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Geological Formation

Transantarctic Mountains

Structural and Tectonic Formations

The Transantarctic Mountains form one of the longest mountain ranges on Earth, stretching roughly 3,500 kilometers from Cape Adare in northern Victoria Land to Coats Land and running 100 to 300 kilometers wide. The range physically divides East Antarctica from West Antarctica, the continent's two major geological provinces. It is built from a basement of granite and gneiss overlain by sedimentary layers, including the Beacon Supergroup of sandstone, siltstone and coal deposits. The mountains were raised by tectonic uplift associated with the opening of the West Antarctic Rift System, beginning in the early Cenozoic roughly 65 million years ago, after which glaciers moved in and have occupied the range ever since. Mount Kirkpatrick, the range's highest peak at about 4,528 meters, is one of several Transantarctic summits exceeding 4,500 meters, and its exposed rock faces are among the few places in Antarctica not buried under ice. This entity documents the Transantarctic Mountains specifically as a geological formation defined by rift-related tectonic uplift.

Connections

Associated With

Cenozoic, Eras
Source Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)
Coal, Materials
Source Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)
Jurassic, Eras
Source Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)
Sandstone, Materials
Source Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)
Siltstone, Materials
Source Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)
Silurian, Eras
Source Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)

Caused By

Faulting, Processes
Rifting, Processes
Source Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)

In Discipline

Geomorphology, Disciplines
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Australia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
Wikidata: Transantarctic Mountains
Wikidata Q319671, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Transantarctic Mountains (Wikipedia)
  • Associated With: Cenozoic, Article text, age Cenozoic
    The range was uplifted during the opening of the West Antarctic Rift System to the east, beginning about 65 million years ago in the early Cenozoic, and soon after became occupied by glaciers.
  • Associated With: Silurian, Article text, age Silurian
    The sedimentary layers include the Beacon Supergroup sandstones, siltstones, and coal deposited beginning in the Silurian period and continuing into the Jurassic.
  • Associated With: Jurassic, Article text, age Jurassic
    The sedimentary layers include the Beacon Supergroup sandstones, siltstones, and coal deposited beginning in the Silurian period and continuing into the Jurassic.
  • Associated With: Sandstone, Article text, rock Sandstone
    The sedimentary layers include the Beacon Supergroup sandstones, siltstones, and coal deposited beginning in the Silurian period and continuing into the Jurassic.
  • Associated With: Siltstone, Article text, rock Siltstone
    The sedimentary layers include the Beacon Supergroup sandstones, siltstones, and coal deposited beginning in the Silurian period and continuing into the Jurassic.
  • Associated With: Coal, Article text, rock Coal
    The sedimentary layers include the Beacon Supergroup sandstones, siltstones, and coal deposited beginning in the Silurian period and continuing into the Jurassic.
  • Caused By: Rifting, Article text, process Rifting
    The range was uplifted during the opening of the West Antarctic Rift System to the east, beginning about 65 million years ago in the early Cenozoic, and soon after became occupied by glaciers.
View the Source
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