The chemistry of bottled mineral and spring waters from Norway,Sweden, Finland and Iceland

Twenty-two bottled mineral and spring waters from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland have been analysed for 71 inorganic chemical parameters with low detection limits as a subset of a large European survey of bottled groundwater chemistry (N = 884). The Nordic bottled groundwaters comprise mainly Ca–Na–HCO₃–Cl water types, but more distinct Ca–HCO₃, Na HCO₃ and Na–Cl water types are also offered. The distributions for most elements fall between groundwater from Fennoscandian Quaternary unconsolidated aquifers and groundwater from Norwegian crystalline bedrock boreholes. Treated tap waters have slightly lower median values for many parameters, but elements associated with plumbing have significantly higher concentrations in tap waters than in bottled waters. The small dataset is able to show that excessive fluoride and uranium contents are potential drinking water problems in Fennoscandia. Nitrate and arsenic displayed low to moderate concentrations, but the number of samples from Finland and Northern Sweden was too low to detect that elevated concentrations of arsenic occur in bedrock boreholes in some regions. The data shows clearly that water sold in plastic bottles is contaminated with antimony. Antimony is toxic and suspected to be carcinogenic, but the levels are well below the EU drinking water limit. The study does not provide any health-based arguments for buying bottled mineral and spring waters for those who are served with drinking water from public waterworks. Drinking water from crystalline bedrock aquifers should be analysed. In case of elevated concentrations of fluoride, uranium or arsenic, most bottled waters, but not all, will be better alternatives when treatment of the well water is not practicable.     

Chronology of deglaciation based on 10Be dates of glacial erosional features in the Grimsel Pass region, central Swiss Alps

Surface exposure dating, using in situ produced cosmogenic ¹⁰Be, is applied to determine the time since deglaciation of bedrock surfaces in the Grimsel Pass region. Nine ¹⁰Be dates from bedrock surfaces corrected for cover by snow are minimum ages for deglaciation of the pass. Four ¹⁰Be dates from surfaces below 2500 meters above sea level (m a.s.l.) on Nägelisgrätli, east of Grimsel Pass, yield ages that range from about 14 000 to 11 300 years. Three ¹⁰Be dates from locations above 2600 m a.s.l. on Nägelisgrätli are between about 11 700 and 10 400 years. Two ¹⁰Be dates from locations at 2560 m a.s.l. below Juchlistock are about 12 100 and 11 000 years. The geographical distribution of ¹⁰Be dates on Nägelisgrätli either may show the timing of progressive deglaciation of Grimsel Pass or may reflect differences in subglacial erosion of bedrock in the pass region. All dates are discussed in the context of deglaciation of the late Würmian Alpine ice cap and deglaciation from Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice extents in other regions.     

Application of Optically Stimulated Luminescence Technique in Exploring a Concealed Sandstone-type Uranium Deposit

Identifying ore-induced geochemical anomalies at the surface that indicate concealed deposits in buried areas remains a significant challenge in geochemical exploration. In this study, in order to trace the source of the geochemical anomalies, systematic luminescence intensity analyses were conducted on quartz grains from the Quaternary regolith at the Hadatu sandstone-type uranium deposit in the Erenhot Basin. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages were much older than the depositional ages of the Quaternary regolith. Moreover, quartz OSL ages were closely related to both borehole grades and sampling depths. Thus, the abnormal mineral OSL ages from near-surface sediments were ultimately controlled by the sandstone-type uranium deposits. This is identical to the rapid changes of quartz OSL ages (0.063 ka/cm) and equivalent doses (0.19 Gy/cm) with depths in a given sampling site. The instantaneous soil radon concentration was positively correlated with the quartz OSL apparent age, indicating their ore-induced origin and, as a result, their effectiveness in the exploration of concealed uranium deposits. Other parameters, including mobile-state uranium and 210Po contents, were poorly correlated with quartz OSL ages and therefore should only be used with caution for geochemical exploration. This is the first time an attempt has been made to discriminate the ore-induced sources for different surface anomaly parameters, including instantaneous soil radon, mobile-state uranium and 210Po contents for concealed sandstone-type uranium deposits.     

