Accumulation mechanisms of micrometeorites in an ancient supra-glacial moraine at Larkman Nunatak, Antarctica
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Published version
Author(s)
Genge, MJ
Van Ginneken, M
Suttle, Martin
Harvey, Ralph
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We report the discovery of a large accumulation of micrometeorites in a supraglacial moraine at Larkman Nunatak in the Grosvenor Mountains of the Transantarctic Range in Antarctica. The micrometeorites are present in abundances of ~600 particles Kg-1 of moraine sediment and include a near complete collection of micrometeorite types similar to those observed in Antarctic blue ice and within bare-rock traps in the Antarctic. The size distribution of the observed particles is consistent with those collected from snow collections suggesting the moraine has captured a representative collection of cosmic spherules with significant loss of only the smallest particles (<100 m) by wind. The presence of microtektites with compositions similar to those of the Australasian strewn field suggests the moraine has been accumulating for 780 ka with dust-sized debris. On the basis of this age estimate it is suggested that accumulation occurs principally through ice sublimation. Direct in-fall of fines is suggested to be limited by snow layers that act as barriers to accumulation and can be removed by wind erosion. Micrometeorite accumulation in many areas in Antarctica, therefore, may not be continuous over long periods and can be subject to climatic controls. On the basis of the interpretation of microtektites as Australasian, Larkman Nunatak deposit is the oldest known supraglacial moraine and its survival through several glacial maxima and interglacial periods is surprising. We suggest that stationary ice produced by the specific ice flow conditions at Larkman Nunatak explains its longevity and provides a new type of record of the East Antarctic ice sheet.
Date Issued
2018-10-01
Date Acceptance
2018-03-12
Citation
Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 2018, 53 (10), pp.2051-2066
ISSN
1086-9379
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
2051
End Page
2066
Journal / Book Title
Meteoritics and Planetary Science
Volume
53
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors. Meteoritics & Planetary Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Meteoritical Society.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Grant Number
ST/M003167/1
ST/N000803/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
DEEP-SEA SEDIMENTS
COSMIC SPHERULES
TRANSANTARCTIC MOUNTAINS
BLUE ICE
ACCRETION RATE
SOUTH-POLE
DUST
COLLECTION
FLUX
MICROTEKTITES
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
0402 Geochemistry
0403 Geology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-05-16