Geochemical discrimination of igneous zircon in the Gawler Craton, South Australia

Abstract

Zircon from spatially and temporally distinct igneous rock units across the Gawler Craton, Australia, show subtle differences in trace and rare earth element ratios. These igneous suites range in composition from granite, rhyolite to gabbro and originate from the ca 2450 Ma Sleaford Complex, the ca 1850 Ma Donington Suite, the ca 1633–1608 Ma St Peter Suite, the ca 1595–1587 Ma Gawler Range Volcanics and the ca 1595–1575 Ma Hiltaba Suite granites. The geochemical characterisation of zircon is carried out on relatively unaltered samples in order to establish primary signatures and to understand the processes controlling the geochemical signatures of the igneous suites. A range of zircon morphologies and internal textures that are preserved in these igneous suites infer the geological history of the host rock, including metamorphism and multiple episodes of zircon saturation suggesting a complex magma evolution. Despite differences in whole-rock geochemistry between igneous suites, zircon largely overlaps geochemically. However, subtle differences in Th/U, U/Hf and (Nb + Ta)/P ratios are evident between the Donington Suite, Gawler Range Volcanics and Hiltaba Suite. This is likely due to the tectonic setting, composition of the crystallising magma and timing of zircon crystallisation in the magma evolution. The subtle geochemical differences in zircon show the potential of using these ratios to aid in provenance studies with large populations of zircon that are of similar age. However, as the dataset is limited and focused only on unaltered samples, further work needs to be undertaken to look at the altered counterparts of these igneous suites. KEY POINTS Zircon recovered from unaltered samples of spatially and temporally distinct igneous suites in the Gawler Craton is used here. Th/U, U/Hf and (Nb + Ta)/P ratios of zircon can discriminate the Donington Suite, Gawler Range Volcanics and Hiltaba Suite. Zircon morphologies, internal textures and geochemical characteristics are a value aid to provenance studies.