238U/206Pb-235U/207Pb-232Th/208Pb zircon geochronology in alpine and non-alpine environment

Based on regular arrays in a U-Pb diagram of data points of zircons from polymetamorphic rocks of the Alps quantitative models are developed that include several episodic lead losses, continuous lead losses during discrete periods and combinations of both.The data from the Alps can be explained by assuming an initial age of the zircons of 2000 and/or 2500–2600 m.y. and three episodic lead losses 520–580 m.y., 300 m.y. and 30 m.y. ago with regionally varying intensities of the events as can be seen from the efficiency parameters which define the shape of the discordia. On the other hand, zircon data from North American basement rocks satisfy a model assuming a discrete interval of continuous lead loss that starts with the time of uplift of the rocks.The Th-U-Pb diagrams are valuable for recognising whether the history of the zircons and their host rock is a complex one or not which is not always noticeable in a U-Pb diagram.     

静态测量方式的单颗粒锆石蒸发铅同位素定年方法

报道的单颗粒锆石蒸发定年方法是利用新型固体质谱计的多离子接收器配置实现的。改进的锆石蒸发^207Pb／^206Pb定年流程通过静态测量方式，在锆石蒸发过程中直接测定铅同位素比值，获得^207Pb／^206Pb年龄。应用该方法测定了元古代永宁组沉积岩的碎屑锆石，获得6颗锆石的^207Pb／^206Pb年龄值为1965—2590Ma。与传统的蒸发法流程相比，静态测量方法省时简捷，同时可以直观地观测到锆石内部的铅同位素组成变化。这些变化反映锆石结晶历史、后期事件叠加以及锆石成因等地质信息。     

直接测定颗粒锆石^207Pb／^206Pb年龄的方法

用B·Kober(1986—1987)所提出的热离子源发射质谱计分层蒸发、直接测定颗粒锆石~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄的方法,6件锆石样品试验表明,其年龄值能与同一样品的常规锆石U-Pb法的交点年龄及其它方法的结果完全一致,并能给出更多具有一定地质意义的年龄信息。     

河南箕山登封群单颗粒锆石^207Pb／^206Pb同位素年代研究

本文对河南箕山登封群老袋窑组变流纹斑岩进行了单颗粒锆石＾２０７Ｐｂ／＾２０６Ｐｂ同位素年龄测定。研究表明锆石属典型的岩浆结晶产物，其年龄值为２５０１．９４±０．７０Ｍａ，它与登封群下部火山岩的Ｓｍ－Ｎｄ年龄（２５１４±４２Ｍａ）非常接近，这说明箕山地区登封群火山作用时限很短（１０Ｍａ±），是一套完整的花岗－绿岩建造，和嵩山地区登封群属同一期构造－岩浆活动的产物，并不能划分出早元古代岩石建造。     

A Correction Approach to the Common Pb Contribution to ^207Pb／^206Pb Ratios Obtained by the Zircon Evaporation Technique

An approach is recommended for the correction of common Pb contribution to ^207Pb/^206Pb ages obtained by the zircon evaporation technique.A comparison with that by Cocherie et al.(1992)shows that two approaches yield similar results in the ^207Pb*/^206Pb* ratios.But when using the new approach,only two errors of the measured ^204Pb/^206Pb and ^207Pb/^207Pb ratios are introduced to the calculated ^207Pb^*/^206Pb^* ratios.     

Whole-grain evaporation for 207Pb/206Pb-age-investigations on single zircons using a double-filament thermal ion source

