gneisses define a precise Rb‐Sr whole rock isochron age of 2780 ± 60 Ma and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7007 ± 5. The Sm‐Nd isotopic data do not correspond to a single linear array, but form two coherent groups that are consistent with a c. 2800 Ma age of crust formation, with variable initial Nd. These results indicate that the gneiss protoliths existed as continental crust for a maximum period of only c. 100 Ma, and probably for a much shorter time, prior to the formation of the 2790 ±30 Ma greenstones.     

East Antarctic sources of extensive Lower–Middle Ordovician turbidites in the Lachlan Orogen,southern Tasmanides,eastern Australia

Lower to upper Middle Ordovician quartz-rich turbidites form the bedrock of the Lachlan Orogen in the southern Tasmanides of eastern Australia and occupy a present-day deformed volume of ～2–3 million km³. We have used U–Pb and Hf-isotope analyses of detrital zircons in biostratigraphically constrained turbiditic sandstones from three separate terranes of the Lachlan Orogen to investigate possible source regions and to compare similarities and differences in zircon populations. Comparison with shallow-water Lower Ordovician sandstones deposited on the subsiding margin of the Gondwana craton suggests different source regions, with Grenvillian zircons in shelf sandstones derived from the Musgrave Province in central Australia, and Panafrican sources in shelf sandstones possibly locally derived. All Ordovician turbiditic sandstone samples in the Lachlan Orogen are dominated by ca 490–620 Ma (late Panafrican) and ca 950–1120 Ma (late Grenvillian) zircons that are sourced mainly from East Antarctica. Subtle differences between samples point to different sources. In particular, the age consistency of late Panafrican zircon data from the most inboard of our terranes (Castlemaine Group, Bendigo Terrane) suggests they may have emanated directly from late Grenvillian East Antarctic belts, such as in Dronning Maud Land and subglacial extensions that were reworked in the late Panafrican. Changes in zircon data in the more outboard Hermidale and Albury-Bega terranes are more consistent with derivation from the youngest of four sedimentary sequences of the Ross Orogen of Antarctica (Cambrian–Ordovician upper Byrd Group, Liv Group and correlatives referred to here as sequence 4) and/or from the same mixture of sources that supplied that sequence. These sources include uncommon ca 650 Ma rift volcanics, late Panafrican Ross arc volcanics, now largely eroded, and some <545 Ma Granite Harbour Intrusives, representing the roots of the Ross Orogen continental-margin arc. Unlike farther north, Granite Harbour Intrusives between the Queen Maud and Pensacola mountains of the southern Ross Orogen contain late Grenvillian zircon xenocrysts (derived from underlying relatively juvenile basement), as well as late Panafrican magmatic zircons, and are thus able to supply sequence 4 and the Lachlan Ordovician turbidites with both these populations. Other zircons and detrital muscovites in the Lachlan Ordovician turbidites were derived from relatively juvenile inland Antarctic sources external to the orogen (e.g. Dronning Maud Land, Sør Rondane and a possible extension of the Pinjarra Orogen) either directly or recycled through older sedimentary sequences 2 (Beardmore and Skelton groups) and 3 (e.g. Hannah Ridge Formation) in the Ross Orogen. Shallow-water, forearc basin sequence 4 sediments (or their sources) fed turbidity currents into outboard, deeper-water parts of the forearc basin and led to deposition of the Ordovician turbidites ～2500–3400 km to the north in backarc-basin settings of the Lachlan Orogen.     

Exotic crustal block accretion to the eastern Gondwanaland margin in the Late Cambrian–Tasmania,the Selwyn Block,and implications for the Cambrian–Silurian evolution of the Ross,Delamerian, and Lachlan orogens

