Rb‐Sr systematics of the Claret Creek Ring Complex and their bearing on the origin of upper Palaeozoic igneous rocks in northeast Queensland

The Claret Creek Ring Complex forms a minor part of the extensive Upper Palaeozoic calcalkaline province of northeast Queensland. Although the Claret Creek Ring Complex contains 10 mappable units, it was formed about 300 m.y. ago over a time interval no greater than 10 m.y. This interval is short compared with the overall duration of Upper Palaeozoic igneous activity, which lasted from approximately 320 m.y. to 270 m.y. in this area. Although geochemically distinct, the complex shares a common initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio with the majority of the surrounding igneous rocks; this suggests derivation from different sources with a common initial ratio. Such a relationship could arise by the re‐melting or pronounced fractional crystallisation of magmas which underplated or intruded the lower crust immediately prior to final magma generation. Alternatively, the acidic magmas may have originally formed by partial melting of crustal rocks immediately after a regional isotopic homogenisation. In either case the magmas were derived from originally igneous rocks which were dioritic in chemical composition.