A technique has been developed and tested to analyse ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb apparent ages by thermal evaporation of radiogenic lead directly from untreated whole zircon grains (0.3 mm). The evaporation analyses are performed in the double-filament arrangement of a thermal ion mass spectrometer (ThIMS). The method is a powerful tool to distinguish between different lead components occurring in the same grain because differing activation energies of the competing lead components cause their sequential evaporation from the zircons. The evaporation of test samples results in ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb apparent ages in good agreement with U/Pb ages known from literature: single zircons from a granite of the Marble Mountains/California yield an age of crystallization of 1,410±30 Ma; Ceylon zircons from heavy-mineral bearing gravels yield 560± 40 Ma as age of crystallization of the pegmatitic gravel sources; individuals from a heterogeneous zircon population of a diatexite from the Southern Schwarzwald/SW-Germany indicate metamorphic zircon formation around 500 Ma and the existence of Middle-Proterozoic relics (1.95±0.05 Ga).The evaporation analyses revealed closed-system U/Pb evolution of the crystalline domains of all investigated zircons irrespective of discordancy-trends documented by U/Pb analyses on related zircon concentrates. Therefore the majority of discordia-lines derived from U/Pb isotope distributions of zircon samples are supposed to be due to phase mixing. Lead components from the crystalline domains are concordant end members of the mixing arrays. Open-system behaviour and U/Pb fractionation should be attributed only to phases with low Pb activation energies eg. metamict zircon domains or intergrown non-zircon minerals.     

直接蒸发单颗粒锆石测定~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb年龄的方法

在双带源热离子发射质谱计上,用Kober,B.(1987)建立的方法直接蒸发锆石测定~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb表面年龄。4件已知年龄的锆石样品测定结果表明,用该方法测定的年龄值与常规锆石U-Pb一致曲线的上交点年龄一致。使用腈基丙烯酸酯粘合剂,使得装样简单、可靠,并可增加铅离子流强度。文中首次报道了湖北广水蔡家河小河岩体、黄土寨岩体中锆石的形成年龄。     

Single-zircon evaporation combined with Pb+ emitter bedding for 207Pb/206Pb-age investigations using thermal ion mass spectrometry,and implications to zirconology

The internal precision of Pb isotope analyses using single-zircon evaporation in a double-filament solid source mass spectrometer (Kober 1986) can be improved combining the evaporation of Pb directly from the single grain with a suitable Pb⁺ emitter-bedding technique. This is most easily done by step-wise evaporating the investigated grain at temperatures of 1700–1800 K generating on the ‘cold’ ionization filament a deposit of radiogenic Pb together with further elements and compounds derived directly from the crystal. The heating of the deposit on the ionization filament to 1400–1500 K results in long-lived and stable Pb⁺ ion beams. The ‘activating reagents’ in the deposit are HfO₂ and SiO₂. Their release from the zircon grain together with the radiogenic Pb, which presumably is sited in the crystalline zircon domains as Pb⁴⁺, is probably due to disintegration reactions of trace-element silicates hosted in the grain. In the bedding deposited on the ionization filament thermally stable Pb/Hf/SiO₂ compounds are formed (PbHfSiO₅(?)). They retain the Pb isotopes on the (Re) filament up to 1400 K–1500 K and are highly efficient Pb⁺ ion emitters similar to the ‘Si-gel’-method (Cameron et al. 1969). The combined evaporation/emitter-bedding technique has been applied to natural zircons of different genesis and to isotope standards. Routinely, a Pb⁺ ion yield of 2*10^?4-1*10^?3 and a relative standard deviation of the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio in the order of 1% have been obtained for sub-ng- to ng-amounts of Pb from standards and samples. The method rapidly can yield Pb isotope information on the ‘concordant’ zircon phases with a standard deviation of ±15–20 Ma of the derived ages also in the case of Paleozoic zircon populations.     

河南洛宁太华岩群斜长角闪岩的锆石^207Pb／^206Pb和角闪石^40Ar／^39Ar年龄

运用单颗粒锆石逐层蒸发法和角闪石40Ar/39Ar阶段加热法研究了河南洛宁太华岩群斜长角闪岩的同位素年龄.获得锆石207Pb/206Pb年龄为2675±2 Ma,角闪石40Ar/39Ar坪年龄和等时线年龄分别为2372.98±47.46 Ma和2349.10±46.98 Ma.锆石207Pb/206Pb年龄代表了斜长角闪岩原岩的形成时代,而角闪石40Ar/39Ar年龄则为其变质时代,与Sm-Nd等时线年龄(2351±103Ma)相一致.上述年龄数据表明河南洛宁地区太华岩群形成于新太古代,在古元古代遭受过一次角闪岩相变质作用.     

