Rb‐Sr and K‐Ar age determinations agree with palaeobotanical evidence in assigning an age of 270 Ma (Lower Permian) to the Nychum Volcanics, North Queensland. Geological and geochemical evidence (moderate ‐REE, La/Yb, Th, Zr/Y, Hf/Yb, Sc/Ni) indicate that the volcanics were erupted on a thin, active continental margin. Five magma groups are present: high‐alumina basalts, andesite‐dacites, acid rocks, tholeiitic andesites, and pitchstone with a high La/Yb ratio. The high‐alumina basalts and calc‐alkaline andesites have a parent‐daughter (source rock‐partial melt) relationship. The acid rocks share high HREE, Zr, Hf, Zn, Sc, Fe/Mg and low Al with, and may be fractionated from, the tholeiitic subduction‐zone andesites. Low‐pressure fractional crystallisation is evident in all five magma groups.