This dissertation has been /»OOAOO m icrofilm ed exactly as received MINSHEW, Jr., Velon Haywood, 1939- GEOLOGY OF THE SCOTT GLACIER AND WISCONSIN RANGE AREAS, CENTRAL TRANSANTARCTIC MOUNTAINS, ANTARCTICA. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1967 Geology University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan GEOLOGY OF THE SCOTT GLACIER AND WISCONSIN RANGE AREAS, CENTRAL TRANSANTARCTIC MOUNTAINS, ANTARCTICA DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University by Velon Haywood Minshew, Jr. B.S., M.S, The Ohio State University 1967 Approved by -Adviser Department of Geology ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report covers two field seasons in the central Trans- antarctic Mountains, During this time, the Mt, Weaver field party consisted of: George Doumani, leader and paleontologist; Larry Lackey, field assistant; Courtney Skinner, field assistant. The Wisconsin Range party was composed of: Gunter Faure, leader and geochronologist; John Mercer, glacial geologist; John Murtaugh, igneous petrclogist; James Teller, field assistant; Courtney Skinner, field assistant; Harry Gair, visiting strati- grapher. The author served as a stratigrapher with both expedi­ tions . Various members of the staff of the Department of Geology, The Ohio State University, as well as some specialists from the outside were consulted in the laboratory studies for the pre­ paration of this report. Dr. George E. Moore supervised the petrographic work and critically reviewed the manuscript. Dr. J. M. Schopf examined the coal and plant fossils, and provided information concerning their age and environmental significance. Drs. Richard P. Goldthwait and Colin B. B. Bull spent time with the author discussing the late Paleozoic glacial deposits, and reviewed portions of the manuscript. Dr. Arthur Mirsky was helpful in numerous ways during the course of the research and in editing the report. Dr. Gunter Faure generously supplied ii unpublished data on the geochronology and chemistry of the basement rocks, and reviewed the manuscript. Dr. C. H. Schultz examined thin sections of the Permian pyroclastic rocks. Dr. Sambhudas Chaudhuri, Kansas State University, assisted in the X-ray diffraction analyses. Dr. Allison R. Palmer identified the trilobites from the Leverett Formation, and Dr. Norman E. Newell examined pelecypod casts from the Weaver Formation. Drs. R. L. Bates, A. LaRocque, E. Rudolph reviewed the manuscript and offered many helpful suggestions. Dr. C. H. Summerson, Department of Geology, The Ohio State University, supervised the research, and spent one month in the field examining the stratigraphic sections of the Mt. Weaver area; the author is grateful to Professor Summerson for his con­ tinuous encouragement and assistance. The final order of this report is due in large part to his constructive criticism, although the author takes the responsibility for all opinions expressed. The author is also indebted to his associates of the Institute of Polar Studies for their many stimulating dis­ cussions and criticisms. P. J. Barrett, R. L. Cameron, D. E. Elliott, K. R. Everett, J. L. Lindsay, and J. H. Mercer were especially helpful. As a result of our many discussions, it is difficult to determine who first suggested some ideas. iii Logistic support to the field was provided by the U. S. Navy, Air Development Squadron Six. U. S. Array UH-1B turbine heli­ copters of the Uo S. Army Aviation Detachment, Antarctic Support, were placed at the disposal of the field party both seasons. Without the assistance of these helicopters, the regional survey would not have been possible. The author was assisted in the typing of the manuscript by Miss Adda Jane Liggitt. Miss Pamela Minshew colored the geologic map. This research was supported by National Science Foundations grants G-22542 and Ga-136, awarded to The Ohio State University Research Foundation, and administered by the Institute of Polar Studies. iv VITA January 11, 1939 Born, Carthage, Mississippi 1958-1959 Laboratory Assistant, Department of Geology University of Southern Mississippi 1959 B. Sc,, University of Southern Mississippi 1959-1962 Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology University of Nebraska 1962 M. Sc., University of Nebraska 1962-present Research Associate, Institute of Polar Studies The Ohio State University 1962-1963 Stratigrapher, Mt, Weaver Geologic Expedition Antarctica 1964-1965 Stratigrapher, Wisconsin Range Geologic Expedition Antarctica v PUBLICATIONS Stratigraphy and sedimentation of the Meridian Sand in east central Mississippi, M. Sc, Thesis, University of Nebraska, 1962; abstract published in 1962 proceedings of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. Geology of Earth*s southernmost outcrops, (Abstract), with G. A. Doumani, Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper No. 76, p. 50-51, 