Abstract:Located in western Australia, Darling Range is rich in lateritetype bauxite resources. In order to understand metallogenesis of the lateritetype bauxite in Darling Range and constrain the source of oreforming materials, this study carried out element geochemistry analysis and LA ICPMC dating of detrital zircons from bauxite and underlying granite. The results show that the bauxite in the Darling Range are composed mainly of Al2O3, Fe2O3, SiO2, and TiO2. A12O3 has a negative relationship with SiO2, but a positive relationship with TiO2. It suggests that bauxite experienced the loss of Si and enrichment of Al and Ti during the oreforming process. Geochemical analysis shows that the bauxite is enriched in Th, U, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ti, and depleted in Ba, K, Sr, P and Sm. The bauxite is characterized by low REE contents from 136 ×10-6 to 6558×10-6, and the chondritenormalized REE pattern slightly tilts to the right and shows enrichment in LREE. LAICPMC detrital zircon UPb ages of the bauxite can be assigned to two groups: 1167~1267 Ma (2 zircons) and 2539~2696 Ma (16 zircons). The former younger detrital zircons possibly came from AlbanyFraser orogeny, while the later older detrital zircons have the weighted average ages of 2579±15 Ma (MSWD=116), consistent with 2585±12 Ma (MSWD=0.83) of Archean granite, with the difference within the error. This indicates that besides the zircons from Archean granite, minor zircons in the lateritetype bauxite may derive from AlbanyFraser orogeny belt. Using Al2O3/TiO2 ratio, lgCrlgNi plot,trace element ratios,and REE pattern to trace the source of lateritetype bauxite deposit, it can be concluded that Archean granite is the major source of oreforming materials for the lateritetype bauxite deposit in the Darling Range of western Australia.