Petrography of Beacon Sandstone samples from Beacon Height West, Upper Taylor Glacier, Antarctica

Abstract

The Beacon Sandstone sediments of Beacon Height West are predominantly mature shallow-water orthoquartzites, lightly cemented by secondary quartz overgrowths, and containing at least ten varieties of quartz grains distinguishable according to the nature and form of their fluid and mineral inclusions. In subordinate pink and grey arkosic sandstones and arkoses microcline is the principal feldspar. Interbedded siltstones are less mature and consist of quartz grains in a matrix of indeterminable mud-size particles. The sediments were derived from a very diverse provenance area containing a wide range of metamorphic and igneous rocks and metasediments.