Geological Map and Rock Sample Analysis of Edward VII Peninsula

Field observations and rock collections document the geology of the Edward VII Peninsula in Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica. The SCIOPS expedition mapped all rock outcrops in the Alexandra and Rockefeller Mountains, collecting over 250 rock samples for laboratory analysis. The data originates from a 1989 field expedition that provided the first complete ground coverage of the region.

Use Cases

• Revising geological maps using field observations on rock types like unfoliated granitoids, low-grade metasediments, and paragneiss.
• Conducting geochronological studies via potassium-argon (K-Ar) and rubidium-strontium (Rb-Sr) dating on the collected rock samples.
• Analyzing geochemical composition using XRF analysis data from the comprehensive rock collections.
• Studying petrographic descriptions to classify rock samples such as leucogranite, biotite-granodiorite, metagreywacke, and slate.

Strengths

• Over 250 rock samples collected for laboratory analysis.
• Complete ground coverage of all rock outcrops in the Alexandra and Rockefeller Mountains.
• Field expedition covered approximately 450km across two loops in the region.

Limitations

• Data is from a single expedition in 1989 and may not reflect more recent geological processes.
• Sample size of 250 rocks may be limited for statistical analysis across diverse rock types.
• Specific analytical results (e.g., dating values, geochemical concentrations) are not described in the provided metadata.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS expedition via NASA EarthData.

Collection Method

Field expedition involving geological mapping and physical rock sample collection.

Time Range

1989 expedition.

Freshness

1989-11-28

Geography

Edward VII Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica, specifically the Alexandra and Rockefeller Mountains.