[1] The Dufek Massif was discovered and photographed on January 13, 1956, on a transcontinental patrol plane flight of United States Navy Operation Deep Freeze from McMurdo Sound to the vicinity of the Weddell Sea and return.

It was named by the United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Rear Admiral George J. Dufek[a] United States Navy, who was in direct operational command of United States Navy Task Force 43 during that operation.

[1] Download coordinates as: The Dufek Massif runs southwest-northeast in the northwest of the Pensalcola Mountains.

The Jaburg Glacier flows west past its southwest end, separating it from the Cordiner Peaks to the south.

Major features, from southwest to northeast, include Neuburg Peak, Jaeger Table, Davis Valley and Boyd Escarpment.