A. DVDP McMurdo Sound/Glacial sediment studies

Drilling in the western part of McMurdo Sound (Fig. 1) ended on November 21 after 65 m of penetration, 52 percent of which was recovered as core. The core showed two major units at the site − 13 m of soft muddy sand with scattered pebbles overlying 52+ m of stratified, slightly lithified and better-sorted sand with virtually no pebbles. Post-depositional deformation of the lower unit suggests that it has been disturbed by grounded ice.

Soundings were taken around the drill site, and show it to be on a broad northeast-trending ridge between the submarine extensions of Ferrar and Taylor Valleys. Bottom samples indicate the sea floor is a mantle of muddy sand with occasional pebbles. The flow is covered with a patchy sponge spicule mat and a fauna largely of bryozoans and coelenterates. A report on DVDP 15 will appear in Dry Valley Drilling Project Bulletin No. 7. Work on the bottom samples, and on other samples collected around McMurdo Sound is being continued as an M.Sc. project by K. Sillars.