others: Strain-induced phase changes within cold basal ice618

ABSTRACT. This paper reports detailed textural and gas measurements conducted in cold basal ice (–178C) from the margin of Taylor Glacier, an outlet glacier of the East Antarctic ice sheet. The analyzed samples were retrieved from a basal ice sequence excavated at the end of a subglacial tunnel dug...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Denis Samyn, Sean J. Fitzsimons, Reginald D. Lorrain
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1978
Subjects:
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.541.4804
http://glaciers.otago.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/2722/Samyn_et_al_2005a.pdf
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Summary:ABSTRACT. This paper reports detailed textural and gas measurements conducted in cold basal ice (–178C) from the margin of Taylor Glacier, an outlet glacier of the East Antarctic ice sheet. The analyzed samples were retrieved from a basal ice sequence excavated at the end of a subglacial tunnel dug near the glacier snout. The basal sequence exhibits two contrasting ice facies, defined as the englacial and stratified facies. On the one hand, analysis of ice crystal textures from the basal ice sequence provides evidence for localized ductile deformation, especially within the stratified facies where significant dynamic recrystallization was detected. On the other hand, high-resolution gas analyses reveal that strong changes in gas composition occurred at the structural interfaces of the stratified facies. These gas composition changes are typical of melting–refreezing processes but are not associated with any significant loss of gas volume. Given the specific subglacial thermal conditions at the margin of Taylor Glacier, we interpret this phenomenon as resulting from microscopic phase changes involving selective gas redistribution through the pre-melt phase. It is argued that such processes may play an important role in the post-genetic geochemical evolution of cold debris-laden ice and may be enhanced through intense strain conditions.