SHRIMP U-Pb Zircon Ages from Queensland Basement Drill Cores

Six new Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb geochronological results are presented for zircon samples from Queensland. Geoscience Australia published this data in 2024-2025 as part of the NE Queensland Solid Geology Project. The samples originate from drillholes penetrating the Karumba and Carpentaria basins to analyze Proterozoic and Paleozoic basement units.

Use Cases

• Correlate U-Pb zircon ages from six samples to define the geochronology of under-cover extensions of the Proterozoic Etheridge Province.
• Interpret the geochronological results to distinguish units from the Proterozoic Croydon and Savannah provinces.
• Analyze SHRIMP data from two samples to characterize the late Paleozoic Kennedy Igneous Association beneath basin cover.
• Use the geochronological record to model the basement architecture intersected by drillholes in the Georgetown and Coen regions.

Strengths

• Data includes six distinct SHRIMP U-Pb zircon samples, providing precise geochronological measurements.
• Samples are strategically sourced from drillholes penetrating multiple overlying basins, offering subsurface insights.
• Results cover units from several major geological provinces, including the Etheridge, Croydon, and Savannah.

Limitations

• The dataset is limited to only six samples, offering a narrow snapshot rather than a regional-scale survey.
• Primary data is contained within a PDF report, requiring manual extraction for computational analysis.
• Sample provenance for one unit is noted as probable, introducing some uncertainty in geological attribution.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data, published under the National Collaborative Framework.

Collection Method

Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb geochronology on zircon samples from drill core.

Time Range

Samples date from Proterozoic to late Paleozoic geological periods.

Freshness

Record published as part of a 2024-2025 project and last updated on the platform in March 2026.

Geography

Georgetown and Coen regions, Queensland, Australia, focusing on onshore national geology.