Stratigraphy and age of the Lower Cretaceous Pedersen Formation, northern Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract

The Pedersen Formation includes conglomerate-dominated successions exposed on Pedersen Nunatak (142 m thick) and southern Sobral Peninsula (750–1000 m thick). As re-defined here, it also includes mudstone and sandstone in tectonic contact with Nordenskjöld Formation strata on a nunatak north of the Sobral Peninsula conglomerate outcrops. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages and palynological data indicate an early Aptian age for the lower part of the formation on Sobral Peninsula. The Pedersen Nunatak strata have yielded conflicting age determinations, although an Early Cretaceous age seems likely. The Sobral Peninsula conglomerates are lithologically similar to, and possibly coeval with, basal Gustav Group strata (Lagrelius Point Formation) on James Ross Island. Although further field sampling is required to resolve the age of the Pedersen Nunatak strata, on present evidence the Pedersen Formation appears to form part of the same tectono-stratigraphic unit as the lower part of the Gustav Group, and we therefore propose that it be included in that group.