Sedimentary Processes in the Fjord-like Embayments of the Vestfold and Larsemann Hills

• Other Authors: MCMINN, ANDREW (hasPrincipalInvestigator), MCMINN, ANDREW (processor), Australian Antarctic Data Centre (publisher)
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Australian Antarctic Data Centre
• Subjects: oceans; SEDIMENTATION; EARTH SCIENCE; COASTAL PROCESSES; DIATOMS; BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION; PROTISTS; MICROALGAE; PLANTS; PHYTOPLANKTON; BIOSPHERE; AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS; PLANKTON; AEOLIAN; ANTARCTICA; BIOGENIC; FJORD; FLUVIAL; HOLOCENE; ICE-RAFTING; SEDIMENTS; TIDAL; VESTFOLD HILLS; FIELD SURVEYS; CONTINENT > GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR; Vestfold Hills; Vestfold; Larsemann Hills; Ellis Fjord; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://researchdata.ands.org.au/sedimentary-processes-fjord-larsemann-hills/700274; https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/ASAC_705; http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-617536

Ellis Fjord is a small, fjord-like marine embayment in the vestfold Hills, eastern Antarctica. Modern sediment input is dominated by a biogenic diatom rain, although aeolian, fluvial, ice-rafted, slumped and tidal sediments also make a minor contribution. In areas where bioturbation is significant relict glaciogenic sediments are reworked into the fine-grained diatomaceous sediments to produce poorly sorted fine sands and silts. Where the bottom waters are anoxic, sediments remain unbioturbated and have a high biogenic silica component. Three depositional and non-depositional facies can be recognised in the fjord: an area of non-deposition around the shoreline; a relict morainal facies in areas of low sedimentation and high bioturbation; and a basinal facies in the deeper areas of the fjord.