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Stratigraphy of the Pliocene Sørsdal Formation, Marine Plain, Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 12:40 authored by Quilty, PG, Lirio, JM, Jillett, D
The Sorsdal Formation and one member, Graveyard Sandstone Member constitute a sedimentary sequence covering approximately 10 km2 of Marine Plain, Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. The new Formation consists dominantly of friable diatomaceous siltstone and sandstone with dark limestone lenses. It is in situ, essentially horizontal, 7.2 m thick in its type section and lies less than 25 m a.s.l. Graveyard Sandstone Member occurs near the top of the formation, is highly lithified sandy diamictite, 30-50 cm thick and widespread through the Marine Plain region. Using diatoms, the Formation is Early Pliocene in age (Fragilariopsis barronii; 4.5-4.1 Ma). The Graveyard Sandstone Member probably was deposited during the Gilbert Chron interval (lower Chron 2Ar or C3n.1r) of reversed magnetic polarity. The Sorsdal Formation contains fossil cetaceans and a diverse and well-preserved invertebrate fauna. Foraminifera are rare partly because of diagenesis, but include Ammoelphidiella antarctica. No evidence of coeval terrestrial vegetation has been recovered. The deposit accumulated in a series of small bays probably in an environment warmer than exists in the region today. There is no lithological evidence of glacial influence except in Graveyard Sandstone Member that may represent local glacial influence in a shallow marine to intertidal environment.

History

Publication title

Antarctic Science

Volume

12

Pagination

205-216

ISSN

0954-1020

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Place of publication

NEW YORK, NY, USA

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences

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