The Devonian trace fossils of the Taylor Group in the Darwin Glacier area

The principle aim of this expedition was to extend the knowledge of Devonian trace fossils in the Taylor Group in the Darwin Glacier area, to relate them to earlier published research in the Dry Valley region and to use both trace fossils and the results of sedimentological analysis to develop models for the palaeoenvironments of the Taylor Group. Using toboggans and sledges, 13 locations were visited in the Britannia Range, Cook Mountains and Darwin Mountains. A total of just under 5km of geological section was measured and studied. In this area the Taylor Group comprises up to 1200m of sediments in five formations, although only two of these are usually present over much of the outcrop. A new (furthest south) outcrop of Aztec Siltstone was discovered on this trip. Sites visited were Medusa, Perseus Peak, Minerva Glacier, Mercury Glacier, Gorgon's Head, Operose Peak, Dark Tower and Overturn Glacier. During the course of this fieldwork, contacts with coarse overlying Victoria Group sediments were studied with interest as pointers to basin development and tectonic control. Further fragments of the Derrick Peak meteorite, initially found by a University of Waikato party in 1978, were collected on Derrick Peak and in a valley six km to the south. The largest fragment (63kg) has been placed on display at Canterbury museum. Subsequent geochemical analysis of all 9 new fragments indicate they are identical to the initial meteorite finds, and their distribution suggests part a meteorite shower. Terrestrial ages of the fragments indicate that they were found in situ and were not melted out of glacier ice.