Tectonic setting and geochemistry of Miocene alkalic basalts from the Jones Mountains, West Antarctica

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Hole ◽  
B. C. Storey ◽  
W. E. LeMasurier
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Geochemical Composition ◽  
Crustal Block ◽  
Volcaniclastic Rocks ◽  
Geochemical Analyses ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Alkalic Basalts

Within the Jones Mountains, which form part of the Thurston Island crustal block, up to 700 m of Miocene (c. 10 Ma) pillow basalt and palagonitized volcaniclastic rocks unconformably overlie Jurassic granitic basement and Cretaceous volcanic rocks and dykes. New geochemical analyses demonstrate the alkalic nature of the basalts, which range in composition from alkali basalt to basanite. Unradiogenic Sr-isotope ratios (0.7031–0.7034), coupled with low LILE/HFSE ratios (e.g. Th/Ta c. 1.4, Rb/Nb 0.3–0.9) indicate a predominantly asthenospheric source for the basalts. The Jones Mountains basalts are geochemically similar to the alkalic basalts of Marie Byrd Land, but have consistently lower K/Ba and higher Ba/Nb ratios than Late Cenozoic alkalic basalts along the Antarctic Peninsula. These regional variations in geochemical composition apparently reflect differences in tectonic setting and are not the result of lithospheric interaction or partial melting/crystallization effects. The generation of alkalic magmas along the Antarctic Peninsula was causally related to the formation of slab windows following ridge crest-trench collision and the cessation of subduction, whereas the Jones Mountains alkalic basalts may represent the expression of the northward propagation of the head of the Marie Byrd Land plume.

Chapter 4.1b Antarctic Peninsula: petrology

2021 ◽  
pp. M55-2018-40
Author(s):  
Malcolm J. Hole
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Passive Margin ◽  
Ridge Crest ◽  
Ridge Subduction ◽  
Simple Geometry ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Slab Window

AbstractScattered occurrences of Miocene–Recent volcanic rocks of the alkaline intraplate association represent one of the last expressions of magmatism along the Antarctic Peninsula. The volcanic rocks were erupted after the cessation of subduction which stopped following a series of northward-younging ridge crest–trench collisions. Volcanism has been linked to the development of a growing slab window beneath the extinct convergent margin. Geochemically, lavas range from olivine tholeiite through to basanite and tephrite. Previous studies have emphasized the slab-window tectonic setting as key to allowing melting of peridotite in the asthenospheric void caused by the passage of the slab beneath the locus of volcanism. This hypothesis is revisited in the light of more recent petrological research, and an origin from melting of subducted slab-hosted pyroxenite is considered here to be a more viable alternative for their petrogenesis. Because of the simple geometry of ridge subduction, and the well-established chronology of ridge crest–trench collisions, the Antarctic Peninsula remains a key region for understanding the transition from active to passive margin resulting from cessation of subduction. However, there are still some key issues relating to their tectonomagmatic association, and, principally, the poor geochronological control on the volcanic rocks requires urgent attention.

scholarly journals A revised geochronology of Thurston Island, West Antarctica, and correlations along the proto-Pacific margin of Gondwana

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.R. Riley ◽  
M.J. Flowerdew ◽  
R.J. Pankhurst ◽  
P.T. Leat ◽  
I.L. Millar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Granitoid Magmatism ◽  
Andean Cordillera ◽  
Crustal Block ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Gondwana Margin ◽  
Pacific Margin ◽  
Mesozoic Magmatism ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractThe continental margin of Gondwana preserves a record of long-lived magmatism from the Andean Cordillera to Australia. The crustal blocks of West Antarctica form part of this margin, with Palaeozoic–Mesozoic magmatism particularly well preserved in the Antarctic Peninsula and Marie Byrd Land. Magmatic events on the intervening Thurston Island crustal block are poorly defined, which has hindered accurate correlations along the margin. Six samples are dated here using U-Pb geochronology and cover the geological history on Thurston Island. The basement gneisses from Morgan Inlet have a protolith age of 349±2 Ma and correlate closely with the Devonian–Carboniferous magmatism of Marie Byrd Land and New Zealand. Triassic (240–220 Ma) magmatism is identified at two sites on Thurston Island, with Hf isotopes indicating magma extraction from Mesoproterozoic-age lower crust. Several sites on Thurston Island preserve rhyolitic tuffs that have been dated at 182 Ma and are likely to correlate with the successions in the Antarctic Peninsula, particularly given the pre-break-up position of the Thurston Island crustal block. Silicic volcanism was widespread in Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula at ~ 183 Ma forming the extensive Chon Aike Province. The most extensive episode of magmatism along the active margin took place during the mid-Cretaceous. This Cordillera ‘flare-up’ event of the Gondwana margin is also developed on Thurston Island with granitoid magmatism dated in the interval 110–100 Ma.

