Pliocene Foraminifera Sediment Records from Larsemann Hills

Metadata record for ASAC Project 31 details the discovery of early Pliocene age sediments in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica. The data includes analysis of foraminifera species like Globocassidulina crassa and Cassidulinoides cf. parkerianus found in muddy sediments at 55m above sea level. The record was last updated by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre in March 1990.

Use Cases

• Analyze species composition of calcareous benthic fauna, including Globocassidulina crassa and Cassidulinoides cf. parkerianus, to infer past marine environments.
• Correlate sediment age and elevation data (55m above sea level) with other Pliocene records from the Vestfold Hills for regional geological history.
• Use the identified foraminifera Ammoelphidiella antarctica as a biostratigraphic marker to date thin unconsolidated muddy sediments in Antarctica.

Strengths

• Provides specific taxonomic identification of key foraminifera species (e.g., Globocassidulina crassa).
• Offers a precise geographical context for the sample location in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica.
• Establishes a temporal context by proposing an early Pliocene age for the sediments.

Limitations

• The dataset is a metadata record; the availability and size of the underlying core data files are unknown.
• Data is temporally stale, with a last update recorded in March 1990.
• Sample size and spatial extent of the sediment records are not specified.

Provenance

Source

Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AU_AADC) for ASAC Project 31.

Collection Method

Analysis of foraminifera specimens from thin unconsolidated muddy sediment samples.

Time Range

Early Pliocene age for the sediments.

Geography

Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica.