Examination of the Beacon Group stratigraphy and paleontology between the Boomerang and Olympus Ranges

The Beacon Group stratigraphy and paleontology between the Boomerang and Olympus Ranges was investigated in two phases. The first phase involved visits to ranges and nunataks around the Skelton Neve including visits to Boomerang Range, Warren Range, Portal Mountain and Mt Metschel, by toboggan. The second phase was helicopter assisted and visits were made to Table Mountain, Knobhead Mountain, Aztec mountain, Maya Mountain, Kennar Valley, Mt Fleming and the western Asgaard and Olympus Ranges. The aim was to provide a more detailed stratigraphy for the lower Beacon Group sediments (i.e. the Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian) and to improve if at all possible the most promising paleontological collections of fish in the Boomerang Range by increasing the collection size. The general work conducted included examination and preparation of detailed sections (measured with jacob staff) at several sites, a distinct regional unconformity separating the top of the tillite from the overlying Permian coal measure was traced from north to south over approximately 70 miles and special attention was paid to the lithostratigraphy of Devonian sediments including a critical re-examination of the Odin Arkose, Boreas subgreywacke, Beacon Heights Orthoquartzite and Aztec siltstone, the New Mountain Sandstone, the Pyramid Sandstone, the Terra Cotta Windy Gully member and the Altar Mountain Formation to determine a better nomenclature for these rock groups. Collections of Devonian fish fossils including fin spines, plates, skull plates, jaws, teeth, etc., collection of Permian plant fossils and Devonian lycopods were taken back to New Zealand. In addition, a large collection of rock samples were collected for petrographic analysis, including arkoses, orthoquartzites, siltstones and claystones.