Lithofacies and origin of the buckeye formation: Late paleozoic glacial and glaciomarine sediments, Ohio range, transantarctic mountains, Antarctica

Abstract

Up to 300 m of glaciogenic late Paleozoic Buckeye Formation rest unconformably upon an erosional surface cut on, and in places through, early Devonian Horlick Formation in the Ohio Range, Antarctica. The diamictite exhibits a gradual transition upsection from direct glacial to subsequent glaciomarine deposition. Lowermost beds include diamictite deposited directly from grounded ice. Numerous striated pavements indicate paleo-ice-flow from west to east. Upsection many beds are internally stratified and this, with the presence of fine laminated interbeds, provides evidence of subaqueous deposition. Geochemical, textural and paleontological data suggest a marine influence. Towards the top of the Buckeye most diamictite horizons are horizontally stratified with a decreasing proportion of small dropstones. Buckeye Formation is conformably overlain by Discovery Ridge Formation beds of probable shallow marine origin.