电子探针化学测年在攀枝花大田晶质铀矿中的应用及其意义

晶质铀矿和沥青铀矿是热液铀矿床的主要工业铀矿物,在研究热液铀矿床成因及成矿规律方面具有重要的意义。攀枝花大田地区是我国混合岩型热液铀矿分布区,已发现粗粒特富铀矿滚石(铀含量10%)及较富基岩矿石(铀含量为0.1%~2%),主要铀矿物为晶质铀矿,对两种晶质铀矿成分及形成时代的研究对该区混合岩型热液铀矿成矿规律研究具有重要的价值。本文通过对大田地区滚石中的晶质铀矿和基岩矿石中的晶质铀矿进行矿物学及电子探针分析,研究了晶质铀矿的成分及形成时代。结果表明:(1)大田地区滚石和基岩矿石中的晶质铀矿除铅之外化学成分较为相似,两类矿石晶质铀矿中UO_2含量为77.36%~84.04%,ThO_2含量为0.98%~5.59%,PbO含量为1.79%~8.8%,其中滚石晶质铀矿中的铅含量低于基岩晶质铀矿,钍含量高于基岩晶质铀矿;(2)电子探针化学定年结果表明,基岩矿石晶质铀矿的形成时代为774.9~785.5 Ma,滚石晶质铀矿的形成时代为783.7 Ma,与传统同位素测年结果(775~777.6 Ma)非常一致,一方面说明滚石晶质铀矿和基岩晶质铀矿为同一时代的产物,另一方面说明电子探针原位测年方法是可靠的;(3)在后期的热液蚀变中,晶质铀矿先后发生了硅化、碳酸盐化及赤铁矿化,蚀变发生的时间分别为730.6Ma、699.8 Ma和664.0 Ma。此结论对研究攀枝花大田地区热液铀矿成矿时代及成矿作用过程提供了依据。     

铀矿床定年研究进展评述

往往由于铀矿物(沥青铀矿)颗粒细小、易蚀变成铀的次生矿物及多期铀矿化作用相互叠加等在组成和结构上的固有特点,通常难以用挑选铀矿物(沥青铀矿)样品溶样的传统定年方法精确确定其形成年龄。随着分析技术的不断更新和发展,对铀矿床成矿年代学的研究也不断深入。但受铀矿床中铀矿物U-Pb定年方法本身的制约,以及以往对铀矿物U-Pb定年体系中铀矿物样品要求认识的不足,常常导致获得的年龄无实际地质意义或无法获得理想的等时线年龄。本文针对铀矿化定年方法的发展历程进行了系统梳理和分析,评述了铀矿物定年的五种主要方法:(1)铀矿物U-Th-totalPb化学年龄;(2)铀矿物模式年龄;(3)铀矿物传统等时线年龄;(4)铀矿物矿伴生矿物年龄;(5)原位微区铀矿物U-Pb年龄。在此基础上,深入探讨了铀矿化作用定年研究中存在的问题和对应方案,期望促进未来铀矿床成矿年代学的发展。     

Dimensions and deglacial chronology of the Outer Hebrides Ice Cap,northwest Scotland: implications of cosmic ray exposure dating

Cosmic ray exposure ages of frost-weathered bedrock from mountain summits in the Outer Hebrides exceed the age of Late Devensian glaciation. Exposure ages of most glacially-abraded bedrock surfaces at low and intermediate elevations are younger than the age of maximum Late Devensian glaciation. These results confirm that previously mapped periglacial trimlines in the Outer Hebrides define the upper limit of bedrock erosion by Late Devensian ice. They are consistent with the interpretation, based on geomorphological evidence, that the trimlines mark the approximate upper limit of a Late Devensian Outer Hebrides Ice Cap. A postglacial exposure age from the summit of Oreval (662 m) suggests that this mountain was overrun during the last glaciation, indicating thicker ice cover and a lower surface gradient west of the ice-cap divide than previously inferred. Although bedrock surfaces below the trimlines are strongly ice-moulded, some show evidence of prior cosmic ray exposure, which we attribute to limited erosion during Late Devensian glaciation. If this interpretation is correct, the youngest apparent ages from these surfaces give the most reliable dates for deglaciation, at ca. 14.5–14 ka. This implies that ice persisted at favourable sites through the warm opening phase of the Windermere Interstade. Comparison with radiocarbon-dated evidence from offshore cores suggests net ice margin retreat of ∼74 km eastwards across the adjacent shelf in > 2.3 ± 1.0 ka. The dating evidence is consistent with relatively rapid retreat of calving margins to the coast, then slower withdrawal of ice margins to high ground. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

