Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution
Deposition of the Upper Cambrian succession of the Ellsworth Mountains was influenced by major, episodic tectonically-driven changes to the depositional basin geometry. We subdivide the succession into four stratigraphical sequences based on the recognition of three sequence-bounding unconformities....
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Cambridge University Press
1999
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503140/ https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:503140 2023-05-15T14:14:51+02:00 Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution Curtis, Michael L. Lomas, Simon A. 1999 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503140/ https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103 unknown Cambridge University Press Curtis, Michael L.; Lomas, Simon A. 1999 Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution. Antarctic Science, 11 (01). 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103 <https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 1999 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103 2023-02-04T19:37:42Z Deposition of the Upper Cambrian succession of the Ellsworth Mountains was influenced by major, episodic tectonically-driven changes to the depositional basin geometry. We subdivide the succession into four stratigraphical sequences based on the recognition of three sequence-bounding unconformities. The upper part of Sequence 1 is composed of the laterally equivalent Liberty Hills, Springer Peak and Frazier Ridge formations, a siliciclastic fluvial to marine deltaic association displaying NW-directed palaeocurrents. A switch in the position of the Late Cambrian depocentre from the north-west to the south coincided with cessation of terrigenous clastic deposition and accumulation of Sequence 2, the limestones of the Minaret Formation. Previously unreported talus breccias from the Independence Hills provide important clues to basin configuration at this time. A brief period of emergence of the Minaret Formation is inferred, prior to rapid subsidence and disconformable deposition of Sequence 3 (the ‘transition beds’) in outer-inner shelf environments. Localized intra-basinal uplift occurred prior to the deposition of Sequence 4 (the lower Crashsite Group), the base of which is locally an erosive unconformity, with a correlative conformity exposed elsewhere. We interpret the Upper Cambrian succession as representing the ‘rift-drift’ transition from initial rifting (preceded by Middle Cambrian volcanism) to thermal subsidence along the South African sector of the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarctic Science Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Pacific Ellsworth Mountains ENVELOPE(-85.000,-85.000,-78.750,-78.750) Frazier ENVELOPE(-154.967,-154.967,-77.867,-77.867) Heritage Range ENVELOPE(-82.000,-82.000,-80.000,-80.000) Minaret ENVELOPE(64.800,64.800,-71.300,-71.300) Liberty Hills ENVELOPE(-82.917,-82.917,-80.100,-80.100) Frazier Ridge ENVELOPE(-86.417,-86.417,-79.150,-79.150) Independence Hills ENVELOPE(-81.250,-81.250,-80.417,-80.417) Springer Peak ENVELOPE(-84.883,-84.883,-79.400,-79.400) The Minaret ENVELOPE(162.167,162.167,-72.700,-72.700) Antarctic Science 11 1 63 77 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
Deposition of the Upper Cambrian succession of the Ellsworth Mountains was influenced by major, episodic tectonically-driven changes to the depositional basin geometry. We subdivide the succession into four stratigraphical sequences based on the recognition of three sequence-bounding unconformities. The upper part of Sequence 1 is composed of the laterally equivalent Liberty Hills, Springer Peak and Frazier Ridge formations, a siliciclastic fluvial to marine deltaic association displaying NW-directed palaeocurrents. A switch in the position of the Late Cambrian depocentre from the north-west to the south coincided with cessation of terrigenous clastic deposition and accumulation of Sequence 2, the limestones of the Minaret Formation. Previously unreported talus breccias from the Independence Hills provide important clues to basin configuration at this time. A brief period of emergence of the Minaret Formation is inferred, prior to rapid subsidence and disconformable deposition of Sequence 3 (the ‘transition beds’) in outer-inner shelf environments. Localized intra-basinal uplift occurred prior to the deposition of Sequence 4 (the lower Crashsite Group), the base of which is locally an erosive unconformity, with a correlative conformity exposed elsewhere. We interpret the Upper Cambrian succession as representing the ‘rift-drift’ transition from initial rifting (preceded by Middle Cambrian volcanism) to thermal subsidence along the South African sector of the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Curtis, Michael L. Lomas, Simon A. |
spellingShingle |
Curtis, Michael L. Lomas, Simon A. Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution |
author_facet |
Curtis, Michael L. Lomas, Simon A. |
author_sort |
Curtis, Michael L. |
title |
Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution |
title_short |
Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution |
title_full |
Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution |
title_fullStr |
Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution |
title_full_unstemmed |
Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution |
title_sort |
late cambrian stratigraphy of the heritage range, ellsworth mountains: implications for basin evolution |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press |
publishDate |
1999 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503140/ https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-85.000,-85.000,-78.750,-78.750) ENVELOPE(-154.967,-154.967,-77.867,-77.867) ENVELOPE(-82.000,-82.000,-80.000,-80.000) ENVELOPE(64.800,64.800,-71.300,-71.300) ENVELOPE(-82.917,-82.917,-80.100,-80.100) ENVELOPE(-86.417,-86.417,-79.150,-79.150) ENVELOPE(-81.250,-81.250,-80.417,-80.417) ENVELOPE(-84.883,-84.883,-79.400,-79.400) ENVELOPE(162.167,162.167,-72.700,-72.700) |
geographic |
Pacific Ellsworth Mountains Frazier Heritage Range Minaret Liberty Hills Frazier Ridge Independence Hills Springer Peak The Minaret |
geographic_facet |
Pacific Ellsworth Mountains Frazier Heritage Range Minaret Liberty Hills Frazier Ridge Independence Hills Springer Peak The Minaret |
genre |
Antarctic Science |
genre_facet |
Antarctic Science |
op_relation |
Curtis, Michael L.; Lomas, Simon A. 1999 Late Cambrian stratigraphy of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains: implications for basin evolution. Antarctic Science, 11 (01). 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103 <https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102099000103 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
63 |
op_container_end_page |
77 |
_version_ |
1766287218474745856 |