1987/01/01 by Hubert Miller, Miller, H., W. Loske +3
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geological and Geochemical Analysis #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils #Geological Studies and Exploration
paper · pdf · doi:10.2312/polarforschung.57.1-2.59
Morphological and U-Pb isotope studies on sedimentary zircons reflect the orcgenic evolution of their former host rocks.The orogenic history of detrital zircons from the Trinity Peninsula Formation (TPF) defines the f'ormer geological surrounding of the sedimentation basin of the TPF.Same few weil rounded, polycyclic zircons of Precambrian age and Cambrian overprint give hints for an old cratonic source rock.Because of their very low frequency compared with euhedral types, the contribution of an craronic shield area to the bulk of the sedimentary debris is neglectable low.Euhedral zircons of granitoid origin and Carboniferous age indicate a derivation from an area of widespread Carboniferous intrusions.Except for southern South Arnerica and unsurveyed regions in the Antarctic Peninsula itself', no region could deliver zircons with a Carboniferous age record.The only acceptable explanation for the origin of these zircons is a position of the Antarctic Peninsula during the sedimentation of the TPF approxirnately southwest of southern South America.