U-Th-Pb systematics of some granitoids from the northeastern Yilgarn Block, Western Australia and implications for uranium source rock potential

The Mount Boreas‐type granite and spatially associated syenitic granitoid of Western Australia yield Pb‐Pb ages of 2370 ± 100 Ma and 2760 ± 210 Ma, respectively. Th‐Pb ages, although less precise, are concordant with these ages, and therefore the apparent ages are interpreted to be the crystallisation ages for these two units. U‐Pb ages are variable and for the most part anomalously old, which suggests a Cainozoic uranium loss. However, this loss is generally small (< 3μg/g); therefore, neither granitoid in its fresh state provides a good source for nearby calcrete‐hosted uranium deposits. The possibility remains that the Mount Boreas‐type granite that has been completely weathered during the Tertiary could have been a source for the calcrete‐type uranium deposits in W.A. Although the Mount Boreas‐type granite is highly fractionated, it does not bear a strong geochemical imprint of a sedimentary precursor. This feature contrasts it with apparently fresh granitoids from other parts of the world that have lost large amounts of uranium (∼ 20μg/g) and are associated with large roll‐type and other low temperature‐type uranium deposits.