Salty Tales of Diagenesis in Antarctica
Explore the fascinating world of diagenesis in Antarctica through this 58-minute lecture. Delve into the occurrence of highly saline brine groundwater in the McMurdo Dry Valleys and Victoria Land Basin, and its role in precipitating calcite, dolomite, and aragonite cement in Cenozoic glaciomarine strata. Examine the relationship between depth, sediment age, and cement precipitation temperature, suggesting cement and brine formation during periods of cooling and ice sheet expansion. Investigate stratigraphy, sedimentology, petrography, and geochemistry of the Ross Sea and McMurdo Dry Valleys. Analyze lithofacies records and recurring stratigraphic motifs reflecting climatic conditions. Discover insights from the ANDRILL project, including pore water profiles and isotopic data indicating brine derived from seawater freezing. Learn about clumped isotope paleothermometry and its application in understanding cement precipitation. Explore potential sites of brine formation in the McMurdo region and the presence of mirabilite along coastlines. Consider the timing of brine formation and cement precipitation, possibly associated with the Middle Miocene Climate Transition. Read more