K008-7374
Event
Event NameVUWAE 18| 1973-1974Abstract18A McMurdo Volcanic Project: Kyle and Cooper and Sam Treves (DVDP Project scientist) flew by helo to Mt Erebus on Nov 11. After establishing camp| the party climbed the 120 m to inspect the crater. Weather was clear and calm and the view of the crater was the best view in two years visits. Lava was flowing from a vent into a partially frozen lava lake.
The following day in deteriorating weather an inspection of fumarolic towers was made in order to find a site to install a slow recording seismograph. Seismograph turned out to be faulty and attempt to fix it were unsuccessful| so objective was abandoned.
18B Mawson Breccia Project: The main objective was to extend the study of the Mawson Breccia (Allis et al 1973) both at Shapeless Mountain and at Allan hills by: (1) detailed mapping of Shapeless Mountain| (2) Mechanical analysis of randomly chosen square meters of breccia| (3) Examination of the classic dykes at Shapeless Mountain| (4) Sampling for chemical analysis| dating and paleomagnetic study.
18C Salts Project: (1) Detailed systematic sampling of salt deposits and salt accumulations was performed in localities at: Shapeless Mountain| Lashley Mountains| Mt Metschel| Alligator Peak| Beacon Valley and Rotunda. Further samples from various places in the Dry Valley region were collected by other members of the expedition and by members of other events.
(2) The Salt Map of south Victoria Land (Keys| 1972| Allis et al| 1973) can be extended to these new localities which being geographically removed from the Dry Valley region will add a new dimension to the overall knowledge of salt distribution in the area.
(3) The Taylor Mineral Discharge (Keys et al| in prep) was further examined and also several chemically similar mineral strata discovered on the Skelton Névé. A series of strata of similar form but containing different minerals was discovered on the Skelton Névé and at Rotunda. Samples of the minerals and ice host were taken for analysis and crystallographic study.
18D Aztec Siltstone Project: (1) Sections of Aztec Siltstone at Mt Metschel and in the Alligator Peak area which had been visited in 1970-1971 (Askin et al| 1971; Barrett et al| 1971 Barrett and Kohn 1971) were re –examined and sampled on a very detailed scale for further petrographic and chemical analysis. Careful observation was made of specific sedimentological phenomena| eg nodules| intraformational conglomerates| mudcracks| and ripple marks. The relationships between colour of beds and sedimentary features| eg burrows and vein networks| and the changes in bedding charactteristics in both vertical and lateral directions were also studied. Units considered to be fossil soil horizons (Barrett et al| 1971; McPherson| 1973) were studied and photographed| and were sampled in both vertical and horizontal directions for changes in chemical composition indicative of former soil processes.
(2) Sections of Aztec Siltstone visited by previous VUWAE parties (Askin et al| 1972; Barrett and Webb| 1973) but not by the author were examined in the same detail as the others. These were at Shapeless Mountain| Mt Fleming| the Lashley Mountains| and Aztec Mountain.
(3) Further red beds from formations lower in the Taylor Group were examined and sampled at Rotunda. They were found to differ considerably from those of the Aztec Siltstone.
(4) Suitable massive units if the Aztec Siltstone were selected for paleomagnetic sampling. Orientated drill sampling was attempted but failed due to the highly fractured and friable nature of the siltstones. Bulk orientation samples were taken instead| but even these were difficult to remove in suitable large pieces.
18E Palynology Project: (1) Detailed sampling of Permian sandstones and siltstones for palynological study was carried out at Shapeless Mountain and the Lashley Mountains| which had both been previously visited and described by VUWAE parties (Barrett and Kohn| 1971; Askin et al 1972). The microfloral assemblages from these samples will be compared with the Australian Permian palynological zonal scheme in order to set up a Permian-Triassic zonal scheme for the Victoria Group in south Victoria Land.
(2) Coal samples from the Permian coal-measures at Mt Fleming and the Lashley Mountains were collected for analysis.
(3) The mode of occurrence of the coal beds and the nature of their associated sediments was studied in the above localities.
(4) Measurement of fossil plants (eg calamitid stems) were made at the above localities.PersonnelJanet CrumpHarry KeysPhilip KyleRosemary KylePaul LuckmanJohm McPhersonRussel PlumeGraham RoweLocationsShapeless MountainLashley MountainsVanda StationAztec MountainMt MetschelAlligator PeakRotundaTaylor GlacierPole StationPlane TableMt JasonGeolocation[1] Position[2] Position[3] Position[4] Position[5] PositionPosition:StreetView:&enabled=0&fov=90&heading=0&pitch=0&zoom=6Season1973-1974
The following day in deteriorating weather an inspection of fumarolic towers was made in order to find a site to install a slow recording seismograph. Seismograph turned out to be faulty and attempt to fix it were unsuccessful| so objective was abandoned.
