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Miocene glaciomarine sedimentation in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region: the stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Hobbs Glacier Formation, James Ross Island

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1997

D. PIRRIE
Affiliation:
Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3SE, UK
J. A. CRAME
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
J. B. RIDING
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
A. R. BUTCHER
Affiliation:
Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3SE, UK
P. D. TAYLOR
Affiliation:
Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK

Abstract

The onshore record of Cenozoic glaciation in the Antarctic Peninsula region is limited to a number of isolated localities on Alexander Island, the South Shetland Islands and in the James Ross Island area. In the James Ross Island area, Late Cretaceous sedimentary rocks are unconformably overlain by a unit of diamictites and tuffs, which occur at the base of the James Ross Island Volcanic Group. These rocks are here defined as the Hobbs Glacier Formation, and on the basis of palynological studies are assigned to a Miocene (?late Miocene) age. The diamictites are interpreted as representing glaciomarine sedimentation close to the grounding line of either a floating ice shelf or a grounded tidewater glacier in a marine basin. Provenance studies indicate that the glacier was flowing from the Antarctic Peninsula towards the southeast. Volcanic tuffs conformably overlie the diamictites and are interpreted as representing deposition in a periglacial delta front setting in either a marine or non-marine basin, away from direct glacial influence. The Hobbs Glacier Formation and overlying James Ross Island Volcanic Group help to enhance our understanding of the Neogene glacial chronology of West Antarctica.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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