New Addition to the Polar Rock Repository: Subglacial Drill Core from Pirrit Hills, West Antarctica

Image credits: John Stone, Jamey Stutz

The Polar Rock Repository kicked off ROCKTOBER by highlighting their first subglacial drill core from the stunning Pirrit Hills, West Antarctica. This core, donated by Associate Professor John Stone, University of Washington was drilled by the U.S. Ice Drilling Program in 2017, supported by NSF's Office of Polar Programs and 109th Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air National Guard.

Two people in snow gear working inside a tent with snow covered ground,

While the subglacial environment remains inaccessible to many researchers, this core, PRR-60755, can now be loaned out to any researcher with a good idea.

To find out more about the collection, visit the Polar Rock Repository's database. 

Inside the Polar Rock Repository with a table in the foreground and small, short cores on top.
 

 

Side view of a small cylindrical core on a mat with a metal ruler measuring it's diameter around 4.5mm.
Someone holding a small 6mm diameter core toward the cameral with smaller drill holes inside of it. Backdrop is a porous mat and a silver ruler.