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February 24, 2026New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics2 citationsOpen Access

Initiation of the Ferrar Large Igneous Province Started in Southern North Victoria Land, Antarctica, With Shallow Emplacement of Sills Causing Magma‐Soft‐Rock Interaction and Phreatomagmatic Eruptions

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LVLothar ViereckJBJörg BüchnerRSRobert Schöner

Key Points

  • This research investigates the initiation of volcanism in the Ferrar Large Igneous Province and its geological implications.
  • Examined intrusions of Ferrar sills into sedimentary rocks
  • Analyzed phreatomagmatic eruptions and diatreme formations
  • Used palynostratigraphy to date volcanic layers
  • Characterized igneous clasts and their composition
  • Eruptions led to the formation of discordant diatremes in water-saturated sandstones.
  • Identified two levels of mafic volcaniclastic sediments from late Pliensbachian to Early Toarcian ages.
  • Observed igneous clasts primarily of low-Ti andesitic composition related to the original sills.

Abstract

Early Jurassic volcanism was in the southern north Victoria Land portion of the Ferrar Large Igneous Province preceded by multiple phases of shallow‐level intrusions of Ferrar sills into the 300 m thick cover of sedimentary rocks of the Triassic‐Jurassic Victoria Group. Upward protrusions from sills into unconsolidated water‐saturated sandstones triggered phreatomagmatic eruptions, forming discordant diatremes. Associated mafic volcaniclastic subaerial sediments are intercalated in the stratigraphic succession at two levels. Based on palynostratigraphy, their ages are late Pliensbachian and Early Toarcian, respectively. The matrix of the mafic volcaniclastic deposits is enriched in the individual minerals of the presently cemented fluviolacustrine country rocks. Clasts of the metamorphic and granitic basement are absent. The igneous clasts are comagmatic, comprising fragmented sill magma as well as scoriaceous juvenile lava shreds and bombs, some of which form welded deposits. All comagmatic and juvenile clasts, as well as those local pillows and lava flows embedded in the phreatomagmatic deposits, are of low‐Ti andesitic composition (Cr 100 ppm).

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Cite This Study

Viereck et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/699d3fe6de8e28729cf64cd5https://doi.org/10.1002/jgo2.70028
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