荒漠戈壁区超低密度地球化学调查与评价——以东天山为例

中国的干旱荒漠戈壁区,约占国土面积的1/4.自然特点是极其干旱,沙漠和戈壁广布,土壤呈碱性.大部分面积尚未进行区域化探扫面工作,即使进行工作的地区,由于风成沙和土壤碱性的影响,结果并不理想,难以了解整个地区资源潜力.超低密度地球化学方法经过近10年发展,已经显示它不受地表覆盖物影响,能够快速有效地圈定战略靶区.因此,超低密度地球化学方法被用于东天山1.5×105km2的调查试点研究,发现弱胶结层是干旱荒漠区超低密度调查的有效采样介质,并且深部含矿信息主要赋存在细粒级部分和氧化地球化学障中,使用细粒级部分与提取氧化物膜中的金属元素相互补充可以有效地识别含矿信息.使用超低密度地球化学方法可以达到迅速、有效圈定有利于大型矿床或矿集区战略靶区的目的.通过1.5×105km2地球化学调查,制作了30余种元素地球化学图,填补了东天山部分地区地球化学空白.新发现远景Cu、Au、U和W异常10余处,并发现东天山存在3条Cu异常带东天山北带、中带和南带,其中土屋铜矿和黄山铜镍矿都位于中带,新发现的维权铜矿位于南带,北带还有待于进一步证实.相信这些异常的发现,对今后整个东天山矿产勘查的战略部署具有重要意义.     

Lead isotopic systematics and ages of Archaean acid intrusives in the Kalgoorlie-Norseman area,Western Australia

Lead-lead mineral isochrons consisting of K-feldspar + plagioclase + total rock have been determined for eight intrusive bodies in the Kalgoorlie-Norseman area of Western Australia. The ages found range from 2630 to 2760 m.y. Variation of initial lead isotopic composition within plutons has been identified in two cases. For the remaining plutons, whole rock lead-lead isochrons give the same age as the mineral isochrons. Attempts to determine uranium-lead ages reveal large-scale loss of uranium from surface rocks in recent times.The initial lead isotopic composition of the intrusions, as estimated from age corrected K-feldspar data, shows that the source regions for the plutonic magmas must have experienced multistage histories prior to magma generation. The time integrated μ value for the source region in all cases exceeds the mean μ value for the Earth. Multistage model calculations show that continental type rocks must have been present in the Norseman area as early as 3300 m.y. ago. Original formation of continental crust near Kalgoorlie either occurred much later than at Norseman, or consisted of more basic rock types.     

华东某铀矿区稻米中Cd含量及空间分布特征研究

利用等离子体质谱仪测定了某铀矿区周边稻米与对照区稻米中重金属元素Cd的含量,重点对铀矿区稻米中的Cd元素含量及其空间分布特征进行了研究。结果表明:(1)铀矿区内10.53%的稻米样品Cd含量超过国家标准,89.47%稻米样品中Cd的含量未超过国家标准(GB 2762-2005),而对照区稻米样品中Cd含量均远低于国家标准(GB 2762-2005);(2)铀矿区稻米中Cd含量远高于对照区稻米中Cd含量,尾矿堆积区、水冶厂和矿床开采区下游及周边区域内稻米中Cd元素含量明显高于上游地区或远离上述区域的其他地区。(3)矿床开采产生的废水与废渣、水冶厂的废液渗漏、尾矿露天堆积以及矿石运输过程中的矿渣洒落等原因可能是导致Cd元素随地表径流发生迁移进入稻田,从而使矿区稻米中Cd的含量较高的重要因素。     

2003～2013年新铀矿物特征

本文搜集了2003年1月至2013年12月间经国际矿物学协会新矿物、矿物命名及分类委员会批准的31个新的铀矿物资料,梳理出这些铀矿物新种的重要矿物学特征,试对其晶体化学分类,并对这些新铀矿物的汉译名提出建议。在此基础上,对这些新矿物的发现与研究特点进行了初步分析,对我国铀矿物研究提出了建议。本文将对我国铀矿地质研究人员具有一定的借鉴意义。     

