Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1979-80: VUWAE 24

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Page No.
List of Figures, Tables and Plates
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION 1
Background
Finance
Equipment and food
PART I - McMURDO SOUND SEDIMENT AND TECTONIC STUDIES (MSSTS) 4
SITE DATA 4
INTRODUCTION 4
Background (PJB) 4
Location of site and setting up camp (BAS) 4
ONSITE OPERATIONS 7
Onsite handling and description of core (ARP) 7
Seismic velocities (PCF) 7
Gas composition (KK) 11
Surveillance of sea ice (BAS) 12
Tidal measurements (BAS) 15
Site bathymetry (BAS) 15
VUWAE "drillers" (A McP) 17
CURATION AND ANALYSIS OF CORE 19
Transport of core (DBW) 19
Core photography (AHR) 19
Core Sampling (DBW) 20
Core description (PJB, BC McK) 20
Smear slide analysis (BW) 23
Report on Foraminifera (RML, BLW) 23
Report on Diatoms (HTB) 27
ACROSS SOUND SURVEYS 28
Piston coring 28
Bathymetric data (BAS) 23
Reference pole at the snout of Ferrar Glacier (BAS) 29
Sea ice gravity survey (BAS) 29
REFERENCES 32
PART II - POST MSSTS VUWAE 24 FIELD EVENTS 33
STRUCTURE OF FIELD EVENTS 33
SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS 34
- Permian coal measures at Mount Fleming and Shapeless Mountain (AP) 34
- Triassic studies at Horseshoe Mountain (BW) 35
Pre-Pleistocene lodgement tills in the Coombs Hills-Odell Glacier region (B McK) 36
Sampling basement rocks for fission track investigations (B McK) 36
Investigation of moraines in the Pearse Valley (IW) 37
Marine seismic survey in McMurdo Sound (BAS) 38
Dry Valley gravity survey (BAS) 39
FIELD NOTES 40
A Transport
B Main areas covered and Routes
C Weather
D Communications
E Loss/Damage to Equipment
F Recommendations
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 45
VUWAE Publications 1979 46
APPENDIX 1. Flight Requirements VUWAE 24 47
APPENDIX 2. Itineraries 48
APPENDIX 3. Weather 53
PLATES 57 - 62