Petrology and geochemistry of alkaline and granitoid intrusions, Pipecleaner Glacier region, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica

The primary aim was to extend the field mapping, undertaken by previous MSc students from Otage University in Southern Victoria Land. The area mapped included the Miers Valley and around the Pipecleaner Glacier. Samples collected from these areas were used to determine the geochemical and petrological characterisitics of the basement rocks. The Hobbs formation and coarse grained feldspathoidal body at the western end of Radian ridge was investigated. An exposed 60-70m, wide granite-like body occurring in contact with and to the west of the Salmon Marble on Radian ridge was investigated by thin section and laboratory investigations. Samples of nodules of mantle material were collected and analysed geochemically. An area to the north of the camp was mapped and sampled including outcrops to the true right of Pipecleaner Glacier and Radian ridge. The extent and contact relationships of Chancellor Orthogneiss in Miers Valley, was related and compared to the orthogneiss found in the Pipecleaner Glacier region with collected samples analysed.