新疆白杨河铍铀矿床萤石Sm-Nd和沥青铀矿U-Pb年代学及其地质意义

白杨河矿床是我国类型独特的一个特大型铍、铀多金属矿床,铍矿物主要确定为羟硅铍石,铀矿物主要发现沥青铀矿和次生的硅钙铀矿以及少量的铌铀矿,伴生矿物主要是萤石。为恢复铀和铍的成矿过程,划分成矿阶段,本次工作通过系统采集钻孔中的萤石样品,进行了Sm-Nd同位素测年研究,获得了三组等时线年龄,分别为291±16Ma、265±33Ma和207±37Ma,代表了成矿前、成矿期和成矿后萤石的形成;采集中心工地、新西工地和九号工地平巷内的沥青铀矿样品,进行了UPb同位素测年研究,获得了~(206)Pb/~(238)U表观年龄237.8±3.3Ma、224±3.1Ma、197.8±2.8Ma、97.8±1.4Ma和30.0±0.4Ma,利用U-Pb表观年龄将铀矿化划分为四个阶段:中三叠世、晚三叠-早侏罗世、晚白垩世和古近纪中期。因此,白杨河矿床具有铍早铀晚的成矿特点,铀成矿经历了四个阶段。     

The central Australian groundwater discharge zone: Evolution of associated calcrete and gypcrete deposits

The groundwater discharge zone of central Australia is marked by a chain of playas extending 500 km from Lake Hopkins in Western Australia through Lake Neale, Lake Amadeus and numerous smaller playas to the Finke River in the Northern Territory. This great valley is devoid of surface drainage, and the playas and their associated landforms and chemical sediments are a result of groundwater transmission, and discharge from a large regional flow system. The valley contains extensive groundwater calcrete deposits, which are commonly silicified. The playas contain gypsum and glauberite deposits resulting from the evaporative concentration of discharging groundwater to 250 g/1total dissolved solids. Thin gypcrete crusts have developed on the playa margins and islands as a result of induration of bordering gypsum dunes. Diagenetic changes in the calcrete and gypcrete are caused by dissolution and reprecipitation through groundwater movement.

Calcrete and gypcrete samples from playas near Curtin Springs, NT, dated by electron spin resonance (ESR) — calibrated by ¹⁴C dates on calcrete and the uranium content of gypcrete — are mostly in the range 8000–16 000 years BP, and are evidence of groundwater discharge conditions similar to those of the present day. Calcrete in the vadose zone, above the present water‐table, gives ESR dates in the range 22 000–27 000 years BP suggesting episodes of high intensity rainfall at that time. Phreatic calcrete, below the water‐table, with ages in the range 34 000–75 000 years BP, provides evidence of older episodes of calcretization.

The ESR and ¹⁴C dates for the chemical sediments suggest that this groundwater flow system has been an important feature in the region for much of the Late Quaternary. Although there are problems with the interpretation of ESR dating for chemical sediments with diagenetic alteration, the technique shows promise as a dating tool.     

Applying regional airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveying to understand the architecture of sandstone-hosted uranium mineral systems in the Callabonna Sub-basin,Lake Frome region,South Australia

The Frome airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey was designed to provide reliable pre-competitive AEM data to aid the search for energy and mineral resources around the Lake Frome region of South Australia. Flown in 2010, a total of 32,317 line kilometres of high-quality airborne geophysical data was collected over an area of 95,450 km² at a flight line spacing mostly of 2.5 km, opening to 5 km spaced lines in the Marree–Strzelecki Desert area to the north. The Lake Frome region hosts a large number of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits with known resources of ～60 000 tonnes of U₃O₈ including the working In Situ Recovery operations at Beverley, Pepegoona, Pannikin and Honeymoon, and deposits at Four Mile East, Four Mile West, Yagdlin, Goulds Dam, Oban, East Kalkaroo, Yarramba and Junction Dam. The aims of the Frome AEM Survey were to map and interpret critical elements of sandstone-hosted uranium mineral systems including basin architecture, paleovalley morphology, sedimentary facies changes, hydrological connections between uranium sources and uranium deposition sites and structures. Interpretations of the data show the utility of regional AEM surveying for mapping crucial elements of sandstone-hosted uranium mineral systems as well as for mapping geological surfaces, structures and depth of cover over a wide area. Data from the Frome AEM Survey allow mineral explorers to put their own high-resolution AEM surveys into a regional context. Survey data were used to map and interpret a range of geological features that are associated with, or control the location of, sandstone-hosted uranium mineral systems and have been used to assess the uranium prospectivity of new areas to the north of the Flinders Ranges.     