Differential behavior of components of the <Superscript>238</Superscript>U-<Superscript>206</Superscript>Pb and <Superscript>235</Superscript>U-<Superscript>207</Superscript>Pb isotopic systems in polymineralic U ores

U-Pb systems were examined in samples (ranging from 4 to 10 cm³ in volume) of ore material taken from along a 3.5-m profile across a zone of U mineralization exposed in an underground mine at the Strel’tsovskoe U deposit in eastern Transbaikalia. The behaviors of two isotopic U-Pb systems (²³⁸U-²⁰⁶Pb and ²³⁵U-²⁰⁷Pb) are principally different in all samples from our profile. While the individual samples are characterized by a vast scatter of their T(²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U) age values (from 112 to 717 Ma), the corresponding T(²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U) values vary much less significantly (from 127 to 142 Ma) and are generally close to the true age of the U mineralization. The main reason for the distortion of the U-Pb system is the long-lasting (for tens of million years) migration of intermediate decay products in the ²³⁸U-²⁰⁶Pb(RD²³⁸U) in the samples. This process resulted in the loss of RD²³⁸U from domains with high U concentrations and the subsequent accommodation of RD²³⁸U at sites with low U concentrations. The long-term effect of these opposite processes resulted in a deficit or excess of ²⁰⁶Pb as the final product of ²³⁸U decay. The loss or migration of RD²³⁸U are explained by the occurrence of pitchblende in association with U oxides that have higher Si and OH concentrations than those in the pitchblende and a higher ⁺⁶U/⁺⁴U ratio. The finely dispersed character of the mineralization and the loose or metamict texture of the material are the principal prerequisites for RD²³⁸U loss and an excess of ²⁰⁶Pb in adjacent domains with low U concentrations. Domains with low U contents in the zone with U mineralization serve as geochemical barriers (because of sulfides contained in them) at which long-lived RD²³⁸U(²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Bi, and ²¹⁰Pb) were accommodated and subsequently caused an excess of ²⁰⁶Pb. The ²³⁵U-²⁰⁷Pb system remained closed because of the much briefer lifetime of the ²³⁵U decay products. This may account for the significant discrepancies between the T(²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U) and T(²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U) age values. RD²³⁸U was most probably lost via the migration of radioisotopes at the middle part and end of the ²³⁸U family (starting with ²²⁶Ra). The heavy Th, Pa, and U radioisotopes (²³⁴Th, ²³⁴Pa, ²³⁴U, and ²³⁰Th) that occur closer to the beginning of ²³⁸U decay, before ²²⁶Ra, only relatively insignificantly participated in the process. Our results show that the loss and migration of RD²³⁸U are, under certain conditions, the main (or even the only) process responsible for the distortion of the U-Pb system.     

张家口水泉沟碱性杂岩体单颗粒锆石^207Pb／^206Pb年龄分析

用单颗粒锆石铅蒸发－沉积法分析张家口地区赋金水泉沟碱性杂岩体形成时代,保持封闭体系３颗锆石的＾２０７Ｐｂ／＾２０６Ｐｂ值表面年龄在１６０７－１６６７Ｍａ之间,与锆石Ｕ－Ｐｂ法上交点年龄（１７１８±６５）Ｍａ基本一致,水泉沟碱性杂岩体是１６－１７亿前形成的。     

Single-grain 207Pb206Pb and U/Pb age determinations with a 10-μm spatial resolution using the ion microprobe mass analyzer (IMMA)

Analytical techniques have been developed for using a secondary ion mass spectrometer, the ion microprobe mass analyzer (IMMA), to determine, in situ, ${}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{206}\text{Pb}$ and U/Pb ages on approximately 10-μm areas of individual mineral phases containing relatively abundant radiogenic Pb isotopes. Standard samples of known age and U, Th and Pb contents, together with the Andersen-Hinthorne local thermal equilibrium (LTE) model for predicting ionization parameters are used to establish a semi-empirical relationship for correcting observed U/Pb intensities to atom ratios. Measurements of isotope standards show that mass fractionation corrections are not required and that the accuracy and precision of analysis are generally limited by Poisson counting statistics.Many U-rich accessory minerals yield spectra which consist only of Pb at masses 204, 206, 207 and 208; thus the measurement of ${}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{206}\text{Pb}$ ages is accomplished by simply measuring the intensities of these peaks and the background. An excellent correspondence of the ages determined using the IMMA with those from more conventional techniques is demonstrated for terrestrial, lunar and meteoritic phases. For example, the following ${}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{206}\text{Pb}$ ages were obtained from polished thin sections of crystalline lunar samples: 10047, 3.75 ± 0.05 (2σ) Ga; 14310, 3.96 ± 0.03 Ga; and 15555, 3.36 ± 0.06 Ga. From small U-rich phases in CaAl-rich inclusions in the Allende carbonaceous chondrite, seven ${}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{206}\text{Pb}$ ages were obtained, averaging 4.60 ± 0.09 (2σ) Ga.A method of correcting low-resolution Pb-isotope data for molecular ion interferences in zircon and baddeleyite is presented and shown to be practical through the analysis of terrestrial and lunar samples.     

