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Deglaciation and weathering of Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2009

Kevin Kiernan ,
Damian B. Gore ,
David Fink ,
Duanne A. White ,
Anne McConnell  and
Ingvar A. Sigurdsson
Kevin Kiernan*
Affiliation:
School of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 78, TAS 7001, Australia
Damian B. Gore
Affiliation:
Department of Environment & Geography, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
David Fink
Affiliation:
Environment Division, ANSTO, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
Duanne A. White
Affiliation:
Department of Environment & Geography, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
Anne McConnell
Affiliation:
School of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 78, TAS 7001, Australia
Ingvar A. Sigurdsson
Affiliation:
South Iceland Nature Centre, Strandvegur 50, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
*
*[email protected]
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Abstract

In situ cosmogenic 10Be exposure dating, radiocarbon determinations, salt and sediment geochemistry, and rock weathering observations indicate that parts of Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica have been subaerially exposed throughout much of the last glacial cycle, with the last glaciation occurring prior to 100 ka bp. Salt-enhanced subaerial weathering, coupled with a paucity of glacial erratics, made exposure age dating challenging. Rapid subaerial surface lowering in some places means that some exposure ages may underestimate the true age of deglaciation. Despite this uncertainty, the data are consistent with the absence of overriding by a thick ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum ∼20–18 ka bp.

Keywords

Broknescosmogenic nuclide exposure agemumiyosalt geochemistryStornes
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , August 2009 , pp. 373 - 382
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2009

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