Nielsen, Simon H. H. and Hodell, D. A. (2007): Antarctic ice-rafted detritus (IRD) in the South Atlantic; indicators of iceshelf dynamics or ocean surface conditions?

Leg/Site/Hole:
ODP 177
Identifier:
2007-120377
georefid

10.3133/of2007-1047.srp020
doi

Creator:
Nielsen, Simon H. H.
University of Florida, Department of Geological Sciences, Gainesville, FL, United States
author

Hodell, D. A.
author

Identification:
Antarctic ice-rafted detritus (IRD) in the South Atlantic; indicators of iceshelf dynamics or ocean surface conditions?
2007
In: Cooper, Alan (editor), Raymond, Carol (editor), Antarctica; a keystone in a changing world; online proceedings for the Tenth international symposium on Antarctic earth sciences
U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, United States
OF 2007-1047
Ocean sediment core TN057-13PC4/ODP1094, from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, contains elevated lithogenic material in sections representing the last glacial period compared to the Holocene. This ice-rafted detritus is mainly comprised of volcanic glass and ash, but has a significant input of what was previously interpreted as quartz during peak intervals (Kanfoush et al., 2000, 2002). Our analysis of these clear mineral grains indicates that most are plagioclase, and that South Sandwich Islands is the predominant source, similar to that inferred for the volcanic glass (Nielsen et al., in review). In addition, quartz and feldspar with possible Antarctic origin occur in conjunction with postulated episodes of Antarctic deglaciation. We conclude that while sea ice was the dominant ice rafting agent in the Polar Frontal Zone of the South Atlantic during the last glacial period, the Holocene IRD variability may reflect Antarctic ice sheet dynamics.
Coverage:Geographic coordinates:
North:-40.5600
West:5.0000East: 14.0000
South:-54.0000

Oceanography; Quaternary geology; Atlantic Ocean; Cenozoic; detritus; dynamics; electron probe data; glacial geology; Holocene; ice rafting; ice shelves; Leg 177; marine sediments; mineral composition; Ocean Drilling Program; paleo-oceanography; Quaternary; sediment transport; sedimentation; sediments; South Atlantic; Southern Ocean; USGS;

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