Abstract
Glacial marine sediments in the vicinity of the West Ice Shelf, East Antarctica, contain abundant recycled spores, pollen and microplankton. Analysis of the reworked spore and pollen aggregates in terms of the known ranges of constituent species indicates that they derive from the erosion of Permian, Lower Cretaceous, and uppermost Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary strata. The microplankton component suggests that the Eocene part of the eroding sequence was deposited under marine conditions. Physical and geological considerations suggest that a source for the recycled material lies somewhere in the West Ice Shelf-Prydz Bay area. The presence of pollen of probable Eocene age in this part of East Antarctica is of palaeoclimatological interest, suggesting that forest cover existed in the region at that time. Previous studies have indicated that parts of West Antarctica were vegetated during the same interval. Such evidence for widespread vegetation cover is not compatible with ice-sheet development to continental proportions during the Eocene.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
