New Zealand Antarctic geological programme

Abstract

Abstract New Zealand has been directly and continuously involved in the geological exploration of the Ross Dependency since early in 1957 when Scott Base was established for the Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Later, United States logistic activities between New Zealand and McMurdo Sound, arising out of the IGY and its continuation, offered opportunities to exploit the Antarctic summer for geological field work, thus avoiding personnel having to “winter over”. As a result, the New Zealand Geological Survey, D.S.I.R., Expedition of 1957–58 to the Tucker Glacier marked the beginning of Government-supported geological and topographical exploration in Ross Dependency. Since then at least two field parties have been sponsored and supported each summer, and at times there have been up to four New Zealand geological parties in the field. The Government expeditions have usually been led by a senior Geological Survey geologist supported by senior and graduate students from the various Universities, especially Wellingt...