GEMOC ARC National Key CentreM.A. Lackie, GEMOC Macquarie
The New England Orogen comprises a number of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic terranes. This paper presents the results of a palaeomagnetic study of volcanic units from the southern part of the Connors-Camboon Province in Queensland. The age range of the Province is 320 - 280 Ma, with this study concentrating on the Late Carboniferous Torsdale Volcanics and the Early Permian Camboon Volcanics from the Cracow area (25.3°S, 150.3°E).
The Camboon Volcanics sampled were generally andesitic ignimbrites and lavas yielding a primary direction in both magnetite and haematite carriers. All directions were reversed and analysis of the data shows a southerly steep down direction with a mean direction of Dec = 171.7°, Inc = 76.6° (a95 = 6.1°, k = 52, N=12) which results in a palaeomagnetic South pole of 50.4°S, 155.9°E (10.5,11.3). This is consistent with other Australian Early Permian data indicating a primary magnetisation age.
The Torsdale Volcanics sampled were generally silicic ignimbrites that yielded a primary direction in both magnetite and haematite carriers. The directions are generally reversed, although some normal polarities are observed. The directions are not as steep as those observed for the Camboon Volcanics and show a more westerly character, with a mean direction of Dec = 217.8°, Inc = 68.8° ((a95 = 7.9°, k = 59, N=7) which results in a palaeomagnetic South pole of 50.9°S, 113.8°E (11.4,13.4). The pole is consistent with the Late Carboniferous age of the unit.