3.1-GA TUFF FROM THE SHOLL BELT IN THE WEST PILBARA - FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR DIACHRONOUS VOLCANISM IN THE PILBARA CRATON OF WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

An age of 3112 +/- 6 (2sigma) Ma, determined by conventional techniques on single zircons from a felsic volcanic rock from the Sholl Belt in the western part of the Archaean Pilbara Craton of Western Australia, is interpreted as the age of felsic volcanism. This is about 100 Ma older than felsic volcanic rocks in the nearby but unconnected Whim Creek Belt and is significantly younger than felsic volcanism in the East Pilbara, which took place during two distinct episodes at approximately 3450 Ma and approximately 3300 Ma. The present results rule out previous correlations between the felsic volcanic rocks of the Sholl Belt and the 3452 +/- 16 Ma old Duffer Formation in the East Pilbara.