Curnamona Province, South Australia: terrane analysis

Project Investigators

Doctor Karin Barovich

Professor John Foden

Associate Professor Martin Hand

Doctor Lachlan Rutherford (PIRSA)

Project details

This project commenced in 2001 and was completed in early 2006.

The goal of this project was to develop tectonic and isotopic models for the Curnamona Province, to provide an integrated tectonothermal and isotopic framework that enhances the prospectivity of the Olary Domain. This project achieved this by the following:

1. Metamorphic analysis of the Willyama Supergroup stratigraphic models
2. Constructing an absolute temporal framework for tectonism across the Curnamona Province using Sm/Nd analysis of garnets and EPMA U/Th/Pb analysis of monazite
3. Determining age constaints on regional alteration and sources of miineralising fluids through Nd/Pb isotopic analysis.

The product of these analyses will create a model of crust-mantle evolution through the magmatic history of the Olary Domain.

Publications

Rutherford, L., Barovich, K., Hand, M. & Foden, J. 2006. Continental ca 1.7-1.69 Ga Fe-rich metatholeiites in the Curnamona Province, Australia: a record of melting of a heterogeneous, subduction-modified lithospheric mantle. Australian Journal of Earth Science, Vol 53, No 3, pp 501- 519.

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