Geological investigations in South Victoria Land, Antarctica

Abstract

During late January and early February 1958, field camps were established with the aid of a United States Navy helicopter at the following ice-free localities in the vicinity of the upper Taylor glacier (fig. 1): (1) The north side of the Taylor glacier beneath North West Mountain at approximately long. 160° 50'E and lat. 77° 42' S; (2) a deglaciated valley provisionally named the Beacon Valley opening into the southern side of the upper Taylor glacier, approximately long. 160° 50'E and lat. 77° 48's; (3) a small dry valley on the east flank of Mt Knobhead, approximately long. 161° 40'E and lat. 77° 55'S (Fig. 2). Detailed geological examinations were carried out from these camps at altitudes ranging from 4,300 ft to 7,300 ft. The rocks consist of nearly horizontal Beacon sediments intruded by dolerite sills and dykes (Fig. 3). To the east, outside the area examined, the sediments rest on basement granite which is intruded by dolerite sills (Ferrar, 1907).