Sedimentology and structure of the trench-slope to forearc basin transition in the Mesozoic of Alexander Island, Antarctica

Doubleday, P.A.; Macdonald, D.I.M.; Nell, P.A.R.. 1993 Sedimentology and structure of the trench-slope to forearc basin transition in the Mesozoic of Alexander Island, Antarctica. Geological Magazine, 130 (06). 737-754. 10.1017/S0016756800023128

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756800023128

Abstract/Summary

The Mesozoic forearc of Alexander Island, Antarctica, is one of the few places in the world where the original stratigraphic relationship between a forearc basin and an accretionary complex is exposed. Newlydiscovered sedimentary rocks exposed at the western edge of the forearc basin fill (the Kimmeridgian–Albian Fossil Bluff Group) record the events associated with the basin formation. These strata are assigned to the newly defined Selene Nunatak Formation (?Bathonian) and Atoll Nunataks Formation (?Bathonian-Tithonian) within the Fossil Bluff Group.The Selene Nunatak Formation contains variable thicknesses of conglomeratesand sandstones, predominantly derived from the LeMay Group accretionary complex upon which it is unconformable. The formation marks emergence and subsequent erosion of the inner forearc area. It is conformably overlain by the1 km thick Atoll Nunataks Formation, characterized by thinly-bedded mudstones and silty mudstones representing a marine transgression followed by trench-slope deposition. The Atoll Nunataks Formation marks a phase of subsidence, possibly in response to tectonic events in the accretionary prism that are known to have occurred at about the same time.The Atoll Nunataks Formation is conformably overlain by the Himalia Ridge Formation, a thick sequence of basin-wide arc-derived conglomerates. This transition from fine- to coarse-grained deposition suggests that a well-developed depositional trough (and hence trench-slope break) had formed by that time. The Atoll Nunataks Formation therefore spans the formation of the forearc basin, and marks the transition from trench-slope to forearc basin deposition.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1017/S0016756800023128
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0016-7568
Date made live:	05 Sep 2017 09:00 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517699

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1017/S0016756800023128

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

0016-7568

Date made live:

05 Sep 2017 09:00 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517699