Reconstructions of the Cambrian–Silurian tectonic evolution of eastern Gondwanaland, when the Australian Tasmanides and Antarctic Ross Orogen developed, rely on correlation between structural elements in SE Australia and Northern Victoria Land (NVL), Antarctica. A variety of published models exist but none completely solve the tectonic puzzle that is the Delamerian–Lachlan transition in the Tasmanides. This paper summarizes the understanding of Cambrian (Delamerian) to Silurian (Lachlan) geological evolution of the eastern Tasmanides, taking into account new deep seismic data that clarifies the geological connection between Victoria and Tasmania — the ‘Selwyn Block’ model. It evaluates previous attempts at correlation between NVL, Tasmania and Victoria, and presents a new scenario that encompasses the most robust correlations. Tasmania together with the Selwyn Block is reinterpreted as an exotic Proterozoic microcontinental block – ‘VanDieland’ – that collided into the east Gondwanaland margin south of western Victoria, and north of NVL in the Late Cambrian, perhaps terminating the Delamerian Orogeny in SE Australia. Subsequent north-east ‘tectonic escape’ of VanDieland in the Early Ordovician explains the present-day outboard position of Tasmania with respect to the rest of the Delamerian orogen, the origin of the hiatus that separates the Delamerian and Lachlan orogenic cycles in Australia, and how western Lachlan oceanic crust developed as a ‘trapped plate-segment’. The model establishes a new structural template for subsequent Lachlan Orogen development and Mesozoic Australia–Antarctica separation.     

Palaeogeography and crustal evolution of the Ossa–Morena Zone,southwest Iberia,and the North Gondwana margin during the Cambro-Ordovician: a review of isotopic evidence

Cambro-Ordovician palaeogeography and fragmentation of the North Gondwana margin is still not very well understood. Here we address this question using isotopic data to consider the crustal evolution and palaeogeographic position of the, North Gondwana, Iberian Massif Ossa–Morena Zone (OMZ). The OMZ preserves a complex tectonomagmatic history: late Neoproterozoic Cadomian orogenesis (ca. 650–550 Ma); Cambro-Ordovician rifting (ca. 540–450 Ma); and Variscan orogenesis (ca. 390–305 Ma). We place this evolution in the context of recent North Gondwana Cambro-Ordovician palaeogeographic reconstructions that suggest more easterly positions, adjacent to the Sahara Metacraton, for other Iberian Massif zones. To do this we compiled an extensive new database of published late Proterozoic–Palaeozoic Nd model ages and detrital and magmatic zircon age data for (i) the Iberian Massif and (ii) North Gondwana Anti-Atlas West African Craton, Tuareg Shield, and Sahara Metacraton. The Nd model ages of OMZ Cambro-Ordovician crustal-derived magmatism and Ediacaran-Ordovician sedimentary rocks range from ca. 1.9 to 1.6 Ga, with a mode ca. 1.7 Ga. They show the greatest affinity with the Tuareg Shield, with limited contribution of more juvenile material from the Anti-Atlas West African Craton. This association is supported by detrital zircons that have Archaean, Palaeoproterozic, and Neoproterozoic radiometric ages similar to the aforementioned Iberian Massif zones. However, an OMZ Mesoproterozoic gap, with no ca. 1.0 Ga cluster, is different from other zones but, once more, similar to the westerly Tuareg Shield distribution. This places the OMZ in a more easterly position than previously thought but still further west than other Iberian zones. It has been proposed that in the Cambro-Ordovician the North Gondwana margin rifted as the Rheic Ocean opened diachronously from west to east. Thus, the more extensive rift-related magmatism in the westerly OMZ than in other, more easterly, Iberian Massif zones fits our new proposed palaeogeographic reconstruction.     

Origin,petrogenesis and geodynamic implications of the early Eocene Altınpınar adakitic andesites in the eastern Sakarya Zone,northeastern Turkey