基于TM/ETM影像的复合法遥感蚀变异常提取应用研究

通过甘肃龙首山干旱基岩裸露区碱交代岩提取、青海玉树地区大面积蚀变异常提取、江西相山铀矿田植被覆盖区蚀变异常提取三个实例应用来验证"无损线性拉伸+去除和抑制干扰因素+波段比值法/主成分分析/(波段比值法+主成分分析)+密度分割"复合法在蚀变异常提取的应用效果。在甘肃龙首山提取的碱交代岩与在其两个子区实测的碱交代岩相比较,面积大于1个、1/2个、1/4个像元的碱交代岩提取率分别为100%、94.74%、80%。面积小于1/4个像元的碱交代岩成群出现,岩体之间相距较小,这些岩体也可以被提取出来,并且提取的面积有所扩大,结果显示面积大于1/4个像元的蚀变信息能够有效提取。在青海玉树地区提取的蚀变异常信息与与其区内的84个矿床(点)相比较,提取的蚀变与74个矿床(点)能够吻合,吻合率达88.1%。矿床(点)与提取的蚀变信息吻合关系为铁矿床>铜矿床>锌矿床>铅矿床,且多金属矿床多处于两种或多种蚀变异常叠合部位。在江西相山铀矿田植被覆盖区蚀变异常提取效果相对差,但是提取的蚀变信息在野外得到较好验证。西部矿区矿床(点)与铁化蚀变吻合较好,北部矿区矿床(点)吻合较好,同时分析了部分矿床(点)未能与遥感蚀变异常吻合的原因。     

Utilizing glacial geology in uranium exploration; Dismal Lakes, Northwest Territories, Canada

A field of uraniferous boulders was discovered in a drift-covered valley west of Dismal Lakes. Glacial geological information was combined with boulder location and trace element till geochemical data to model the dispersal of the boulders; and to predict their likely bedrock source. Uraniferous bedrock was eroded by the last, westward flowing glacial ice to cover the area. The debris was englacially transported and subsequently deposited during subglacial melt-out of ice block(s) stagnating below active ice. The distribution of the boulders forms acrude, westward-opening fan centred on the easternmost boulder and oriented with the last ice-flow direction. The largest uranium values from surface till samples (-2 μm fraction) occur 6.2 km east of the main boulder concentration or 1.5 km east of the first boulder occurrence. The likely bedrock source is 6.0 to 6.6 km east of the main boulder concentration.     

The major‐ and trace‐element whole‐rock fingerprints of Egyptian basalts and the provenance of Egyptian artefacts

Discrimination diagrams have been developed that source Egyptian basaltic artefacts using whole‐rock major element geochemistry. These include K₂O versus SiO₂, TiO₂ and P₂O₅ against MgO/Fe₂O₃^t (total Fe as Fe₂O₃), and a discriminant analysis diagram using SiO₂, Fe₂O₃^t, CaO, and MnO. A complementary set of diagrams uses easily obtained trace element data (Nb/Y versus Zr/Nb; Zr [ppm] versus Rb/Sr; TiO₂ [wt % volatile free] versus V; and Cr [ppm] versus Zr/Y) to determine the bedrock sources. These diagrams have been applied to seven First Dynasty basalt vessels (Abydos), two Fourth Dynasty basalt paving stones (Khufu's funerary temple, Giza), and two Fifth Dynasty paving stones (Sahure's complex, Abu Sir). They show that the bedrock source for all the artefacts was the Haddadin flow in northern Egypt. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis applied to the whole‐rock data (major elements and trace elements together) and previously published mineral fingerprinting studies confirm these results. Comparing mineral versus whole‐rock fingerprinting techniques, a major advantage of the former is the small sample size required (0.001 g compared to ≥ 0.1 g). Analytical costs are similar for both methods assuming that a comparison (bedrock) database can be assembled from the literature. For most archaeological problems, a whole‐rock bedrock database is more likely to exist than a mineral database, and whole‐rock analyses on artefacts will generally be easier to obtain than mineral analyses. Whole‐rock fingerprinting may be more sensitive than mineral‐based fingerprinting. Thus, if sample quantity is not an issue, whole‐rock analysis may have a slight cost, convenience, and technical advantage over mineral‐based methods. Our results also emphasize that the Egyptians cherished their Haddadin basalt flow and used it extensively and exclusively for manufacturing basalt vessels and paving stones for at least 600 years (∼3150 B.C. to 2500 B.C., approximate ages of the vessels and Abu Sir paving stones, respectively). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

