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Jurassic silicic volcanism in the Transantarctic Mountains: Was it related to plate margin processes or to Ferrar magmatism?
Open-File Report
2007-1047-SRP-051
By: D.H. Elliot, T.H. Fleming, K.A. Foland, and C.M. Fanning
Silicic volcanism in the Transantarctic Mountains, represented by rhyolitic tuff that mainly precedes
emplacement of the Ferrar Large Igneous Province, is important in interpretation of the tectonic evolution of the
Antarctic sector of Gondwana. Sr and Nd isotope data indicate that the tuffs are not directly related to Ferrar
magmatism nor to melting of the underlying Ross orogen crust yet zircon gives a U-Pb age of 182.7±1.8 Ma, similar to
the U/Pb age for the Ferrar. Distribution of the silicic tuffs along 1400 km of the Transantarctic Mountains suggests,
alternatively, a relationship to the Gondwana plate margin. Although West Antarctica comprises Mesoproterozoic
crustal terrains, few analyzed rocks are compatible isotopically with the Lower Jurassic tuffs. The source of the tuffs
must lie in unexposed Early Jurassic magmatic centers in West Antarctica or an unexposed crustal terrain beneath the
Transantarctic Mountains.
Suggested Citation
Elliot, D., Fleming, T., Foland, K., Fanning, C., 2007, Jurassic silicic volcanism in the Transantarctic Mountains: Was it related to plate margin processes or to Ferrar magmatism?: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1047-SRP-051, 5 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20071047SRP051.
ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)
ISSN: 0196-1497 (print)
Study Area
Publication type
Report
Publication Subtype
USGS Numbered Series
Title
Jurassic silicic volcanism in the Transantarctic Mountains: Was it related to plate margin processes or to Ferrar magmatism?
Series title
Open-File Report
Series number
2007-1047-SRP-051
DOI
10.3133/ofr20071047SRP051
Year Published
2007
Language
English
Publisher
U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location
Reston, VA
Description
5 p.
Larger Work Type
Report
Larger Work Subtype
USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title
Antarctica: A Keystone in a Changing World--Online Proceedings for the Tenth International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences. Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.--August 26 to September 1, 2007