Authors / CoAuthors
Champion, D.C. | Highet, L. | Thorne, J.P.
Abstract
Alkaline and related rocks are a relatively rare class of igneous rocks worldwide. Alkaline rocks encompass a wide range of rock types and are mineralogically and geochemically diverse. They are typically though to have been derived by generally small to very small degrees of partial melting of a wide range of mantle compositions. As such these rocks have the potential to convey considerable information on the evolution of the Earth’s mantle (asthenosphere and lithosphere), particularly the role of metasomatism which may have been important in their generation or to which such rocks may themselves have contributed. Such rocks, by their unique compositions and or enriched source protoliths, also have considerable metallogenic potential, e.g., diamonds, Th, U, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, REEs. It is evident that the geographic occurrences of many of these rock types are also important, and may relate to presence of old cratons, craton margins or major lithospheric breaks. Finally, many alkaline rocks also carry with them mantle xenoliths providing a snapshot of the lithospheric mantle composition at the time of their emplacement. Accordingly, although Alkaline and related rocks comprise only a volumetrically minor component of the geology of Australia, they are of considerable importance to studies of lithospheric composition, evolution and architecture and to helping constrain the temporal evolution of the lithosphere, as well as more directly to metallogenesis and mineralisation. This contribution presents the first part of an ongoing compilation of the distribution and geology of alkaline and related rocks throughout Australia. The report and accompanying GIS document alkaline and related rocks of Archean age. All are from the Pilbara and Yilgarn Cratons of Western Australia. The report also reviews the nomenclature of alkaline rocks and classification procedures. GIS metadata is documented in the appendices.
Product Type
document
eCat Id
146943
Contact for the resource
Point of contact
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
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- Contact instructions
- MEG
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Digital Object Identifier
Keywords
- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- EARTH SCIENCES
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- Alkaline rocks
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- Australia
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- Igneous rocks
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- Published_External
- ( Project )
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- EFTF - Exploring For The Future
- ( Project )
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- Australia’s Resources Framework
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- Alkaline Rocks Atlas of Australia
Publication Date
2022-10-20T02:00:37
Creation Date
2020-06-20T09:00:00
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Status
completed
Purpose
This report and accompanying GIS document alkaline and related rocks of Archean age, all of which are located in the Pilbara and Yilgarn Cratons of Western Australia.
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asNeeded
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
Record RECORD 2022/036
Lineage
This report and accompanying GIS document alkaline and related rocks of Archean age, and is the first part of an ongoing compilation of the distribution and geology of alkaline and related rocks throughout Australia.
Parent Information
Extents
[-44.00, -9.00, 112.00, 154.00]
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
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Associations
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