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Extent of the Ross Orogen in Antarctica: new data from DSDP 270 and Iselin Bank

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2011

N. Mortimer ,
J.M. Palin ,
W.J. Dunlap  and
F. Hauff
N. Mortimer*
Affiliation:
GNS Science, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin, New Zealand
J.M. Palin
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
W.J. Dunlap
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455, USA
F. Hauff
Affiliation:
IFM-GEOMAR Leibniz Institute for Marine Sciences, Wischhofstrasse 1–3, D-24148 Kiel, Germany
*
n.mortimer@gns.cri.nz
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Abstract

The Ross Sea is bordered by the Late Precambrian–Cambrian Ross–Delamerian Orogen of East Antarctica and the more Pacific-ward Ordovician–Silurian Lachlan–Tuhua–Robertson Bay–Swanson Orogen. A calcsilicate gneiss from Deep Sea Drilling Project 270 drill hole in the central Ross Sea, Antarctica, gives a U-Pb titanite age of 437 ± 6 Ma (2σ). This age of high-grade metamorphism is too young for typical Ross Orogen. Based on this age, and on lithology, we propose a provisional correlation with the Early Palaeozoic Lachlan–Tuhua–Robertson Bay–Swanson Orogen, and possibly the Bowers Terrane of northern Victoria Land. A metamorphosed porphyritic rhyolite dredged from the Iselin Bank, northern Ross Sea, gives a U-Pb zircon age of 545 ± 32 Ma (2σ). The U-Pb age, petrochemistry, Ar-Ar K-feldspar dating, and Sr and Nd isotopic ratios indicate a correlation with Late Proterozoic–Cambrian igneous protoliths of the Ross Orogen. If the Iselin Bank rhyolite is not ice-rafted debris, then it represents a further intriguing occurrence of Ross basement found outside the main Ross–Delamerian Orogen.

Keywords

geochemistrygeochronologyigneous rocksLachlan Orogenmetamorphic rockstectonics
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , June 2011 , pp. 297 - 306
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2011

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