Permian-Triassic Basin History of Southern Victoria Land and the Darwin Mountains
Entry ID:
Askin-Darwin
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Summary
Abstract:
The research focused on integrating sedimentologic, stratigraphic, palynologic, paleomagnetic and ichnologic data from Permian and Triassic strata in the Darwin Glacier (DG) and southern Victoria Land (SVL) regions to constrain paleoenvironmental, tectonic, biotic, and paleogeographic histories of southern Pangea and provide a polar view of the world ... during an 'icehouse' to
'greenhouse' transition. Detailed work on the glacial and post-glacial rocks
indicates that this area and the Transantarctic Mountains were not located near
the center of an enormous Carboniferous to Early Permian ice sheet as depicted
in popular paleogeographic reconstructions. Weathering profiles and
soft-sediment deformation along the pre-glacial (pre-Permian) unconformity
suggest an absence of ice cover during the Carboniferous; otherwise, these
features would have been destroyed by multiple glacial cycles. The occurrence
of glaciotectonite, foliated diamictite, massive and stratified diamictite,
thrust sheets, sandstone, and lonestone-bearing shales in SVL, DG, and CTM
indicate that Permian sedimentation occurred in ice marginal, periglacial,
and/or glaciomarine settings. No evidence was found that indicates late
Paleozoic deposition in the Transantarctic Mountains took place beneath
kilometers of ice near a glacial spreading center. Although these findings do
not negate Carboniferous glaciation in Antarctica, results indicate that
Gondwana glaciation, and therefore, changes to other glacially-driven systems
(i.e., glacio-eustatic fluctuations, paleoclimate), were much smaller than
previously hypothesized in paleogeographic and paleoclimatic reconstructions.
Previous reports also indicate that the Permian-Triassic transition in this
region was conformable and contains signatures of an impact event at the
boundary possibly related to the P-T mass extinction. In SVL, Lower to lower
Upper Permian rocks are unconformably overlain by Lower Triassic rocks, thus
negating the occurrence of a conformable Permian-Triassic succession. Work on
the grant is continuing. Samples and data are currently stored at the UWM and
at Ohio State University, but will be transferred to the Antarctic Rock
Repository at the conclusion of the project.
Additional findings of this project include:
1) Glacial rocks of the Darwin Formation are Early Permian rather than Upper
Carboniferous to Permian as previously believed.
2) Devonian and Lower Permian strata of the Darwin Glacier region are similar
to strata on the south side of the Byrd Glacier, which suggests that the
sedimentary basin in the central Transantarctic Mountains (previously believed
to have ended at the Byrd Glacier) extended into at least the Darwin Glacier
region.
3) Glacial and coal measures rocks in the Darwin Glacier region and in southern
Victoria Land are similar suggesting that the central Transantarctic Mountain
glacial and post glacial basin extended as far north as the Mackay Glacier.
4) Permian glacial deposits in the Darwin Glacier region were deposited as
sediment gravity flows and as rain-out of material from ice shelves and
icebergs into a glacially influenced marine/lacustrine setting, suggesting that
the Darwin region was situated near the ice front of a dynamic, wet-based ice
sheet during the Early Permian.
5) Glacimarine/glacilacustrine deposits in the Darwin and southern Victoria
Land areas suggest that previous interpretations of glaci-terrestrial
conditions in the central Transantarctic Mountains may not be accurate.
6) Subglacial groundwater during the Permian glaciation played an important
role in deformation of the underlying Devonian sandstones.
7) Rapid withdrawal of the ice sheet from the depositional basin occurred in
the Darwin and southern Victoria Land regions during the Early Permian.
8) One of the first described sub-glacial deformation till deposits (Lower
Permian Darwin and Metschel formations) from the rock record was described from
rocks exposed at Mt. Metschel, which will aid in determining controls on
formation and preservation of deforming bed conditions and deposits.
9) Large topographic relief occurred during deposition of Permian glacial and
coal measures rocks.
