Fission-track tectonic studies of the Transantarctic Mountains, Beardmore Glacier area

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Antarct. J. U.S.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6894932

Fitzgerald, P G

The Transantarctic Mountains are a major transcontinental range stretching for some 4000 kilometers, varying from 200-400 kilometers in width, and having elevations up to 4500 meters. The uplift and formation of the Transantarctic Mountains have always been something of an enigma, but recent apatite fission-track analysis is providing important new information not only about their uplift history but also about the implications of that uplift history for the glacial history of Antarctica as a whole. The main field objective of this project was to collect samples for fission-track analysis to determine the timing and rate of uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains and measure relative vertical displacements across faults within the range. Results from southern Victoria Land indicate that uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains was initiated at about 50 million years ago and since that time the mountains have undergone some 5 kilometers of uplift at an average rate of 100 meters per million years. It is important to realize, however, that this is an average rate and may well conceal pulses of faster and slower uplift or even periods of subsidence. The amount of uplift across the mountain range is differential; from the axis of maximum uplift about 30 kilometers inland of the Victoria Land coast, the mountains dip gently westward under the polar ice cap. The study was extended to the Beardmore Glacier area to see whether the uplift history and tectonics varies from that observed in southern Victoria Land.

• Research Organization: Victoria Univ., Wellington (New Zealand)
• OSTI ID: 6894932
• Journal Information: Antarct. J. U.S.; (United States), Journal Name: Antarct. J. U.S.; (United States) Vol. 21:5; ISSN AJUSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
580201 -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
AGE ESTIMATION
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
APATITES
FISSION TRACKS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROUND UPLIFT
MINERALS
MOUNTAINS
PARTICLE TRACKS
PHOSPHATE MINERALS
POLAR REGIONS
SAMPLING