New data unravels geological history of Central Australia

The recently published NTGS Record 2023-001: Thermochronologic constraints on the tectonic and thermal history of the northeastern Aileron Province: Results from 40Ar/39Ar step-heating of hornblende and biotite presents 40Ar/39Ar chronologic results acquired from Aileron Province rock samples as part of the AuScope National Argon Map initiative.

The new thermochronologic data complement previous NTGS petrochronological data to provide a detailed reconstruction of the geological history of the northeastern Aileron Province. This comprehensive dataset supports previous interpretations that the bulk of metamorphism and deformation in this portion of the Aileron Province occurred during the Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic, and newly demonstrates that there was not a substantial thermal or deformational overprint on this portion of the Aileron Province during the Palaeozoic. The data also have important implications for the deformation experienced by the adjacent Irindina Province during the Palaeozoic.

Download the NTGS record through GEMIS.