We present a spectroscopic and kinematic analysis of 79 nearby M dwarfs in 77
systems. All are low-proper-motion southern hemisphere objects and were
identified in a nearby star survey with a demonstrated sensitivity to young
stars. Using low-resolution optical spectroscopy from the Red Side Spectrograph
(RSS) on the South African Large Telescope (SALT), we have determined radial
velocities, H-alpha, Lithium 6708\AA, and Potassium 7699\AA~equivalent widths
linked to age and activity, and spectral types for all our targets. Combined
with astrometric information from literature sources, we identify 44 young
stars. Eighteen are previously known members of moving groups within 100
parsecs of the Sun. Twelve are new members, including one member of the TW
Hydra moving group, one member of the 32 Orionis moving group, nine members of
Tucana-Horologium, one member of Argus, and two new members of AB Doradus. We
also find fourteen young star systems that are not members of any known groups.
The remaining 33 star systems do not appear to be young. This appears to be
evidence of a new population of nearby young stars not related to the known
nearby young moving groups.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures, 6 tables. Accepted to Ap
