Regional scale correlations

Sequencing the SHRIMP detrital record

Narelle Neumann, Peter Southgate, George Gibson,
Laurie Hutton, Damien Foster and the I7 team

predictive mineral discovery Cooperative Research Centre

Extra
logo

Establish correlations between the Western & Eastern Successions (WS

and ES), and place stratigraphy within a geodynamic framework

Use the 1800-1575 Ma framework

established in the WS
Focus on the ~1755 Ma surface at
the base of the Quilalar Formation
(WS), Ballara Quartzite (MKZ) and
Mitakoodi Quartzite (MS) as a timeline datum to link the Western and
Eastern Successions use this
datum to better understand lateral
and vertical variations in basin
stratigraphies
Extend correlations along a
transect that crosses the principal
structural blocks of the ES:
Mary Kathleen, Mitakoodi Block,
Marimo Belt and Snake Creek

E-W Project - Analysis Tools

Geochronology & Stratigraphy
Revisit existing sample locations to evaluate age interpretations
Within each block, establish a sequence stratigraphic section & collect
geochronology samples along this section = identify chronostratigraphic
surfaces & allow a temporal framework to be applied across the block
SHRIMP geochronology focused on analysis of:
1) detrital zircons from sedimentary units to determine maximum
depositional ages for basin packages, and
2) igneous zircons from magmatic units to define/constraint magmatic
and deformation events
Structural Analysis
Identify and characterise the major structures that serve as boundaries
to several of the structural blocks
Better constrain the structural and deformational history which has led
to the present configuration and distribution of the major stratigraphic
units
Remove the effects of deformation to enable the original basin
architecture and sedimentary facies distribution to be better understood

Western Succession
Event Chart

Doom
Wide

Isa

Lawn
Term
River

Zinc
Deposits

Three Superbasins:
Isa Superbasin (~1670-1575 Ma)
Calvert Superbasin (~1740-1690 Ma)
Leichhardt Superbasin (~1790-1750 Ma)

Loretta
Gun

Calvert

Prize
Big

Leichhardt

Quilalar

Myally
Guide

Provides detailed history of

sedimentation and magmatism
between 1800 and 1575 Ma
*based on chronostratigraphy not
lithostratigraphy
Pb-Zn mineralisation associated with
supersequence boundaries

Field Area
Previous work undertaken in
the WS
50 km

Mt Isa

Cloncurry

2005 field areas:

Mary Kathleen
Mitakoodi Block
Marimo Belt
Snake Creek

Mary Kathleen detrital spectra

Youngest cluster
~1776 Ma (n = 65)

35

Corella Fm Pkc2q
Little Beauty W

Mary Kathleen region Corella Fm Pkc2q

2005169003
<2100Ma only; n = 77

30

Relative probability

Number

25
20
15
10
5
0
Youngest cluster
~1767 Ma (n=43)

Ballara Quartzite
MK = Highway

Mary Kathleen region Ballara Qzite

2004169014
<2100 Ma only; n=68

20

Relative probability

Number

15

10

Western Succession - Quilalar Fm

Quilalar Formation
WS (Mistake Creek)

12

2003169028
<2120Ma only; n=52

10

Relative probability

Number

Youngest cluster
~ 1763 Ma (n=5)

0
1650

1700

1750

1800

1850

1900

Age (Ma)

1950

2000

2050

2100

mda ~1725 Ma (n=43)

Igneous
Crystallisation age
Detrital maximum
depositional age

mda ~1750 Ma (n=48)

Mary Kathleen Preliminary new

SHRIMP results
Deighton Quartzite dominated by
Ballara/Corella-type ages in base, and
younger populations near top

mda ~1750 Ma (n=62)

~1740 Ma (4 samples)

mda ~1775 Ma (n=65)

New maximum depositional ages for Ballara

QuartziteCorella Formation dominated by
Argylla source probably slightly older than
depositional age of ~1755 Ma
Argylla Formation = 1780-1775 Ma in Mary
Kathleen region

mda ~1768 Ma (n =32)

mda ~1767 Ma (n = 43)

