Geochemical and isotopic evidence for the age, orogenic setting and petrogenesis of the Nychum Volcanic association, North Queensland

Abstract

Rb‐Sr and K‐Ar age determinations agree with palaeobotanical evidence in assigning an age of 270 Ma (Lower Permian) to the Nychum Volcanics, North Queensland. Geological and geochemical evidence (moderate ‐REE, La/Yb, Th, Zr/Y, Hf/Yb, Sc/Ni) indicate that the volcanics were erupted on a thin, active continental margin. Five magma groups are present: high‐alumina basalts, andesite‐dacites, acid rocks, tholeiitic andesites, and pitchstone with a high La/Yb ratio. The high‐alumina basalts and calc‐alkaline andesites have a parent‐daughter (source rock‐partial melt) relationship. The acid rocks share high HREE, Zr, Hf, Zn, Sc, Fe/Mg and low Al with, and may be fractionated from, the tholeiitic subduction‐zone andesites. Low‐pressure fractional crystallisation is evident in all five magma groups.

Key words:

• Rb/Sr
• K/Ar age determinations
• geochemistry
• isotopes
• calc‐alkaline volcanics
• low‐pressure fractional crystallisation