Abstract
Reconnaissance isotopic dating (K‐Ar, Rb‐Sr, U‐Pb) of over 20 different units of Early Palaeozoic and Late Proterozoic age in western and northern Tasmania has assisted in clarifying some ages and relationships but has met with many problems. The Rb‐Sr systems in most Cambrian rocks have been re‐set or partially re‐set by post‐Cambrian tectonothermal events, particularly the mid‐Devonian Tabberabberan Orogeny, and U‐Pb zircon data show considerable scatter due to contamination by older zircon and to post‐crystallization Pb loss. K‐Ar dating, mainly of slates and schists, has been more successful in delineating major tectonothermal events, but spreads of ages due to incomplete re‐setting are again evident in some cases. The investigation has demonstrated some of the difficulties involved in dating in this complex region. Slate ages from the Late Proterozoic Burnie and Oonah Formations and Rocky Cape Group fall in the 630–690 Ma range, and confirm that the Penguin Orogeny was a Proterozoic event which, alth...
Published Version
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