Tectonic, Oceanographic, and Climatic Controls on the Cretaceous‐Cenozoic Sedimentary Record of the Australian‐Antarctic Basin


Contact
Wilfried.Jokat [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

Understanding the patterns and characteristics of sedimentary deposits on the conjugate Australian‐Antarctic margins is critical to reveal the Cretaceous‐Cenozoic tectonic, oceanographic, and climatic conditions in the basin. However, unraveling its evolution has remained difficult due to the different seismic stratigraphic interpretations on each margin and sparse drill sites. Here, for the first time, we collate all available seismic reflection profiles on both margins and use newly available offshore drilling data to develop a consistent seismic stratigraphic framework across the Australian‐Antarctic basins. We find sedimentation patterns similar in structure and thickness, prior to the onset of Antarctic glaciation, enabling the basinwide correlation of four major sedimentary units and their depositional history. We interpret that during the warm and humid Late Cretaceous (~83–65 Ma), large onshore river systems on both Australia and Antarctica resulted in deltaic sediment deposition offshore. We interpret that the onset of clockwise bottom currents during the early Paleogene (~58–48 Ma) formed prominent sediment drift deposits along both continental rises. We suggest that these currents strengthened and progressed farther east through the Eocene. Coevally, global cooling (<48 Ma) and progressive aridification led to a large‐scale decrease in sediment input from both continents. Two major Eocene hiatuses recovered by the Integrated Ocean Discovery Program site U1356A at the Antarctic continental slope likely formed during this preglacial phase of low sedimentation and strong bottom currents. Our results can be used to constrain future paleo‐oceanographic modeling of this region and aid the understanding of the oceanographic changes accompanying the transition from a greenhouse to icehouse world.



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Primary Division
Programs
Primary Topic
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
50393
DOI 10.1029/2018JB016683

Cite as
Sauermilch, I. , Whittaker, J. M. , Bijl, P. K. , Totterdell, J. and Jokat, W. (2019): Tectonic, Oceanographic, and Climatic Controls on the Cretaceous‐Cenozoic Sedimentary Record of the Australian‐Antarctic Basin , Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 124 , pp. 7699-7724 . doi: 10.1029/2018JB016683


Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email


Citation

Geographical region

Research Platforms
N/A

Campaigns
N/A


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item