Early Cenozoic magmatism in the eastern Sakarya Zone (NE Turkey) provides an important constraint on the regional tectono-magmatic evolution of the region. Early Eocene syn-collisional adakitic rocks are observed as small stocks with outcropping areas commonly less than 10 km². This study presents petrography, whole-rock geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope data, as well as in-situ ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age constraints on one of these adakitic andesites in the Altınpınar area of Gümüşhane, and discusses source region, petrological processes and geodynamic setting prevailed during their genesis. Andesites commonly show microlitic porphyric and vitrophyric porphyric textures, and include significant amounts of mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs). Plagioclase, hornblende, Fe-Ti oxides and minor pyroxene are the main mineral phases. In-situ ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar amphibole dating constrains the cooling age of andesites into a time span from 52.8 ± 1.3–48.8 ± 1.9 Ma. Andesites are medium to high-K calc-alkaline and display most of the signatures typical of those of the adakites. They are characterized by moderate MgO (1.7–4.1 wt%), low Y (9−14 ppm), Yb (0.9–1.5 ppm), and HREE and high Sr (325−964 ppm) contents, and high Sr/Y (36–76) ratios. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(t) (0.704948−0.705100) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(t) (0.512588−0.512628) ratios are in the isotopic range of the adakites. All these geochemical and isotopic data suggest that the parental magma of adakitic andesites has been produced by partial melting of oceanic basalts under amphibole-eclogite facies conditions during the breakoff of the northern Neotethyan oceanic slab.     

Sr and Nd isotopic investigations towards the origin of feldspar megacrysts in microgranular enclaves in two I‐type plutons of the Lachlan Fold Belt,southeast Australia

New Sr and Nd isotopic data are presented for several large feldspar crystals occurring in microgranular enclaves in the Swifts Creek and Bridle Track plutons, along with analyses of their host enclave groundmass and adjacent granitoid. In the Swifts Creek Pluton several previous studies have concluded that the microgranular enclaves represent admixed, more mafic and more primitive magmas, and new data presented here confirm that. Feldspar megacrysts in the microgranular enclaves have Sr and Nd isotopic signatures that are distinct from the surrounding enclave groundmass and from other enclaves in the pluton and therefore cannot have crystallised in situ. Isotopic compositions of these feldspars are more consistent with their having crystallised in a reservoir similar in composition to the most primitive granitoid analyses. The crystals were then physically transferred from the granitoid magma into the enclave while the latter was still partially liquid, thus invalidating arguments for a porphyroblastic origin. Field, petrographic and geochemical data are consistent with microgranular enclaves in the Bridle Track pluton also originating as admixed, more mafic magmas. However, Sr isotopic compositions of the enclaves are identical, within error, to the host granite and indicate that significant Sr isotopic equilibration has occurred. Nd isotopic compositions of the enclaves extend to slightly higher ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) and are consistent with a mingled magma origin followed by major isotopic equilibration. Feldspar phenocrysts in the studied enclave have isotopic compositions indistinguishable from both the enclave groundmass and host granite, preventing an interpretation of their origin using isotopic evidence alone.     

Chronology and evolution of the Middle Proterozoic Albany‐Fraser Orogen,Western Australia

Geochemical and Sm‐Nd isotopic data, and 19 ion‐microprobe U‐Pb zircon dates are reported for gneiss and granite from the eastern part of the Albany‐Fraser Orogen. The orogen is dominated by granitic rocks derived from sources containing both Late Archaean and mantle‐derived components. Four major plutonic episodes have been identified at ca 2630 Ma, 1700–1600 Ma, ca 1300 Ma and ca 1160 Ma. Orthogneiss, largely derived from ca 2630 Ma and 1700–1600 Ma granitic precursors, forms a belt along the southeastern margin of the Yilgarn Craton. These rocks, together with gabbro of the Fraser Complex, were intruded by granitic magmas and metamorphosed in the granulite facies at ca 1300 Ma. They were then rapidly uplifted and transported westward along low‐angle thrust faults over the southeastern margin of the Yilgarn Craton. Between ca 1190 and 1130 Ma, granitic magmas were intruded throughout the eastern part of the orogen. These new data are integrated into a review of the geological evolution of the Albany‐Fraser Orogen and adjacent margin of eastern Antarctica, and possibly related rocks in the Musgrave Complex and Gawler Craton.     

