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Composition, distribution and origin of surficial salts in the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2004

Damian B. Gore ,
D.C. Creagh ,
J.S. Burgess ,
E.A. Colhoun ,
A.P. Spate  and
A.S. Baird
Damian B. Gore
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
D.C. Creagh
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University College, University of NSW, ACT 2600, Australia
J.S. Burgess
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Oceanography, University College, University of NSW, ACT 2600, Australia
E.A. Colhoun
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
A.P. Spate
Affiliation:
National Parks and Wildlife Service, PO Box 733, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620, Australia
A.S. Baird
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
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Abstract

A regional chemical boundary termed the ‘salt line’, in the Vestfold Hills of East Antarctica, has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron probe analyses of surficial salts, and conductivity of surficial sediments. West of the salt line, halite and thenardite are abundant. These salts are derived from dispersal of marine aerosols, saturation of sediment by seawater during postglacial marine transgression, and glacial dispersal of salt-saturated fjord bottom sediments. East of the salt line, subglacial calcium carbonates and salts formed by chemical weathering of their substrates occur. Chemically and morphologically diverse minerals form the weathering products. They include two minerals not found previously in Antarctica, dypingite and hydromagnesite, and the first confirmed occurrence of brushite.

Keywords

Vestfold HillsAntarcticasaltdypingitehydromagnesitebrushite
Type
Papers—Earth Sciences and Glaciology
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , March 1996 , pp. 73 - 84
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1996

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