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GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA Geodynamic and Metallogenic Evolution of Proterozoic Australia from 1870 – 1550 Ma: a discussion G. L. Fraser, D. L. Huston, G. M. Gibson, N. L. Neumann, D. Maidment, N, Kositcin, R. G. Skirrow, S. Jaireth, P. Lyons, Record C. Carson, H. Cutten. and A. Lambeck. 2007/16 SPATIAL INFORMATION FOR THE NATION Geodynamic and Metallogenic Evolution of Proterozoic Australia from 1870 – 1550 Ma Geodynamic and Metallogenic Evolution of Proterozoic Australia from 1870 – 1550 Ma: a discussion GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA RECORD 2007/16 by G. L. Fraser1, D. L. Huston1, G. M. Gibson1, N. L. Neumann1, D. Maidment1, N, Kositcin1, R. G. Skirrow1, S. Jaireth1, P. Lyons1, C. Carson1, H. Cutten1. and A. Lambeck1. 1. Onshore Energy and Minerals Division, Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra ACT 2601 Geodynamic and Metallogenic Evolution of Proterozoic Australia from 1870 – 1550 Ma Department of Industry, Tourism & Resources Minister for Industry, Tourism & Resources: The Hon. Ian Macfarlane, MP Parliamentary Secretary: The Hon. Bob Baldwin, MP Secretary: Mark Paterson Geoscience Australia Chief Executive Officer: Dr Neil Williams © Commonwealth of Australia, 2007 This work is copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purpose of study, research, criticism, or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Copyright is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer, Geoscience Australia. Requests and enquiries should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer, Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378 Canberra ACT 2601. Geoscience Australia has tried to make the information in this product as accurate as possible. However, it does not guarantee that the information is totally accurate or complete. Therefore, you should not solely rely on this information when making a commercial decision. ISSN 1448-2177 ISBN 978 1 921236 55 6 (hardcopy) 978 1 921236 54 9 (webcopy) GeoCat # 65342 Bibliographic reference: Fraser, G. L., Huston, D. L., Gibson, G. M., Neumann, N. L., Maidment, D., Kositcin, N., Skirrow, R. G., Jaireth, S., Lyons, P., Carson, C., Cutten, H. and Lambeck, A., Geodynamic and Metallogenic Evolution of Proterozoic Australia from 1870 – 1550 Ma: a discussion. Geoscience Australia Record 2007/16, 76 p. ii Geodynamic and Metallogenic Evolution of Proterozoic Australia from 1870 – 1550 Ma Contents Introduction .....................................................................................................1 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................1 Part I: A Review of Tectonic Reconstructions of Proterozoic Australia ................ 3 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 3 Tectonic Models for Proterozoic Australia..................................................................................... 3 The Ensialic Model.................................................................................................................... 3 Ensialic versus Modern-Style Plate Tectonics .......................................................................... 4 Modern-Style Plate-Tectonic Models........................................................................................ 4 The Basin-and-Range Model..................................................................................................... 5 Lines of Evidence ........................................................................................................................... 6 Palaeomagnetic Evidence.......................................................................................................... 6 Evidence from Igneous Geochemistry ...................................................................................... 7 Evidence from Nd isotopes .......................................................................................................8 Evidence from Metamorphic Rocks.......................................................................................... 8 Geological Evidence for Subduction and Terrane Accretion in the Australian Proterozoic........... 9 The Halls Creek Orogen............................................................................................................ 9 Paperbark Supersuite............................................................................................................9 Dougalls Suite...................................................................................................................... 9 Sally Downs Supersuite ..................................................................................................... 10 The southern margin of the North Australian Craton.............................................................. 11 The Musgrave Province........................................................................................................... 12 Summary and Discussion.............................................................................................................. 13 Major Outstanding Questions.................................................................................................. 14 Tests of the Tectonic Models................................................................................................... 15 Presence or Absence of Subduction-related Sutures.......................................................... 15 Timing and tectonic interpretation of the Hutchison Group sedimentary rocks ................ 15 Corrrelation of ~1850 Ma magmatism in NAC and SAC.................................................. 15 Correlation of ~1760 – 1730 Ma sediments in NAC and SAC.......................................... 16 Comparison of ~1760 – 1720 Ma magmatism in NAC and SAC...................................... 16 Provenance of sediments in the Warumpi Province........................................................... 16 Nd-isotopic comparison of NAC and SAC ........................................................................ 16 Improved Palaeomagnetic constraints................................................................................ 16 iii Geodynamic and Metallogenic Evolution of Proterozoic Australia from 1870 – 1550 Ma Part II: Metallogenic Events in Proterozoic Australia ............................................................ 17 Spatial and Temporal distribution of mineralising events ............................................................ 17 >1870 Ma ................................................................................................................................ 17 1870 – 1810 Ma....................................................................................................................... 18 1810 – 1750 Ma....................................................................................................................... 19 1740 – 1670 Ma....................................................................................................................... 20 1660 – 1630 Ma....................................................................................................................... 20 1620 – 1550 Ma....................................................................................................................... 21 1520 – 1000 Ma....................................................................................................................... 21 Part III: Geodynamic Models for Proterozoic Australia – 1870 to 1550 Ma ........................ 23 Introduction................................................................................................................................... 23 Predictive Metallogenesis ............................................................................................................. 23 Geodynamic and Metallogenic Models for the Interval 1870 – 1810 Ma .................................... 25 Geological Elements................................................................................................................ 25 Continent-scale Geodynamic Scenarios .................................................................................. 25 Model A: Subduction/accretion-dominated ....................................................................... 25 Model B: Extension-dominated ......................................................................................... 26 Known Mineral Systems ......................................................................................................... 27 Predicted Mineral Systems ...................................................................................................... 27 Model A: Subduction/accretion-dominated ....................................................................... 27 Model B: Extension-dominated ......................................................................................... 27 Geodynamic and Metallogenic Models for the Interval 1810 – 1750 Ma .................................... 33 Geological Elements................................................................................................................ 33 Continent-scale Geodynamic Scenarios .................................................................................. 33 Model A: Subduction/accretion-dominated ....................................................................... 33 Model B: Extension-dominated ........................................................................................