Geochronology,geochemistry, and petrogenesis of the Maçka subvolcanic intrusions: implications for the Late Cretaceous magmatic and geodynamic evolution of the eastern part of the Sakarya Zone,northeastern Turkey

The Maçka subvolcanic intrusions (MSIs) in the eastern part of the Sakarya zone, northeastern Turkey, play a critical role in understanding the petrogenetic and geodynamic processes that took place during the growth of Late Cretaceous arc crust of this region. U–Pb zircon (79.97 ± 0.97 Ma) and two ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar amphibole ages (average 81.37 ± 0.5 Ma) indicate that the MSIs were emplaced in Late Cretaceous (Campanian) time into the coeval volcanic rocks. A slightly younger zircon fission track (FT) age (73 ± 9 Ma) points to a rapid exhumation and cooling after crystallization. The intrusions are observed in areas less than 1 km² in the field and contain abundant mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs). The host rocks (HRs) are entirely composed of tonalite (SiO₂ = 63–65 wt.%, Mg# = 43–52), and the MMEs are gabbro-diorite in composition (SiO₂ = 53–57 wt.%, Mg# = 45–48). Both the HRs and the MMEs are I-type, high-K calc-alkaline in composition and display a metaluminous character. They are characterized by geochemical features typical for magmas of subduction-related environments. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns are moderately fractionated [(La/Yb)_N = 6–11] and display slightly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.7–0.9), with weak concave-upward REE patterns, suggesting that amphibole fractionation played a role during their evolution. The MMEs have slightly different I_Sr (0.7081–0.7085) and ε_Nd (?5.0 to ?5.4) values compared with those of their HRs (I_Sr = 0.7084–0.7087 and ε_Nd = ?5.7 to ?6.9), indicating that variable amounts of crustal and mantle components were involved in the generation of parental magma to these rocks. All of these data, combined with those of previous regional studies, suggest that the MSIs are hybrid in origin, produced by the mixing of enriched lithospheric mantle- and lower crust-derived melts in an extensional arc setting that was caused by slab rollback.     

The age,extent and geomorphological significance of the Sassafras basalt,south‐eastern New South Wales

Basalt at Sassafras was erupted in the Middle Eocene. The K‐Ar ages average 45.3 ± 4.9 Ma on whole rock and 48.4 ± 1.9 Ma on plagioclase. The basalt is not limited to a plateau capping, but extends 150 m down into adjacent valleys. Comparison with nearby Eocene basalts shows that there was in excess of 250 m of local relief in the central Shoalhaven valley by the Early Tertiary. The basalts were extruded at high elevation, and denudation of the coastal margin of the upland was already well advanced. Post‐basaltic denudation has been very slow, and the Early Tertiary landscape is well preserved.     

Mesoproterozoic Fraser Complex: Geochemical evidence for multiple subduction‐related sources of lower crustal rocks in the Albany‐Fraser Orogen,Western Australia

The 1300 Ma Fraser Complex in the Albany‐Fraser Orogen of Western Australia is a thrust stack of mainly gabbroic rocks metamorphosed to granulite facies. This package of fault‐bounded units was elevated from a deep crustal level onto the margin of the Yilgarn Craton during continental collision between the Mawson and Yilgarn Cratons. Incompatible trace‐element distributions demand at least three mantle sources. Primitive‐mantle‐normalised incompatible‐element distributions show strong negative Ta–Nb anomalies, typical of subduction‐derived magmas. Three lines of evidence indicate that the mafic magmas did not acquire these anomalies by assimilation of crustal rocks: (i) major‐element compositions do not allow appreciable contamination with felsic material; (ii) Ni contents of many mafic rocks are too high for a significant contribution from a felsic assimilant; and (iii) Sr and Nd isotopic data support a largely juvenile source for the magmas that produced the Fraser Complex. Hence, the Ta–Nb anomalies are interpreted to reflect subduction‐related magmatic sources. On multielement diagrams, depletions in Sr, Eu, P, and Ti can be explained by fractional crystallisation, whereas Th and Rb depletions in many of the Fraser Complex rocks probably reflect losses during granulite‐facies metamorphism. These results suggest that the lower crust in this region at 1300 Ma was dominantly of arc origin, and there is no evidence to support mantle plume components. The Fraser Complex is interpreted as remnants of oceanic arcs that were swept together and tectonically interleaved with the margin of the Mawson Craton just before, or during, collision with the Yilgarn Craton at 1300 Ma.     

