Kirwan Volcanics, Queen Maud Land

The surficial and subglacial geomorphology of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

“…Jurassic tholeiitic basalts are also present within the sequence, and correspond in age with the main phase of Karoo volcanism in southern Africa (Duncan, Hooper, Rehacek, Marsh, & Duncan, 1997;Ferraccioli et al, 2005). These basalts are referred to as the Kirwan Volcanics and are widespread at the Vestfjella and in some parts of the Heimefrontfjella (Faure & Mensing, 2011). Figure 3 shows the extent and location of these basalts in the study area.…”

“…Nunataks of the escarpment consist largely of crystalline basement metamorphic rocks of Precambrian age (Spaeth & Fielitz, 1987), predominately gneiss, dated at ~1.1 Ga in the Heimefrontfjella (Jacobs, Bauer, Spaeth, Thomas, & Weber, 1996). At some localities within the Kirwan Escarpment, less resistant shales and sandstones of Permian age (the Amelang Plateau Formation) have been deposited onto the basement Precambrian metamorphic rocks (Aucamp, Wolmarans, & Neethling, 1972;Faure & Mensing, 2011). Jurassic tholeiitic basalts are also present within the sequence, and correspond in age with the main phase of Karoo volcanism in southern Africa (Duncan, Hooper, Rehacek, Marsh, & Duncan, 1997;Ferraccioli et al, 2005).…”