Chapter 2.2a Palmer Land and Graham Land volcanic groups (Antarctic Peninsula): volcanology

2021 ◽  
pp. M55-2018-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teal R. Riley ◽  
Philip T. Leat
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Flood Basalt ◽  
Large Igneous Province ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Silicic Volcanic ◽  
Pacific Margin ◽  
Southward Extension ◽  
Continental Magmatism ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractThe break-up of Gondwana during the Early–Middle Jurassic was associated with flood basalt volcanism in southern Africa and Antarctica (Karoo–Ferrar provinces), and formed one of the most extensive episodes of continental magmatism of the Phanerozoic. Contemporaneous felsic magmatism along the proto-Pacific margin of Gondwana has been referred to as a silicic large igneous province, and is exposed extensively in Patagonian South America, the Antarctic Peninsula and elsewhere in West Antarctica. Jurassic-age silicic volcanism in Patagonia is defined as the Chon Aike province and forms one of the most voluminous silicic provinces globally. The Chon Aike province is predominantly pyroclastic in origin, and is characterized by crystal tuffs and ignimbrite units of rhyolite composition. Silicic volcanic rocks of the once contiguous Antarctic Peninsula form a southward extension of the Chon Aike province and are also dominated by silicic ignimbrite units, with a total thickness exceeding 1 km. The ignimbrites include high-grade rheomorphic ignimbrites, as well as unwelded, lithic-rich ignimbrites. Rhyolite lava flows, air-fall horizons, debris-flow deposits and epiclastic deposits are volumetrically minor, occurring as interbedded units within the ignimbrite succession.

scholarly journals Chrono- and lithostratigraphy of a Mesozoic–Tertiary fore- to intra-arc basin: Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula

2011 ◽  
Vol 149 (5) ◽  
pp. 768-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
TEAL R. RILEY ◽  
MICHAEL J. FLOWERDEW ◽  
MARTIN J. WHITEHOUSE
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Basaltic Andesite ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Volcanic Group ◽  
Volcaniclastic Rocks ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Adelaide Island

AbstractThe Mesozoic fore-arc of the Antarctic Peninsula is exposed along its west coast. On Adelaide Island, a 2–3 km succession of turbiditic coarse sandstones and volcanic rocks is exposed. Four U–Pb (zircon) ages are presented here that, in combination with a new stratigraphy, have permitted a robust chrono- and lithostratigraphy to be constructed, which in turn has allowed tentative correlations to be made with the Fossil Bluff Group of Alexander Island, where the ‘type’ fore-arc sequences are described. The lithostratigraphy of Adelaide Island includes the definition of five volcanic/sedimentary formations. The oldest formation is the Buchia Buttress Formation (149.5 ± 1.6 Ma) and is correlated with the Himalia Ridge Formation of Alexander Island. The sandstone–conglomerate dominated succession of the Milestone Bluff Formation (113.9 ± 1.2 Ma) is tentatively correlated with the Pluto Glacier Formation of Alexander Island. Three dominantly volcanic formations are recognized on Adelaide Island, akin to the volcanic rocks of the Alexander Island Volcanic Group; the Mount Liotard Formation is formed of 2 km of basaltic andesite lavas, whilst the Bond Nunatak Formation is also dominated by basaltic andesite lavas, but interbedded with volcaniclastic rocks. The Reptile Ridge Formation has been dated at 67.6 ± 0.7 Ma and is characterized by hydrothermally altered rhyolitic crystal-lithic tuffs. Tentative correlations between Adelaide Island and Alexander Island preclude the two areas forming part of distinct terranes as has been suggested previously, and a proximal source for volcaniclastic sediments also indicates an exotic terrane origin is unlikely.