~1775 & 1740 Ma

(2 samples)
~1780-1775 Ma
(5 samples)

* In general, smaller proportion of older

Palaeoproterozoic & Archaean components
in detrital spectra of MK sediments compared
with WS

Deighton Quartzite correlated with 3 different

WS Ss:
Deighton 5 = ~1670 Ma Gun Ss
Deighton 1,2,3,4 = ~1690 Ma Prize Ss
Basal Deighton 1 + basalts = ~1710 Ma Big Ss +
Fiery magmatic event
Ballara QuartziteCorella Fm equivalent to
Quilalar Ss based on stratigraphic correlations
and depositional ages
No 1780-1765 Ma Myally Ss identified
Argylla Event = Magna Lynn Basalt & Argylla Fm
major magmatic event ~syn-basal Myally Ss
may be major source of zircons for Myally Ss

Adding to the event

chart .
When compared to WS, Mary
Kathleen region has:
No identified Guide or Myally
Supersequence packages
No evidence of Fiery or
Sybella-aged zircons in
Deighton Quartzite 3 and 5
detrital zircon populations
Basal Gun Ss unconformity
contains fluvial sediment as at
least as far east as Mary
Kathleen region

Snake Creek region

1897 33 Ma (3)
1658 8 Ma (16)
1756 14 Ma (1);
1690 20 (3)

1666 14 Ma (10)
1686 8 Ma

**Plus 1654 4 Ma ?MNQ or TCV

1693 5 Ma ?MNQ or LCF
further south
Data from Page and Sun, 1998; Giles and Nutman, 2003;
Foster and Austin, 2005; Page, unpubl.

Snake Creek as a introduction to

the Soldiers Cap Group:
lowest metamorphic grade =
easier to identify primary
sedimentary facies
appeared to have most
continuous stratigraphy for
constructing a composite section
Issues:
Deeper-water facies (turbidites
dominant) difficult to identify
correlative conformities
Many previously ages
constraints based on limited
zircon analyses and extrapolated
across major structures and over
large distances to south (@
higher grade)
Some inconsistencies in current
age constraints

Western Succession
Moondarra Siltstone
Oxide Creek

10

2005169047
<2100 Ma only

2003169006
<2100Ma only; n=46

Youngest
individuals
~1690 & 1670 Ma

Number

Youngest
individuals
~ 1670 Ma
Relative probability

Relative probability

Number

Marimo Slate rhythmite

Marimo Belt

10

Detrital Spectra

Eastern Succession

16
0
Youngest cluster
~ 1674 Ma (n=27)

Warrina Park Quartzite G1

Oxide Creek

20

Youngest Cluster
~ 1687 Ma (n=42)

Mount Norna Quartzite

Snake Creek
2005169027
<2100 Ma only; n=62

2003169005
<2100 Ma only; n=70

14

12

Number

Number

Relative probability

Relative probability

15

10

10

2
0

0
16

Warrina Park Quartzite P4

Oxide Creek

2005169022
<2100 Ma only; n=59

2003169004
<2100 Ma only; n=58

14

Llewellyn Creek Formation

Snake Creek

14

12

12

Youngest
individuals
~ 1685 Ma

0
1600

Number

Number

Youngest
cluster
~ 1685 Ma

Relative probability

Relative probability

10

10

1650

1700

1750

1800

1850
Age (Ma)

1900

1950

2000

2050

2100

0
1600

1650

1700

1750

1800

1850
Age (M a)

1900

1950

2000

2050

2100

Marimo Slate
mda ~1670 Ma + major
~1750 Ma cluster and minor
Palaeoproterozoic and Late
Archaean components.
Llewellyn Creek Fm, Mount
Norna Quartzite
(3 samples total)
mda ~1685 Ma + clusters at
either ~1730 or ~1755 Ma
and a minor ~1850 Ma and
Late Archaean components.
Kuridala Formation
mda ~1677 Ma + minor
~1730 Ma cluster and very
small number of ~2500 Ma
ages.

New event chart for the Mount Isa Inlier