10) The temporal and geographic extent of Gondwana glacial deposits does not
support the hypothesis that Upper Carboniferous coal-bearing deposits in the
northern hemisphere resulted from glacioeustatic fluctuations in sea level.
11) The depositional basin during deposition of the Weller Coal Measures was
quite large and extending farther to the west than previously believed.
12) The occurrence of lonestones within lacustrine beds of the Misthound and
Weller coal measures suggests that glaciers were located along basin margins
long after they withdrew from the depositional basin during the Early Permian.
13) Rocks in the Weller Coal Measures were found to consist of fluvial,
lacustrine and deltaic deposits rather than being entirely fluvial as
previously believed.
14) Although no palynomorphs could be recovered from the Ellis Formation,
Vertebraria roots were found that indicate a Permian age for this unit, which
was previously thought to be unfossiliferous and of questionable Permian or
Triassic age.
15) Good assemblages of palynomorphs indicating Early Permian age have been
recovered from the Darwin Formation from several sites, most on Colosseum
Ridge.
16) Paleomagnetic analysis of Permian silicified peat and fossil wood from Mt.
Henderson and near Mt. Ellis in the Darwin Glacier region yielded extremely
weak magnetizations and it was not possible to determine paleopole positions. A
few samples yielded Jurassic-like magnetizations probably due to
remagnetization by nearby Ferrar dolerite sills.
17) Collections of silicified peat and wood were made in the second season from
Mt. Crean, Mt. Robison, Allan Hills, and Mt. Fleming in southern Victoria Land.
Triassic silicified wood was also collected at Allan Hills in southern
Victoria Land. It is hoped that the Allan Hills and Mt. Crean localities, in
particular, are little affected by dolerite intrusion.
18) Petrographic and paleocurrent analyses suggest that Lower Permian strata
were deposited in an extensional basin that was linked to depositional basins
farther to the south in the central Transantarctic Mountains.
19) During the Late Permian, southern Victoria Land was characterized by
erosion and appears to have been located on a peripheral bulge associated with
a developing foreland basin.
20) Southern Victoria Land was incorporated into the foreland basin during the
Triassic.
Analyses of the rocks are continuing. Results of the work are now appearing in
the literature. 
Related URL
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Description:
This web (the Antarctic Geologic database) site provide information about rock
samples collected in Antarctica.
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Geographic Coverage
(Click for Interactive Map)
Spatial coordinates
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N: -76.43
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S: -79.51
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E: 156.15
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W: 159.4
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Temporal Coverage
Start Date:
1999-01-01
Stop Date:
2003-12-31
Access Constraints
Information is available in the publications or by contacting the Principal
investigators.
Data Set Progress
IN WORK
Distribution
Distribution Media:
Journal publications
Personnel
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Email:
askin.1 at osu.edu
Contact Address:
USPRR, Byrd Polar Research Center,
1090 Carmack Rd
Ohio State University
108 Scott Hall
City:
Columbus
Province or State:
Ohio
Postal Code:
43210
Country:
USA
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
614-292-5348
Email:
curator at bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu, grunow.1 at osu.edu
Contact Address:
United States Polar Rock Repository
Byrd Polar Research Center
Ohio State University
108 Scott Hall
1090 Carmack Road
City:
Columbus
Province or State:
Ohio
Postal Code:
43210
Country:
USA
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
414-229-2877
Fax:
414-229-5452
Email:
jisbell at uwm.edu
Contact Address:
Dept. of Geosciences
Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
PO Box 413
City:
Milwaukee
Province or State:
WI
Postal Code:
53201
Country:
USA
Publications/References
Journal Publications and Theses: Askin, R.A., Isbell, J.L. and Lenaker, P.A., in prep. The palynological record from Permian glacial and postglacial strata in the Darwin Mountains, Antarctica. Woolfe, K. L., in prep., Sedimentology of the Weller Coal Measures at Maya Mountain, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica: ... unpublished M.S. thesis,
Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Isbell, J. L., Lenaker, P.A., and Askin, R.A., In review Stratigraphic and
palaeogeographic implications of glacitectonic deformation within Permian
strata, Southern Victoria Land and Darwin Glacier regions, Antarctica:
Sedimentology.