华南地区中生代岩浆成矿作用的四大问题

通过对矿床成矿系列30多年的长期研究,认为华南是我国与中生代岩浆岩有关有色、稀土、稀有金属、铀等矿床成矿系列发育最完善的成矿省之一,并且形成了以武夷-云开构造-岩浆-成矿带为中心、向东、西两侧对称分布、成岩成矿时代逐渐变年轻的区域性分带格局。这样的分带格局受到了区域性水平方向构造运动和垂直方向壳幔物质相互作用的共同制约,而壳幔相互作用程度的不同和表壳构造的差异也是华南出现不同成矿系列(亚系列)以及成矿系列叠合的重要原因。     

Uplift rate and landscape development in southwest Fiordland, New Zealand, determined using Be and Al exposure dating of marine terraces

We demonstrate that cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating can be used to provide the first well-constrained age for a Fiordland bedrock surface that was created by coastal erosion and has since been uplifted. Tight clustering of ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al apparent exposure ages between 102-119 kyr on a terrace with strandline at 65 ± 8 m gives a last interglacial age of terrace formation of 130-120 ka, and an uplift rate of 0.52 ± 0.08 mm/yr. Apparent exposure ages from a higher (92-130 m), more incised region of remnant coastal morphology fall in the range 53-111 kyr. The anomalously low ages and large variance demonstrate that weathering and fluvial or rockfall erosion rates are too extreme at the higher sites to determine an age of coastal erosion. Sea level samples have apparent exposure ages in the range 2-11 kyr, with an uncertainty of about 3 kyr. This is consistent with surface exposure during the present sea level high-stand, indicates minimal inheritance of ancient cosmogenic nuclides, and is in accord with geomorphic arguments. Mean ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be ratios of 6.6 for each sample set is consistent with the actively exhuming late Quaternary tectonic setting. Large boulders and gently convex rocky outcrops formed during coastal erosion preserve surfaces that are least modified during later uplift, and are hence the best sites for determining the age of coastal erosion.     

The exaggerated radiocarbon age of deposit‐feeding molluscs in calcareous environments

Throughout northern Canada, live‐collected, pre‐bomb, deposit‐feeding marine molluscs from calcareous sediments yield greater apparent radiocarbon ages than do suspension feeders. We explore the size of this effect in a set of 57 paired datings of deposit feeders, mainly Portlandia arctica, and suspension feeders, mainly Hiatella arctica and Mya truncata, collected from both calcareous and non‐calcareous Holocene sediments. Deposit feeders from calcareous sediments are older than their suspension‐feeding counterparts by as much as 2240±130 ¹⁴C years. This is attributed to the uptake of ‘old’ bicarbonate derived from calcareous bedrock. The age discrepancy between suspension and deposit feeders in calcareous terrain is non‐systematic in space and time, thereby invalidating the application of a correction. In contrast, the age comparisons are concordant at sites located on the Precambrian Shield. In terrestrial environments underlain by carbonate, previous acceptance of dates on deposit feeders led to erroneous interpretations of deglaciation and relative sea‐level history, in both the North American and the Eurasian Arctic. This has prompted several researchers to exclude deposit feeders from their late Quaternary reconstructions. The same chronological problem of deposit‐feeding molluscs now needs to be more widely acknowledged by the marine community.     

U‐Th‐Pb systematics of some granitoids from the northeastern Yilgarn Block,Western Australia and implications for uranium source rock potential

The Mount Boreas‐type granite and spatially associated syenitic granitoid of Western Australia yield Pb‐Pb ages of 2370 ± 100 Ma and 2760 ± 210 Ma, respectively. Th‐Pb ages, although less precise, are concordant with these ages, and therefore the apparent ages are interpreted to be the crystallisation ages for these two units. U‐Pb ages are variable and for the most part anomalously old, which suggests a Cainozoic uranium loss. However, this loss is generally small (< 3μg/g); therefore, neither granitoid in its fresh state provides a good source for nearby calcrete‐hosted uranium deposits. The possibility remains that the Mount Boreas‐type granite that has been completely weathered during the Tertiary could have been a source for the calcrete‐type uranium deposits in W.A. Although the Mount Boreas‐type granite is highly fractionated, it does not bear a strong geochemical imprint of a sedimentary precursor. This feature contrasts it with apparently fresh granitoids from other parts of the world that have lost large amounts of uranium (～ 20μg/g) and are associated with large roll‐type and other low temperature‐type uranium deposits.