Derived constituents in the glacial sediments of the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica

Sediment derived from pre-existing marine deposits and weathered surfaces is a common consituent of glacial drift in the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. Ninety-seven samples of glacial drift were examined for marine macrofossils and weathered clasts, and 41 were examined for foraminifera. Fragments or whole specimens of shells, worm tubes, sponge spicules and foraminifera were recovered from 25 samples. Clasts that exhibited evidence of subaerial weathering, such as tafoni and weathering rinds, were found in 53 samples. Derived sediment was found in 62% of all samples. These data indicate that the last advance of ice derived much of its sediment locally. The incorporation of marine fauna in the glacial deposits makes the identification of in situ interglacial sequences difficult.