Askins, R.A. and Isbell, J.L., in review, Early Permian spores and pollen from
the Pagoda Formation, Nimrod Glacier area, central Transantarctic Mountains:
Paleobotany and Palynology.
Isbell, J.L., In revision, Formation and evolution of the Transantarctic basin
during the late Paleozoic: Central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica:
Geological Society of America Bulletin.
Isbell, J.L., Lenaker, P.A., Askin, R.A., Miller, M.F., and Babcock, L.E.,
2003, Reevaluation of the timing and extent of late Paleozoic glaciation in
Gondwana: Role of the Transantarctic Mountains: Geology, v. 31, p. 977-980.
Isbell, J. L., Miller, M. F., Wolfe, K. L., and Lenaker, P.A., 2003, Timing of
late Paleozoic glaciation in Gondwana: was glaciation responsible for the
development of northern hemisphere cyclothems - in Chan, M. A., and Archer, A.
A., editors, Sedimentary Giants- Extreme Depositional Environments: Geological
Society of America Special Paper 370, p. 5-24
Lenaker, P. A., 2002, Sedimentology of Permian glacial deposits in the Darwin
Glacier region, Antarctica: unpublished M.S. thesis, Department of Geosciences,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 173 p.
Babcock, L. E., Isbell, J. L., Miller, M. F., Hasiotis, S. T., 2002, New late
Paleozoic Conchostracan (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from the Shackleton Glacier
area, Antarctica: age and paleoenvironmental implications: Journal of
Paleontology, v.76 (1), p. 70-75.
Isbell, J. L., Miller, M. F., Babcock, L. E., Hasiotis, S. T., 2001,
Ice-marginal environment and ecosystem prior to initial advance of the late
Palaeozoic ice sheet in the Mt. Butters area of the central Transantarctic
Mountains, Antarctica: Sedimentology, v. 48 (5), p. 953-970.
Miller, M. F., Babcock, L. E., Hasiotis, S. T., and Isbell, J. L., 2001,
Tetrapod and large burrows of uncertain origin in Triassic high latitude flood
plain deposits: Palaios, v.16 (3), p. 218-232.
Abstracts:
Isbell, John L., Koch, Zelenda J., Lenaker, Paul A., and Askin, Rosemary A., in
press, Gondwana glaciation in the Darwin and central Transantarctic Mountains,
Antarctica: evidence against an immense late Paleozoic ice sheet centered over
Antarctica, Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, November, 2004,
Abstracts with Programs, 36(6).
Isbell, John, Koch, Zelenda, Lenaker, Paul, and Askin, Rosemary, 2004, Gondwana
glaciation in Antarctica: Are the strata glacial-terrestrial or glacial-basinal
in origin and were they deposited by ice sheets or mountain glaciers?: 32nd
International Geological Congress (IGC), August 20 to 28, 2004, Florence,
Italy.
Miller, Molly F. and Isbell, John L., 2004, Biogenic Structures Elucidate
Gondwana Glacial and Post-glacial History in the Transantarctic Mountains: 32nd
International Geological Congress (IGC), August 20 to 28, 2004, Florence,
Italy.
Mumpy, Andrew J., Kean, William F., Isbell, John L., and Jol, Harry, 2003,
Sedimentology of a modern braid bar in the Wisconsin River near Spring Green,
Wisconsin: analysis using ground-penetrating radar: Geological Society of
America, Annual Meeting, November, 2003, Abstracts with Programs, 35(6), p.218.
Isbell, J. L., Lenaker, P.A., and Askin, R.A., 2003, When did Gondwana
glaciation occur in Antarctica, and how large were the glaciers? The
stratigraphic and paleogeographic implications of glaciotectonic deformation
within Permian strata, southern Victoria Land and Darwin Glacier regions,
Antarctica: Geological Society of America, North-Central Section Annual
Meeting, March, 2003, Abstracts with Programs, 35(2), p.52.