Age of intrusion and rapid cooling of the Frankenstein gabbro (Odenwald,SW-Germany) evidenced by40Ar/39Ar and single-zircon207Pb/206Pb measurements

The Frankenstein gabbro complex in the northern Odenwald/FR Germany is one of the Hercynian plutonic bodies of the Saxothuringian zone in the Variscan belt.⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic investigations on pyroxene,⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations on hornblendes, plagioclases, biotites and pyroxenes and²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb dating on single zircon crystals have been carried out. The⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratio of the gabbro (0.70380) indicates uncontaminated derivation of the magma from the mantle. The results on hornblendes, plagioclases and zircons establish the isotopic age of intrusion and the mode of cooling. Pyroxene and biotite data indicate disturbed K-Ar systems of these minerals. The average ages of the hornblendes (363±7 Ma), of the plagioclases (359±3 Ma) and of the zircons (362 ±9 Ma) agree within the 1-sigma levels and constrain the early history of the plutonic intrusion at the turn from Devonian to Carboniferous times. These minerals must have been cooled below their closure temperatures within a time-interval shorter than the error margins of 10 Ma. The ages therefore are, unlike those of the neighbouring Bergsträßer Odenwald, not long-time cooling ages due to largescale and slow geological uplift of the crustal segment. Instead, they will closely estimate the time of intrusion of the Frankenstein pluton into a shallow crustal level. The hiatus of about 20 Ma compared to the average ages of the crystalline rocks of the Bergsträßer Odenwald in the south characterizes the mafic Frankenstein pluton as a separated unit of the Odenwald crystalline, and underlines the importance of the Carboniferous tectonic fault zone in-between. The present data set clearly demonstrates the importance of the applied combination of methods and techniques to constrain the history of intrusion and cooling of mafic plutonic rocks.     

Porosity of the melting zone and variations in the solid mantle upwelling rate beneath Hawaii: inferences from 238U-230Th-226Ra and 235U-231Pa disequilibria

Measurements of ²³⁸U-²³⁰Th-²²⁶Ra and ²³⁵U-²³¹Pa disequilibria in a suite of tholeiitic-to-basanitic lavas provide estimates of porosity, solid mantle upwelling rate and melt transport times beneath Hawaii. The observation that (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) > 1 indicates that garnet is required as a residual phase in the magma sources for all of the lavas. Both chromatographic porous flow and dynamic melting of a garnet peridotite source can adequately explain the combined U-Th-Ra and U-Pa data for these Hawaiian basalts. For chromatographic porous flow, the calculated maximum porosity in the melting zone ranges from 0.3–3% for tholeiites and 0.1–1% for alkali basalts and basanites, and solid mantle upwelling rates range from 40 to 100 cm yr⁻¹ for tholeiites and from 1 to 3 cm yr⁻¹ for basanites. For dynamic melting, the escape or threshold porosity is 0.5–2% for tholeiites and 0.1–0.8% for alkali basalts and basanites, and solid mantle upwelling rates range from 10 to 30 cm yr⁻¹ for tholeiites and from 0.1 to 1 cm yr⁻¹ for basanites. Assuming a constant melt productivity, calculated total melt fractions range from 15% for the tholeiitic basalts to 3% for alkali basalts and basanites.     

