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New geochronology of the Mount Woods Inlier and the central Gawler gold province

Created 16/10/2025

Updated 16/10/2025

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The Gawler Craton is a complex Archaean to Mesoproterozoic terrane. Defining the age-range of the geology in different areas of the craton is vital to understanding its geological history and aiding mineral exploration. Recent SHRIMP U-Pb results from the Mount Woods Inlier and the Central Gawler Au province clarify the age of magmatic events, and gives an insight into the extent, and significance of the ~1590 Ma Hiltaba Suite. Further to this, the U-Pb dating has helped constrain the age of mineralisation in several areas. Data from felsic and mafic igneous rocks from the Mount Woods Inlier show a predominant age-range of ~1590 Ma to ~1580 Ma. However, ~1708 Ma granite has also been identified. Along with inherited zircon spectra, the older granite may have important implications for unravelling the pre-Hiltaba history of the Mount Woods Inlier and its relationship to other Australian Proterozoic cratons. As high-grade metamorphic rocks are common in the Mount Woods Inlier, the significance and timing of their metamorphism have also been examined. The age of magmatism in the Central Gawler is similar to the Mount Woods Inlier, with ~1590 Ma to ~1580 Ma igneous activity dominating. However, felsic igneous rocks of the Barns prospect (Adelaide Resources) are significantly older at ~1690 Ma. Mafic dykes from this area have also been dated, and although a similar age was returned, the zircons analysed may represent the age of the host rock into which the dyke has intruded. Granites and sedimentary rocks from the Tarcoola goldfield returned ages around 1590-1580 Ma and 1730-1715 Ma. Granitoid from the Weednanna prospect (Aquila Resources) has a Hiltaba age of ~1590 Ma.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title New geochronology of the Mount Woods Inlier and the central Gawler gold province
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/006cc4f8-eee6-4473-967e-884f4794b21c
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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    ]
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  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "New geochronology of the Mount Woods Inlier and the central Gawler gold province". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/new-geochronology-of-the-mount-woods-inlier-and-the-central-gawler-gold-province