Flaig, Peter P., Knepprath, Nichole Elizabeth, Borosund, Miriam N., Isbell,
John L., and Miller, Molly F, 2003 Sandstone composition and tectonic setting
of the Lower Permian Weller Coal Measures, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica:
Geological Society of America, North-Central Section Annual Meeting, March,
2003, Abstracts with Programs, 35(2), p.45.
Mumpy, Andrew J., Kean, William F., Isbell, John L., and Jol, Harry M., 2003,
Sedimentology of a modern braid bar in the Wisconsin River near Spring Green,
Wisconsin: analysis using ground penetrating radar: Geological Society of
America, North-Central Section Annual Meeting, March, 2003, Abstracts with
Programs, 35(2), p.55.
Borosund, Miriam N., Miller, Molly F., and Isbell, John L, 2003, Sandstone
composition and feldspar weathering, Weller Coal Measures (Permian),
Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica: Geological Society of America, Joint
annual meeting of the South-Central Section and Southeastern Section, March,
2003, Abstracts with Programs, 35(1), p.18.
Holmes, Allison, Miller, Molly F., and Isbell, John L, 2003, Composition and
feldspar alteration in Pleistocene glacial sands, Wind River Range, Wyoming
Geological Society of America, Joint annual meeting of the South-Central
Section and Southeastern Section, March, 2003, Abstracts with Programs, 35(1),
p.18.
Isbell, J. L., Miller, M. F., Wolfe, K. L, and Lenaker, P. A., 2002, Did waxing
and waning of Gondwanan glaciers cause upper Paleozoic cyclothems?: Annual
meeting of Southeastern/North-Central Section of the Geological Society of
America, GSA Abstracts with Programs Vol. 34, No. 2, p. 10.
Miller, M. F., Isbell, J. L.a nd Wolfe, K. L., 2002, Environmental distribution
of bottom-dwelling animals in a Permian freshwater system, Antarctica:
Geological Society of America, National Convention, Denver, Colorado, October,
2002, Abstracts with Programs, 34(6), p. 212.
Henderson, S. S., Miller, M. F., Isbell, J. L., and Mabin, M.C.G., 2002,
Coarse,wind blown gravel deposits, Bennett Platform, Antarctica: constraining
wind velocities during transport: Annual meeting of Southeastern/North-Central
Section of the Geological Society of America, GSA Abstracts with Programs Vol.
34, No. 2, p. 9.
Isbell, J. L., Lenaker, P. A., and Wolfe, K. L., 2001, Climbing macroforms and
their potential relationship to rising base levels: Permian Misthound Coal
Measures and Triassic Fremouw Formation, Antarctica, and the Pine Creek
Sandstone Member of the Breathitt Group, Kentucky, U.S.A.: 7th International
Conference on Fluvial Sedimentology, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A., August 5-10,
2001, Program and Abstracts, p. 135.
Isbell, J. L., Miller, M. F., Wolfe, K. L., and Lenaker, P. A., 2001, Timing of
late Paleozoic glaciation in Gondwana: Was glaciation responsible for the
creation of accommodation space associated with the development of northern
hemisphere cyclothems and incised fluvial valleys?: 7th International
Conference on Fluvial Sedimentology, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A., August 5-10,
2001, Program and Abstracts, p. 136.
Isbell, J.L. and Miller, M. F., 2001, Timing and possible causes of late
Paleozoic ice sheet(s) advance and retreat cycles: GSA and Geological Society
of London Global Meeting-Earth System Processes, Edinburgh, Scotland, June
24-28, 2001.
Isbell, J.L. and Miller, M. F., 2000 Possible Effects of Basins on the Growth,
Waxing and Waning, and Decay of the Late Paleozoic Ice Sheet(s) in
Gondwanaland: AAPG National Convention, Denver.
Miller, M.F., McDowell, T.A., Shyr, Y., Kemp, N.R., Isbell, J.L., 2000,
Bioturbation in Freshwater vs. Marine Deposits: AAPG National Convention,
Denver.
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2005-05-03
Last DIF Revision Date:
2010-07-07
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