The sediment properties of glacial diamicts from the Jutulsessen area of Gjelsvikfjella, East Antarctica: A reflection of source materials and regional climate

Abstract

The glacial diamicts deposited in the Jutulsessen area of Gjelsvikfjella, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica show the effects of localized meltwater channels and wind processes, as well as of the dominant glacial processes. These glacial sediments are characterized by poor sorting and a variable mean particle size, and the localized meltwater channels have removed silt- and clay-sized sediments, resulting in the relative enrichment of coarser sediments. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of clay minerals in samples collected across the study area show very similar characteristics. Biotite is the dominant mica mineral in the clay together with chlorite and K-feldspar. The presence of illite, and small amounts of smectite, demonstrates the limited extent of chemical weathering due to the cold and arid conditions. The samples from the glacial fan area contain mixed-layer clays, suggesting the effects of localized meltwater and limited chemical activity which has altered the crystal structure of biotite at lower topographic level. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of surface microtextures from representative quartz grains suggest the dominance of glacial and glaciofluvial processes. The low rates of biogenic activity in this area are indicated by the low total organic carbon (TOC) content of the sediments.