K002-7475

A thick sequence of largely clastic sediments and volcanic rocks of at least partly Late Cambrian age had been shown by previous reconnaissance expeditions to crop out in the Bowers mountains and Evans Névé areas of North Victoria Land. If the inferred thickness of 25km was even approximately correct, it would have represented by far the greatest thickness of Lower Paleozoic sediements recorded from anywhere in the Trans-Antarctic Mountains. A further and perhaps more important reason for the investigation is that the Lower Paleozoic rocks of Northern Victoria Land occupy a key potion in any reconstruction of the New Zealand/Australian/Antarctic segment of Gondwanaland, lying as they do near the coast of Antarctica facing South-eastern Australia and southern New Zealand. It was therefore essential to know the precise age of the Antarctic sequence and its geological history. The prime objectives of the investigation were therefore: (1) To establish a stratigraphic succession in as much detail as possible through the thickest and most completely developed portion of the Bowers Group, (2) To determine the environment of deposition of all parts of the succession, and thus deduce its geological history. (3) To search for and collect fossils and fossil traces throughout the Bowers group succession for paleontological dating, and to collect suitable rock samples with the object of dating time of deposition or metamorphism of the sequence by radiometric means. (4) To determine the relationship (at the time unknown) between the Bowers Group and adjacent (probably older) successions, namely the Wilson Group and the Robertson Bay Group.

Dr MG Laird (Leader/geologist), Dr JD Bradshaw (Geologist), Dr J Wodzicki (Geologist), I Curf (Field assistant/mechanic)