Fission track data from the Bathurst Batholith: Evidence for rapid mid‐Cretaceous uplift and erosion within the eastern highlands of Australia

Apatite fission track thermochronology reveals that uplift and erosion occurred during the mid‐Cretaceous within the Bathurst Batholith region of the eastern highlands, New South Wales. Apatite fission track ages from samples from the eastern flank of the highlands range between ca 73 and 139 Ma. The mean lengths of confined fission tracks for these samples are > 13 μm with standard deviations of the track length distributions between 1 and 2 μm. These data suggest that rocks exposed along the eastern flank of the highlands were nearly reset as the result of being subjected to palaeotemperatures in the range of approximately 100–110°C, prior to being cooled relatively quickly through to temperatures < 50°C in the mid‐Cretaceous at ca 90 Ma. In contrast, samples from the western flank of the highlands yield apparent apatite ages as old as 235 Ma and mean track lengths < 12.5 μm, with standard deviations between 1.8 and 3 μm. These old apatite ages and relatively short track lengths suggest that the rocks were exposed to maximum palaeotemperatures between approximately 80° and 100°C prior to the regional cooling episode. This cooling is interpreted to be the result of kilometre‐scale uplift and erosion of the eastern highlands in the mid‐Cretaceous, and the similarity in timing of uplift and erosion within the highlands and initial extension along the eastern Australian passive margin prior to breakup (ca 95 Ma) strongly suggests these two occurrences are related.     

Sulfur isotope distribution in Late Silurian volcanic‐hosted massive sulfide deposits of the Hill End Trough,eastern Lachlan Fold Belt,New South Wales

Volcanic‐hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits of the eastern Lachlan Fold Belt of New South Wales represent a VHMS district of major importance. Despite the metallogenic importance of this terrane, few data have been published for sulfur isotope distribution in the deposits, with the exception of previously published studies on Captains Flat and Woodlawn (Captains Flat‐Goulburn Trough) and Sunny Corner (Hill End Trough). Here is presented 105 new sulfur isotope analyses and collation of a further 92 analyses from unpublished sources on an additional 12 of the VHMS systems in the Hill End Trough. Measured δ³⁴S values range from ‐7.4% to 38.3%, mainly for massive and stockwork mineralisation. Sulfur isotope signatures for polymetallic sulfide mineralisation from the Lewis Ponds, Mt Bulga, Belara and Accost deposits (group 1) are all very similar and vary from ‐1.7% to 5.9%. Ore‐forming fluids for these deposits were likely to have been reducing, with sulfur derived largely from a magmatic source, either as a direct magmatic contribution accompanying felsic volcanism or indirectly through dissolution and recycling of rock sulfide in host volcanic sequences. Sulfur isotope signatures for sulfide mineralisation from the Calula, Commonwealth, Cordillera and Kempfield deposits, Peelwood mine and Sunny Corner (group 2) are similar and have average δ³⁴S values ranging from 5.4% to 8.1%. These deposits appear to have formed from ore fluids that were more oxidising than group 1 deposits, representing a mixed contribution of sulfur derived from partial reduction of seawater sulfate, in addition to sulfur from other sources. The δ³⁴S values for massive sulfides from the John Fardy deposit are the highest in the present study and have a range of 11.9–14.5%, suggesting a greater component of sulfur of seawater origin compared to other VHMS deposits in the Hill End Trough. For barite the sulfur isotope composition for samples from the Commonwealth, Stringers and Kempfield deposits ranges from 12.6% to 38.3%. More than 75% of barite samples have a sulfur isotope composition between 23.4 and 30.6%, close to the previously published estimates of the composition of seawater sulfate during Late Silurian to earliest Devonian times, providing supporting evidence that these deposits formed concurrently with the Late Silurian volcanic event. Sulfur isotope distribution appears to be independent of the host rock unit, although there appears to be a relation linking the sulfur isotope composition of different deposits to defined centres of felsic volcanism. The Mt Bulga, Lewis Ponds and Accost systems are close to coherent felsic volcanic rocks and/or intrusions and have sulfur isotope signatures with a stronger magmatic affinity than group 2 deposits. By contrast, group 2 deposits (including John Fardy) are characterised by ³⁴S‐enrichment and a lesser magmatic signature, are generally confined to clastic units and reworked volcanogenic sediments with lesser coherent volcanics in the local stratigraphy, and are interpreted to have formed distal from the magmatic source. An exception is the Belara deposit, which is hosted by reworked felsic volcanic rocks and has a more pronounced magmatic sulfur isotope signature.     

