Deglaciation and weathering of Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica.

In situ cosmogenic Be-10 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 p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Kiernan, K, Gore, DB, Fink, D, White, DA, McConnell, A, Sigurdsson, IA
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/1917
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102009002028
Description
Summary:In situ cosmogenic Be-10 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 100ka 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 similar to 20-18 ka BP. © 2009, Cambridge University Press