Clay mineralogy.

Abstract

The nature of the clay-size fractions of 28 samples taken from the MSSTS-1 core has been determined. They were found to consist largely of amorphous silica dissolved from the tests of diatoms. Clay minerals found in the core were illite and vermiculite with some smectite. The clay mineralogy of the core material is consistent with its having been derived by glacial erosion from material weathering under conditions similar to those prevailing at the present time in coastal Victoria Land. No evidence was found that the drillhole penetrated sediments derived from a preglacial land surface. (Authors' abstract)-A.W.H. Soil Bureau, DSIR, Private Bag, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.