Petrography and origin of granulite‐facies rocks in the Western Musgrave Block,Central Australia

The granulite‐facies rocks in the Tomkinson Ranges of central Australia are dominated by layered felsic (quartzofeldspathic) gneisses with minor interbanded mafic, calcareous, ferruginous, and quartzitic granulites. They are regarded as representing a middle Proterozoic metasedimentary and/or metavolcanic sequence which has undergone anhydrous granulite‐facies metamorphism approximately 1200 m.y. ago. Conditions of metamorphism have been derived from a petrogenetic grid based on several experimentally determined reactions and give estimates of 10–11 kb pressure and 950–1000°C. Such metamorphism could take place close to the base of the crust with a moderate geothermal gradient of 25–30°C/km.     

Rubidium‐strontium geochronology of the encounter bay granite and adjacent Metasedimentary rocks,South Australia

Rubidium‐strontium and strontium isotope data for eight whole‐rock samples of granite varieties from the Encounter Bay area, South Australia, yield an isochron age of 487 ± 37 m.y. Two specimens of albitised granite, formed as a result of late‐stage metasomatic alteration of original megacrystic granite, conform to this isochron. These data support a genetic relation between granites and late‐stage metasomatic alteration as suspected from field, petrographical and geochemical studies. Eight samples from contiguous Kanmantoo Group metasedimentary rocks have an isochron age of 487 ± 60 m.y. Thus this metamorphic event is coincident with emplacement of the Encounter Bay Granite.

The initial Sr⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶ ratio for the Encounter Bay Granite (0.719) is significantly higher than initial ratios for the Palmer (0.709) and Anabama (0.705) Granites from the same region and can be attributed to either remobilisation or incorporation of strontium from older crustal material in the intrusion. The apparent initial Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratio for the Kanmantoo Group metasedimentary rocks (0.722) can not be distinguished from that for the Encounter Bay Granite within the analytical uncertainties. Compatability of ages and high initial Sr⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶ ratios suggest that the granites formed by remobilisation of associated crustal rock.     

Lithostratigraphic revision and correlation of the Oligo‐Miocene Murray Supergroup,Western Murray Basin,South Australia

The Murray Basin in southeastern Australia is a large, shallow, intracratonic basin filled with laterally extensive, undeformed, Cenozoic carbonate and terrigenous clastic sedimentary rocks that constitute regional and locally important groundwater aquifers. The marine Oligo‐Miocene strata distributed throughout the southwestern portion of the basin are here encompassed within the Murray Supergroup. The Murray Supergroup (formerly Murray Group) incorporates the marginal marine marl and clay of the Ettrick Formation, Winnambool Formation and Geera Clay in the western and northern portions of the Murray Basin in South Australia, in addition to the limestone that outcrops along the banks of the River Murray in nearly continuous section for 175 km. The stratigraphic nomenclature of these rocks is revised as follows. The boundary between the lower and upper members of the Mannum Formation is redefined and a new Swan Reach Dolomite Member is erected. The Finniss Clay is revised to Finniss Formation possessing three new members: the Cowirra Clay Member, Portee Carbonate Member and Woolpunda Marl Member. The ‘Morgan Limestone’ is raised to Morgan Group and contains three new formations: the Glenforslan Formation, Cadell Formation (with Murbko Marl Member and Overland Corner Clay Member) and Bryant Creek Formation. The Pata Formation is redefined and described. Type and reference sections are erected for each new and revised unit, and are lithostratigraphically correlated to illustrate their stratigraphic architecture.