Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1979-80: VUWAE 24
Core Description (PJB, BC McK)
Core Description (PJB, BC McK)
The detailed cote description was carried out at Scott Base, and the summary logs on a scale of 1:50 are being prepared along with photographs of the boxed core, for publication in the VUW Antarctic Data Series. A log of the hole with the main lithologies is given in Figure 9.
Although a procedure for description was outlined in the Scientific Operations Handbook, pressure of time, facilities and differences in background of the four people involved lead to some unevenness in the descriptions. This problem is being overcome by reference to the core to check the summary logs. However, it is now clear that it would have been more satisfactory to carry Out a small full description at the drill site.
The strata cored at MSSTS 1 represent a moderately varied sequence of diamictite, muddy sandstone, sandy mudstone and well-sorted sandstone in units from a few to about 30 m thick. Pebbles and a few cobbles are scattered throughout, floating in the mud and sand and indicating a continuous glacial influence in sedimentation. Preliminary paleontological data [HTB; SML, BLW in this report] indicate that the sequence is entirely marine and. from 32 m to the oldest core, is mid-Miocene in age. The younger strata are Pliocene to decent in age. The MSSTS 1 core contrasts with the Late Miocene-Recent cores from nearby DVDP 10 and 11, in lower Taylor Valley, in that it is wholely marine, the amount and size of coarse debris is less and there is much less textural diversity.