The effects of magma replenishment processes on 238U-230Th disequilibrium

Short lived isotope data are increasingly used to investigate magma chamber residence times. Arc lavas have excellent potential as tracers of magma evolution because their magmas are often out of U-series isotope equilibrium, and some arc magmas have yielded surprisingly old pre-eruption U-series ages from mineral separates. A model is presented to examine the behaviour of U-Th isotopes for a range of conditions between closed system and steady-state magmatic systems. Magmas can be maintained out of secular equilibrium for long periods of time by periodic mixing events with new magma batches. The latter results in oscillations in (²³⁰Th/²³²Th) consistent with the relatively constant values observed in lavas of different ages from some centres. The effects of periodic reinjection of magma and mixing of old and young crystals on U-series mineral isochrons are also considered. Mixtures of crystals produced by either replenished or closed system processes can readily result in linear arrays. In many cases it may be valid to interpret these as minimum average residence times for the crystals, whereas the liquid residence times calculated from U-series data for periodically replenished systems are maximum values.     

Simultaneous horst-basin formation and magmatism during Late Variscan transtension: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar and 207Pb/206Pb geochronology in the Ruhla Crystalline Complex

40 Ar/³⁹Ar–mica and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb–zircon dates are presented and combined with existing P–T data and the sedimentary record. These data indicate that the RCC was faulted into three segments which underwent different exhumation histories during the Late Carboniferous/Early Permian. The eastern segment shows ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar–biotite data of336 ±4 and 323±3 Ma. Furthermore, it is intruded by the Thuringian Hauptgranite dated at 337±4 Ma by the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb single zircon method. At approximately 300 Ma rocks of the eastern segment were finally exposed and, subsequently, subsided as part of the Oberhof pull-apart basin, filled by Late Carboniferous/Early Permian molasse sediments and volcanic rocks (296–285 Ma; Goll 1996). A similar Late Carboniferous evolution is inferred for the western segment, since it is also overlain by Upper Carboniferous volcanic rocks. In contrast to the eastern and western segments, distinctly younger intrusion and cooling ages were recorded for the central segment of the RCC (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar muscovite: 311±3 Ma; ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar biotite: 293–288±3 Ma) that was intruded by the Trusetal Granite, the Ruhla Granite and Brotterode Diorite (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb single zircon: 298±2, 295±3, 289±4 Ma, respectively). These young data are unique in the MGCR and testify that plutonic activity and cooling of basement rocks took place simultaneously with basin formation and volcanism in the eastern and western segments. Overlying Upper Permian (Zechstein) and Triassic sediments indicate final exposure of the central segment by approximately 260 Ma, as a part of the Ruhla-Schleusingen Horst. Combination of these results with P–T data from the contact aureole of the Trusetal granite indicate that the central segment was unroofed by at least 8.5 km during the Late Carboniferous. The Late Carboniferous/Early Permian horst-basin formation, documented in the RCC, is due to dextral transtensional movements along the NW-trending Franconian fault system. It may have been enhanced by mantle upwelling widespread in Central Europe during the Early Permian that also caused intensive magmatism in the Thuringian Forest region. Received: 2 February 1999 / Accepted: 15 November 1999     

~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb Zircon Dating of the Huangtuling Hypersthene-Garnet-Biotite Gneiss from the Dabie Mountains, Luotian County, Hubei Province, China: New Evidence for Early Precambrian Evolution

