Grant Award View - GA65388-V1
Determining the extent and nature of the oldest crust in Antarctica
A large inventory of samples, collected by past Australian expeditions to Antarctica, reside with Geoscience Australia and provide a unique treasure-trove of information that can now be tapped, following major advances in knowledge and instrumentation over the past three decades. Selected samples collected from the Napier Complex in Enderby and Kemp Lands, on the western frontier of the Australian Antarctic Territory, have already provided exciting new insights into the timing and complexity of geological processes acting during the earliest stages of Earth’s history. In order to further advance our understanding of this globally significant area, and to add value to a vital academic resource, this project aims to determine the extent of this most ancient terrain and to unravel the complex geological events that affected the area since its formation almost four billion years ago.