Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2000-01: VUWAE 45
Main Results
Main Results
Nine holes and 15.90 m of core were recovered from a grid pattern of drilling around DVDP-6, and they suggest that the diesel drilling fluid used in 1972 only penetrated the active permafrost layer to a depth of about 0.6 m. In addition, DVDP-6 was relocated, cased to a depth of 12 m, and capped. At Allan Hills (Trudge Valley) two holes and 8.20 m of core were recovered showing that the Sirius consists of a thin veneer (4-5 m) in the valley bottom and that it is ice-free to a depth of 1.5 to 2.5 m in this area. Coring did not reveal any new facies of the Sirius at Allan Hills. At Table Mt, six holes and 18.67 m of core were recovered. The cores revealed a new fluvial gravel facies of the Sirius and showed that depth of polygonal ground may extend deeper than 6 m. The two thermistor arrays were deployed in different polygonal ground and set to record temperatures (12 cm intervals to 2 m deep) 4 times a day for 11 months.