The use of micromorphology in examining the nature and history of Antarctic glacial sediments

There are two locations within south Victoria Land, Antarctica where glacial sediments have been analysed using micromorphology. One is Taylor Valley, where a discontinous linear moraine ridge at the snout of the glacier is investigated so to understand whether the deposit is a sublimation or melt out till, and what the diagnostic glacial microstructures are respectively. The second location is the Allan Hills, where an extensive distribution of Sirius glacial sediments can be found. A number of glacial diamict samples are being analysed again using the technique micromorphology so to help determine the character of glaciation during the deposition of the Sirius glacial sediments, as well as gauge an insight into whether more than one such episode existed or not.