Early Pliocene marine sediments, coastline, and climate of East Antarctica

Research Article| February 01, 1988 Early Pliocene marine sediments, coastline, and climate of East Antarctica J. Pickard; J. Pickard 1School of Biological Sciences and Quaternary Research Unit, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. A. Adamson; D. A. Adamson 1School of Biological Sciences and Quaternary Research Unit, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. M. Harwood; D. M. Harwood 2Byrd Polar Research Center and Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. H. Miller; G. H. Miller 3Amino Acid Geochronology Laboratory, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. G. Quilty; P. G. Quilty 4Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7150, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. K. Dell R. K. Dell 5National Museum, Wellington, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1988) 16 (2): 158–161. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1988)016<0158:EPMSCA>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J. Pickard, D. A. Adamson, D. M. Harwood, G. H. Miller, P. G. Quilty, R. K. Dell; Early Pliocene marine sediments, coastline, and climate of East Antarctica. Geology 1988;; 16 (2): 158–161. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1988)016<0158:EPMSCA>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We record the first onshore late Tertiary fossiliferous marine deposit from the 8000-km-long coastline of East Antarctica. Glaciomarine sediments containing abundant diatoms and molluscs were deposited in shallow waters off an open coast during the early Pliocene (∼4.5-3.5 Ma) and are now exposed less than 15 m above sea level on Marine Plain in the Vestfold Hills (lat 68°35'S,long 78°00'E). Marine diatoms suggest early Pliocene as the most probable age of the sediments. Fossil sand wedges show that the deposit was above sea level at least briefly before it was covered with water and subsequently capped with glaciomarine till. The coastline at the time of deposition of the marine sediments is inferred to have been close to but farther inland than that of today. The ice margin may have been ∼50 km farther inland, considerably reducing the ice volume of Antarctica. Climate at the time of deposition was interglacial and perhaps warmer than the present. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.