Geological information from Antarctica has so far been published in expedition reports, conference proceedings, and science journals. This information is thus not readily accessible to Earth scientists who are interested, but not directly involved, in Antarctic research. The Geology ofAntarctica bridges this gap with each chapter presenting an authoritative review of a particular aspect of Antarctic geology. The text provides descriptions of all major rock units found in Antarctica, as well as reviews of Antarctic palaeontology, geophysics, petroleum prospects, and mineral resources. Special attention is drawn to the features of Antarctica that are significant from the wider perspectives of globalgeology.

A comprehensive single-authored book to introduce students and researchers to the marine geology of the Antarctic.

This memoir is the first to review all of Antarctica’s volcanism between 200 million years ago and the Present. The region is still volcanically active. The volume is an amalgamation of in-depth syntheses, which are presented within distinctly different tectonic settings. Each is described in terms of (1) the volcanology and eruptive palaeoenvironments; (2) petrology and origin of magma; and (3) active volcanism, including tephrochronology. Important volcanic episodes include: astonishingly voluminous mafic and felsic volcanic deposits associated with the Jurassic break-up of Gondwana; the construction and progressive demise of a major Jurassic to Present continental arc, including back-arc alkaline basalts and volcanism in a young ensialic marginal basin; Miocene to Pleistocene mafic volcanism associated with post-subduction slab-window formation; numerous Neogene alkaline volcanoes, including the massive Erebus volcano and its persistent phonolitic lava lake, that are widely distributed within and adjacent to one of the world’s major zones of lithospheric extension (the West Antarctic Rift System); and very young ultrapotassic volcanism erupted subglacially and forming a world-wide type example (Gaussberg).

Surveys the tectonic evolution of the Antarctic crust and the palaeoenvironmental evolution of Antarctica since the Late Mesozoic.

Summary based on published and unpublished reports.