Characterization of the major ion chemistry of the saline lakes of the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica ...

• Main Author: Stark, Scott Charles
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: East Antarctica; Princess Elizabeth Land; Vestfold; Vestfold Hills; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23243246.v1; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Characterization_of_the_major_ion_chemistry_of_the_saline_lakes_of_the_Vestfold_Hills_Antarctica/23243246/1

The Vestfold Hills is a predominantly ice-free 'oasis' lying on the coast of Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica. The region was formed as a consequence of isostatic readjustment of the coastline following retreat of the Pleistocene continental ice sheet. During this event, sea water was constrained and eventually trapped by the rising landmass. Over a period of ca. 8-10 000 yr, pockets of relict sea water have evolved to produce several hundred lakes, scattered throughout the Vestfold Hills. While some of the lakes have been flushed of their sea salt by glacial meltwaters, others have become hypersaline brines with total dissolved salt contents in excess of 200 g kg- 1. An accurate and precise characterization of the major ion chemistry of a natural brine is fundamental to an understanding of its geochemical evolution, the current state of mineral equilibria in solution and in the sediment, the prediction of physicochemical properties such as density and activity coefficients, and the accurate ...