Abstract:
The structure and evolution of sand dunes in Victoria Valley was investigated by completing a GPR survey (with 50, 100, 200, 250, 400, 450 and 900 MHz antennae) to successfully image dune structure and stratigraphy in three locations: Packard Dunes, whaleback dune and the 'Big Dune' north of Lake Vida. Preliminary interpretation of dune stratigraphy allowed selected sample locations for sampling
... from the Packard Dunes and 'Big Dune'. Only one sample was taken from whaleback dune due to a shallow permafrost table. Small pits were dug and samples collected for optically stimulating luminescence (OSL) dating technique and studies of grainsize, petrology and sediment provenance. The data was used to investigate the chronology of dune migration and depositioni in the Valley. To test the hypothesis that the Packard Dune sands are derived from the east, in Lower Victoria Valley, and that Big Dune sands were derived from the west in Upper Victoria Valley, near surface sediment samples were collected from the beds of the meltwater streams of the Lower and Upper Victoria Valley Glaciers and analysed for grainsize, petrology and geochemistry. The data will be compared with Mars, where dunes have also developed in a cold dry environment. 
