NTGS laser ablation ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology project: Habgood and Balma groups (McArthur Basin), Namerinni Group (Tomkinson Province), and unnamed units from drillholes NDW12-01 and Jamison-1, July 2016-May 2019

Abstract

Six samples, four sandstones and one metasandstone from the informally named greater McArthur Basin, and another sandstone from an unnamed succession overlying the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Northern Territory, were selected for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon dating. The five greater McArthur Basin samples include one sample each from the Habgood and Balma groups in the northern McArthur Basin; two from the Namerinni Group of the Tomkinson Province; and one from ungrouped sedimentary rocks intersected in drillhole NDW12-01 in the Daly Waters Fault Zone. The sixth sample is from ungrouped sedimentary rocks (unassigned to a basin succession) intersected in drillhole Jamison-1 in the Beetaloo Sub-basin area. All samples yielded multiple zircon detrital age populations that both improve the constraints on the ages and stratigraphic affinities of the sampled formations, and assist in identifying potential provenance source areas.