The Huangtuling hypersthene-garnet-biotite gneiss at Luotian County, Hubei Provine, is a typicalgranulite-facies rock of the Dabie Group Complex in the Dabie orogenic belt. Investigations on the morphology andoccurrence of zircons and their internal structures shown in the thin sections lead to the recognition of three types ofzircons, which are in good agreement with the types identified on the basis of morphology, colour and external fea-tures from the related zircon concentrates. The observation of zircons in the rock reveals that part of type 1 zirconsshow signs of a double-layered structure. The interval part existed in the protolith prior to the granulite-facies meta-morphism. Type 2, the prismatic zircons which mainly occur in garnet and hypersthene are metamorphic minerals ofthe granulite-facies metamorphism. Type 3, the round multifaceted zircons in felsic minerals and biotite, are proba-bly attributed to a later geological event related to migmatization. The ~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb zircon dating by direct evaporationon (thermal evaporation ion mass spectrometer) yields ages ranging from 2814 Ma to 1992 Ma. The age discrepancyamong these different zircon types is conspicuous. The yellow-brown(type 1) zircons give ages of 2814±29 Ma to2527±6 Ma, the prismatic euhedral zircons (type 2), 2456±7 Ma to 2254±4 Ma, and the round multifaceted zircons(type 3), 1992±10 Ma. The results are geologically interpreted in consideration of the complicated behaviours of zir-cons during Precambrian geological evolution of the Dabie area. (1) If the protolith of the gneiss is a sedimentaryrock, then type 1 zircons are clastic ones and the ages 2814±29 Ma and 2811±27 Ma may reflect the minimum age ofthe rocks of its source region. also the first geological event in the area. Sedimentation of the protolith occurred be-tween 2814 Ma and 2527 Ma, probably close to 2814 Ma. If the protolith is a volcanic rock, then the formation age ofthe supracrustal rocks of the Dabie Group Complex is around 2814 Ma. The age 2456±7 Ma reflects the time whenthe granulite-facies metamorphism took place. The later migmatization event is dated at aboat 1992±10 Ma, and isprobably the latest early Precambrian event in the area. The present work provides geochronological evidence for the existence of the Dabie Archaean craton, whichhad probably experienced 3 or 4 geological events during its early Precambrian evolution.     

U-Th-Pb and Trace Element Evaluation of Existing Titanite and Apatite LA-ICP-MS Reference Materials and Determination of 208Pb/232Th-206Pb/238U Date Discordance in Archaean Accessory Phases

The last decade has seen a marked increase in U-Th-Pb petrochronological studies focused on titanite and apatite. This has motivated the need for detailed, phase-specific method development and well-characterised reference materials with a wide variety of ages and chemical compositions. This study presents new U-Th-Pb isotope and major-, minor- and trace-element mass fraction data for ten titanite and five apatite reference materials based on integrated EPMA, LA-ICP-MS and isotope-dilution (ID) multi-collector (MC)-ICP-MS characterisation. Cross-comparison of EPMA and LA-ICP-MS data for the same titanite reference material suite demonstrates that careful selection of EPMA primary reference materials is necessary to minimise inaccuracies. We further identify a significant X-ray interference when measuring low Ce abundances in Ti-bearing phases and outline a method for its correction. New ID-MC-ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS data suggest tri-concordance (defined as concordant ages for the ²³⁸U-²⁰⁶Pb, ²³⁵U-²⁰⁷Pb and ²³²Th-²⁰⁸Pb decay systems) of the MKED-1 titanite reference material and demonstrate the reproducibility of ²⁰⁸Pb/²³²Th measurements in some secondary titanite reference materials. Integration of ²⁰⁸Pb/²³²Th results with U-Pb geochronology provides a meaningful tool to help interpret complex U-Th-Pb isotopic age spectra. We provide example applications of ²⁰⁸Pb/²³²Th LA-ICP-MS measurements toward interpreting Archaean titanite ages from the Acasta Gneiss Complex, Northwest Territories, Canada.     

U-Th-Pb isotope systematics related to igneous rocks and ore Pb,Mount Isa,Queensland

This study is a search for a genetic relationship between Pb sulphide ore and igneous rocks in the region of Mount Isa, Queensland. The approach involves derivation of Pb isotope initial ratios by the whole-rock isochron method, and comparison of the initial ratios (Pb²⁰⁶/Pb²⁰⁴, Pb²⁰⁷/Pb²⁰⁴ and Pb²⁰⁸/Pb²⁰⁴) with the isotopic composition of the ore Pb. Data are reported for four igneous units; Kalkadoon granodiorite, Kalkadoon adamellite, Sybella granite and Eastern Creek volcanics. The results display considerable scatter for each of the units, and reveal the effects of recent surficial loss of U. The positioning of isochrons is aided by previous Rb-Sr geochronological data wherever possible. Comparison of initial ratios and ore Pb suggests that none of the igneous rock units is co-genetic with the ore deposit. Both phases of the Sybella Granite are more radiogenic and are apparently younger than the ore Pb. The Kalkadoon Granite is possibly related to the ore through some post-emplacement process of extraction and transport of Pb (e.g. by erosion or by anatectic magma generation) to the present site of the orebodies.