MODERN SURFACE SEDIMENTS AND NON-DEPOSITION IN ELLIS FJORD, EASTERN ANTARCTICA

Ellis Fjord is a small, fjord-like marine embayment in the Vestfold Hi lls, eastern Antarctica. Modern sediment input is dominated by a bioge nic diatom rain, although aeolian. fluvial. ice-rafted, slumped and ti dal sediments also make a minor contribution. In areas where bioturbat ion is significant relict glaciogenic sediments are reworked into the fine-grained diatomaceous sediments to produce poorly sorted fine sand s and silts, Where the bottom waters are anoxic, sediments remain unbi oturbated and have a high biogenic silica component. Three depositiona l and non-depositional facies can be recognised in the fjord: an area of non-deposition around the shoreline; a relict morainal facies in ar eas of low sedimentation and high bioturbation: and a basinal facies i n the deeper areas of the fjord.