A geochemical study of the Cullen Granite in the Northern Territory, involving major elements and 25 trace elements (Li, Be, F, S, V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Ba, La, Ce, W, Pb, Th, U) has been carried out. The results support field observations in that they indicate that one of the five phases of granite identified is younger and more highly fractionated than the rest. The existence of a relationship between the geochemistry of the Cullen Granite and mineralisation contained within the granite and surrounding sediments is suggested by only a few of the trace elements determined. High U concentrations within the granite near Edith River can be correlated with known mineralisation in the granite, although no U mineralisation has been reported from a region southwest of Frances Creek where the U content of the granite is also high. Anomalously high concentrations of Cu and W in the granite may be related to mineralisation in nearby sediments. The well documented tendency for the Sn content of intrusive rocks associated with Sn deposits to be higher than in those rocks without deposits is not supported by the Cullen Granite data. Although numerous Sn deposits occur in and around the granite, its Sn content is near or below the limit of detection.