1964. Stratigraphic section of the Robert Scott Glacier area, Queen Maud Range, Antarctica, (Abstract), with C. H. Summerson, Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper No. 76, p. 312-313, 1964. General geology of the Mount Weaver area, Queen Maud Mountains, Antarctica, with G. A. Doumani, in Hadley, J. B., Ed., Geology and Paleontology of the Antarctic, V. 6, Antarctic Research Series, Amer. Geophys. Un., p. 71-116, 1965. Potassium-Argon age from a granite at Mount Wilbur, Queen Maud Range, Antarctica, Science, 150 (3697), p. 741-743, 1965. Stratigraphy of the Wisconsin Range, Horlick Mountains, Antarctica, Science, 152 (3722), p. 637-639, 1966. Petrologic investigations of the Scott Glacier-Wisconsin Range, Antarctica, Antarctic Journal of the U. S., in press. Late Paleozoic glacial stratigraphy, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica, First International Symposium on Gondwana stratigraphy and paleontology, Buenos Aires, in press. Permo-Carboniferous stratigraphy, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica, with C. H. Summerson, Sixth Inter­ national Congress of Carboniferous stratigraphy and geology, in press. Thermal metamorphism of the Beacon Rocks, central Trans­ antarctic Mountains, Antarctica, (A!> vact), for presentation of 1967 Geol. Soc. Amer. Annual Meeting, New Orleans. vi FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Geology Studies in Stratigraphy. Professor Charles H. Summerson Studies in Sedimentation. Professor Charles H. Summerson Studies in Petrology, Professor George E. Moore Studies in Glacial Geology. Professor Richard P. Goldthwait Studies in Coal Geology. Professor J. M. Schopf v ii TABLE OF CONTENTS page PREFACE . ii LIST OF TABLES...................................................................... xv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.......................................................... xvii INTRODUCTION.......................................................... 1 AREA OF INVESTIGATION.......................................................... 6 FIELD WORK ............................ 7 PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS...................................................... 8 GEOMORPHOLOGY........................................................................... 10 WEATHERING CHARACTERISTICS.............................................. 13 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY.............................................................. 20 Historical background ...... .......................... 20 Scott Glacier and Wisconsin Range ...... 22 STRATIGRAPHY . .................................................................. 26 Introduction ......................................... 26 Basement stra tig ra p h y .................... 28 Introduction .............................................................. 28 Granitic rocks . ......................... ....... 30 LaGorce Formation .............. 34 Definition and type a r e a ............................. 34 Areal Distribution .................... 34 Thickness ........................ 36 v iii page Structure .............................................= . 36 Petrology .............................................................. 37 Primary s tr u c tu r e s .................. .................... 38 Intrusive contacts ..... ..................... 38 Paleontology ......... 38 Environment of deposition ............................. 39 Age ................................................. 39 Wyatt Formation ......... ..................... 41 Introduction . .............................................. 41 Definition and type a r e a .......................... 41 Areal distribution .......................................... 41 Lower contact ........................ 42 Structure . 42 Thickness ..... 43 Petrology ..................................... 43 Chemical composition ...................................... 48 Metarnorphism ...................................... 49 O r i g i n .................... 50 Age ........................................................................... 51 Leverett Formation ...................................................... 52 Definition and type a r e a ............................ 52 Areal distribution ............................. 52 Thickness.............................................................. 54 ix page Structure ............................................................. 54 Stratigraphy.......................................... 54 Chemistry................................................................. 60 Primary structures ............................................. 61 Paleontology and age ......... 61 Environment of deposition ................................ 63 Metamorphism ..................................................... 64 Basement correlations ... 65 Isolated exposures