Fossiliferous Quaternary marine deposits in the McMurdo Sound Region, Antarctica

Abstract

Two types of Quaternary fossiliferous marine deposits with similar faunal assemblages are widespread in the McMurdo Sound Region. The older, named Scallop Hill Formation, consists of cemented tuffaceous sandstones, grits, and conglomerates containing the extinct thick-shelled Jamellibranch Chlamys (Zygochlamys) anderssoni (Hennig), and is probably of an early Pleistocene interglacial age. The younger, named Taylor Formation, consists of frozen but unconsolidated marine sediments containing the recent thin-shelled Adamussium colbecki (Smith), and although most occurrences are Postglacial some may be of Last Interglacial age. Recently discovered and previously described quarternary fossil localities are listed in appendices. Systematic data on Polyzoa from the deposits are recorded in a separate appendix by D. A. Brown.