A unifying lithostratigraphy of late Cretaceous–early Tertiary fore-arc volcanic sequences on Alexander Island, Antarctica

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe J. McCarron
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Magmatic Arc ◽  
Ridge Subduction ◽  
Volcanic Group ◽  
Early Tertiary ◽  
Plutonic Rocks ◽  
The Antarctic

Late Cretaceous–early Tertiary subduction-related fore-arc volcanic rocks are exposed in a north–south linear belt along the length of Alexander Island. The age and tectonic setting of these rocks is well understood; they are not considered to represent “normal” arc magmas but were generated in the fore-arc as a result of ridge subduction. Due to their distinct composition and mode of formation, they are no longer considered to be genetically related to the Antarctic Peninsula magmatic arc. They are therefore removed from the Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Group and placed in a newly defined Alexander Island Volcanic Group. The group is made up of the Monteverdi, Staccato, Walton, Colbert, Elgar and Finlandia formations, which vary widely in lithology, facies and age. The Colbert and Elgar formations are subdivided into nine and three members respectively. Type localities, representative lithologies and age of each of the formations are discussed. The Staccato and Colbert Magmatic complexes are defined to include volcanic and plutonic rocks that are considered to be coeval. The Rouen Intrusive complex combines the plutonic rocks from the Rouen Mountains and Rothschild Island on the basis of age and chemistry.

Middle Jurassic rhyolite volcanism of eastern Graham Land, Antarctic Peninsula: age correlations and stratigraphic relationships

2010 ◽  
Vol 147 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
TEAL R. RILEY ◽  
MICHAEL J. FLOWERDEW ◽  
MORAG A. HUNTER ◽  
MARTIN J. WHITEHOUSE
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Silicic Volcanism ◽  
Volcanic Group ◽  
Silicic Volcanic ◽  
Eruption Age ◽  
Rhyolite Volcanism ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractSilicic volcanism atc.168 Ma has been identified previously on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the Mapple Formation, which includes those volcanic rocks, has been defined and documented from one area of the east coast of Graham Land. Based on age and geochemical criteria, correlations have been made to the extensive Chon Aike Province of South America, which has been demonstrated to be one of the largest silicic volcanic provinces in the world. Rhyolitic and intermediate composition volcanic successions from six separate localities on the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula are described here and are confirmed as correlatives of the Mapple Formation, based on newly acquired geochronology and field observations. They are dominantly rhyolitic crystal tuffs and/or ignimbrites with ages in the interval 162–168 Ma, overlapping with the age of the Mapple Formation (167–171 Ma) at the type locality. Andesitic agglomerates are also described, which are included in the same event and demonstrate the occurrence of rare intermediate volcanism, which is also seen in the Chon Aike Province. A new group, the Graham Land Volcanic Group, is defined here, and criteria are established which allow the separation of some volcanic successions out of the previously defined Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Group, which takes no account of tectonic setting, eruption age or geochemistry.

Petrography and geochemistry of the Carboniferous–Triassic Trinity Peninsula Group, West Antarctica: implications for provenance and tectonic setting

2014 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAULA CASTILLO ◽  
JUAN PABLO LACASSIE ◽  
CARITA AUGUSTSSON ◽  
FRANCISCO HERVÉ
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Active Continental Margin ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Major And Trace Elements ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Continental Arc ◽  
Uplift And Erosion ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractThe Carboniferous-Triassic Trinity Peninsula Group is a metasedimentary sequence that crops out widely in the northern Antarctic Peninsula. These are some of the most extensive outcrops in the area and hold the key to evaluating the connections of the Antarctic Peninsula in Gondwana; however, they are still poorly understood. Here we present our provenance study of the Trinity Peninsula Group using petrographic and geochemical approaches in combination with cathodoluminescence of detrital quartz in order to constrain its source characteristics and tectonic setting. Using differences in modal composition and quartz cathodoluminescence characteristics, we define three petrofacies derived from the progressive uplift and erosion of a volcano-plutonic continental arc, which exposed the plutonic-metamorphic roots. As indicated by major and trace elements, the source is felsic with a composition ranging from tonalitic to granodioritic. The relatively unweathered condition of the source area points to a dry and cold climate at the time of deposition, but this does not necessarily mean that it was glaciated. Deposition of the sediments occurred within an active continental margin, relatively close to the source area, probably along the south Patagonia–Antarctic Peninsula sector of Gondwana. Strong chronological, petrological and chemical similarities with the sediments of the Duque the York Complex in Patagonia suggest that they were derived from the same source.

scholarly journals Mass balance of the Antarctic ice sheet 1992–2016: reconciling results from GRACE gravimetry with ICESat, ERS1/2 and Envisat altimetry

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
H. Jay Zwally ◽  
John W. Robbins ◽  
Scott B. Luthcke ◽  
Bryant D. Loomis ◽  
Frédérique Rémy
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
Mantle Material ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Mantle Viscosity ◽  
Grounding Line ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Total Gain

Abstract GRACE and ICESat Antarctic mass-balance differences are resolved utilizing their dependencies on corrections for changes in mass and volume of the same underlying mantle material forced by ice-loading changes. Modeled gravimetry corrections are 5.22 times altimetry corrections over East Antarctica (EA) and 4.51 times over West Antarctica (WA), with inferred mantle densities 4.75 and 4.11 g cm−3. Derived sensitivities (Sg, Sa) to bedrock motion enable calculation of motion (δB0) needed to equalize GRACE and ICESat mass changes during 2003–08. For EA, δB0 is −2.2 mm a−1 subsidence with mass matching at 150 Gt a−1, inland WA is −3.5 mm a−1 at 66 Gt a−1, and coastal WA is only −0.35 mm a−1 at −95 Gt a−1. WA subsidence is attributed to low mantle viscosity with faster responses to post-LGM deglaciation and to ice growth during Holocene grounding-line readvance. EA subsidence is attributed to Holocene dynamic thickening. With Antarctic Peninsula loss of −26 Gt a−1, the Antarctic total gain is 95 ± 25 Gt a−1 during 2003–08, compared to 144 ± 61 Gt a−1 from ERS1/2 during 1992–2001. Beginning in 2009, large increases in coastal WA dynamic losses overcame long-term EA and inland WA gains bringing Antarctica close to balance at −12 ± 64 Gt a−1 by 2012–16.

scholarly journals An Assessment of ERA5 Reanalysis for Antarctic Near-Surface Air Temperature

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
Jiangping Zhu ◽  
Aihong Xie ◽  
Xiang Qin ◽  
Yetang Wang ◽  
Bing Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Reanalysis Dataset ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
The Antarctic

The European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) released its latest reanalysis dataset named ERA5 in 2017. To assess the performance of ERA5 in Antarctica, we compare the near-surface temperature data from ERA5 and ERA-Interim with the measured data from 41 weather stations. ERA5 has a strong linear relationship with monthly observations, and the statistical significant correlation coefficients (p < 0.05) are higher than 0.95 at all stations selected. The performance of ERA5 shows regional differences, and the correlations are high in West Antarctica and low in East Antarctica. Compared with ERA5, ERA-Interim has a slightly higher linear relationship with observations in the Antarctic Peninsula. ERA5 agrees well with the temperature observations in austral spring, with significant correlation coefficients higher than 0.90 and bias lower than 0.70 °C. The temperature trend from ERA5 is consistent with that from observations, in which a cooling trend dominates East Antarctica and West Antarctica, while a warming trend exists in the Antarctic Peninsula except during austral summer. Generally, ERA5 can effectively represent the temperature changes in Antarctica and its three subregions. Although ERA5 has bias, ERA5 can play an important role as a powerful tool to explore the climate change in Antarctica with sparse in situ observations.

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