Finding The Age Of McMurdo Volcanoes

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 14

Finding The Age Of McMurdo Volcanoes

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SCOTT BASE, November 26. A clue to the age of Antarctica’s McMurdo volcano area may be found this summer. It is thought that the eruptions happened during the Pleistocene age. one to five million years ago, or possibly earlier.

Today a New Zealand research four-man field party left Scott base for the Aviator glacier, in the volcanic area, 250 miles to the north. The party was airlifted, and using motor toboggans will cover about 2500 square miles before returning to base early next year.

Leading the party is Mr D. Lowe, of Auckland. His field assistant is Mr R. Bates, of Wellington.

The geologists are Mr R. Adamson, of Tai pa, and Mr R. Cavaney, of Dunedin. “Earlier geological investigations suggest lava has flowed across the Aviator glacier and settled on top of the Navigator Nunatak, a mountain peak above the snow line,” said Mr Adamson.

“If lava are found on top of this Nunatak, a line of stakes will be surveyed across the glacier, and then resurveyed, probably next summer, to determine the movement rate of the glacier. Later an attempt would be made to find part of the lava flow that must have sunk into and then drifted with the glacier. From the movement rate, the time of the eruption could then be computed. At the head of Campbell Glacier, 60 miles to the south, the party will study the geology of a divide between the Campbell and Priestly glaciers. Over this area of 500 square miles granite has intruded into older rock.

The geologists will try to trace the relationship of the rock types which link nearby areas previously surveyed.