18B Mawson Breccia Project: The main objective was to extend the study of the Mawson Breccia (Allis et al 1973) both at Shapeless Mountain and at Allan hills by: (1) detailed mapping of Shapeless Mountain| (2) Mechanical analysis of randomly chosen square meters of breccia| (3) Examination of the classic dykes at Shapeless Mountain| (4) Sampling for chemical analysis| dating and paleomagnetic study.
18C Salts Project: (1) Detailed systematic sampling of salt deposits and salt accumulations was performed in localities at: Shapeless Mountain| Lashley Mountains| Mt Metschel| Alligator Peak| Beacon Valley and Rotunda. Further samples from various places in the Dry Valley region were collected by other members of the expedition and by members of other events.
(2) The Salt Map of south Victoria Land (Keys| 1972| Allis et al| 1973) can be extended to these new localities which being geographically removed from the Dry Valley region will add a new dimension to the overall knowledge of salt distribution in the area.
(3) The Taylor Mineral Discharge (Keys et al| in prep) was further examined and also several chemically similar mineral strata discovered on the Skelton Névé. A series of strata of similar form but containing different minerals was discovered on the Skelton Névé and at Rotunda. Samples of the minerals and ice host were taken for analysis and crystallographic study.
18D Aztec Siltstone Project: (1) Sections of Aztec Siltstone at Mt Metschel and in the Alligator Peak area which had been visited in 1970-1971 (Askin et al| 1971; Barrett et al| 1971 Barrett and Kohn 1971) were re –examined and sampled on a very detailed scale for further petrographic and chemical analysis. Careful observation was made of specific sedimentological phenomena| eg nodules| intraformational conglomerates| mudcracks| and ripple marks. The relationships between colour of beds and sedimentary features| eg burrows and vein networks| and the changes in bedding charactteristics in both vertical and lateral directions were also studied. Units considered to be fossil soil horizons (Barrett et al| 1971; McPherson| 1973) were studied and photographed| and were sampled in both vertical and horizontal directions for changes in chemical composition indicative of former soil processes.
(2) Sections of Aztec Siltstone visited by previous VUWAE parties (Askin et al| 1972; Barrett and Webb| 1973) but not by the author were examined in the same detail as the others. These were at Shapeless Mountain| Mt Fleming| the Lashley Mountains| and Aztec Mountain.
(3) Further red beds from formations lower in the Taylor Group were examined and sampled at Rotunda. They were found to differ considerably from those of the Aztec Siltstone.
(4) Suitable massive units if the Aztec Siltstone were selected for paleomagnetic sampling. Orientated drill sampling was attempted but failed due to the highly fractured and friable nature of the siltstones. Bulk orientation samples were taken instead| but even these were difficult to remove in suitable large pieces.
18E Palynology Project: (1) Detailed sampling of Permian sandstones and siltstones for palynological study was carried out at Shapeless Mountain and the Lashley Mountains| which had both been previously visited and described by VUWAE parties (Barrett and Kohn| 1971; Askin et al 1972). The microfloral assemblages from these samples will be compared with the Australian Permian palynological zonal scheme in order to set up a Permian-Triassic zonal scheme for the Victoria Group in south Victoria Land.
(2) Coal samples from the Permian coal-measures at Mt Fleming and the Lashley Mountains were collected for analysis.
(3) The mode of occurrence of the coal beds and the nature of their associated sediments was studied in the above localities.
(4) Measurement of fossil plants (eg calamitid stems) were made at the above localities.PersonnelJanet CrumpHarry KeysPhilip KyleRosemary KylePaul LuckmanJohm McPhersonRussel PlumeGraham RoweLocationsShapeless MountainLashley MountainsVanda StationAztec MountainMt MetschelAlligator PeakRotundaTaylor GlacierPole StationPlane TableMt JasonGeolocation[1] Position[2] Position[3] Position[4] Position[5] PositionPosition:StreetView:&enabled=0&fov=90&heading=0&pitch=0&zoom=6Season1973-1974
Linked To
K008-7374. Antarctica NZ, accessed 24/01/2025, https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/38354