The Mendel Formation: Evidence for Late Miocene climatic cyclicity at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula

• Published in: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
• Main Authors: Nývlt, D., Košler, J., Mlčoch, B., Mixa, P., Lisá, L. (Lenka), Bubík, M., Hendriks, B. W. H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Mendel Formation; Late Miocene; chmate; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarc*; Antarctic; Ice Shelf; Iceberg*; James Ross Island; Ross Island
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.11.017; http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0208324

A detailed description of the newly defined Mendel Formation is presented. This Late Miocene (5.9–5.4 Ma) sedimentary sequence with an overall thickness of more than 80 m comprises cyclic deposition in terrestrial glacigenic, glaciomarine and marine environments. Subglacial till was deposited by a thick grounded Antarctic Peninsula ice stream advancing eastwards through the Prince Gustav Channel, crossing the northernmost part of present-day James Ross Island, with most of the material carried actively at the base of the warm-based glacier. The form of the Prince Gustav Channel originated before the late Miocene and its present glacial overdeepening resulted in multiple grounded glacier advances during the Neogene and Quaternary. The sea prograded from the east and the glacier margin became buoyant, building a small ice shelf, below and in front of which glaciomarine and marine sediments were deposited. These sedimentary deposits are composed of material that was transported mostly by small glaciers and subsequently by the floating ice shelf and by calving icebergs towards the open sea. The Mendel Formation sedimentary sequence is comprised of at least two glacial periods and one interglacial period. Sea level rise at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula between glacial lowstand and interglacial highstand was more than 50 m during the late Miocene and was followed by a subsequent sea level fall of at least the same magnitude.