A week ago, the Antarctic team from the Saint Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II arrived at Progress Station. December is the warmest month for this part of the White Continent. The scientists settled at the station and immediately began their planned research, taking advantage of the favorable weather.
«After traveling halfway across the globe and spending nearly a month on the journey, we finally reached the 'capital of modern Russian Antarctica.' We received a warm welcome here, and those visiting for the first time were introduced to the peculiarities of polar life. The station itself is quite large, equipped with all amenities for comfortable living, including recreation rooms, a gym, and even a sauna. Once the organizational tasks were completed, we got straight to work. The initial routes were challenging, with daily distances of 15-20 kilometers involving constant climbs and descents over rocks, requiring great caution. It’s hard to keep your eyes only on the ground when they are naturally drawn to the distant views—gleaming white glaciers, penguins scurrying around with boundless curiosity, and seals basking in the sunlight. The first impressions of the sights and experiences are truly unforgettable», - shared Artyom Zaprudsky, a drilling foreman from the "Sablino" training and research base.
The mining team includes specialists from various fields—geologists, geophysicists, and drillers. While conducting comprehensive geological and geophysical work in the Larsemann Hills oasis, each team member is responsible for their specific area of research.
«The geophysical unit completed the setup and calibration of magnetometric equipment, refined existing software, and developed custom programs for rapid data processing and result monitoring. We conducted reconnaissance geophysical routes, carried out detailed surveys to identify magnetic field anomalies at the site proposed for relocating the station's magnetic observatory, and began work on the primary research program», - reported Gleb Gorelik, an associate professor at the Department of Geophysics.
In seven days, the St. Petersburg team achieved significant progress.
«The geological unit studied the material composition of metamorphic and magmatic complexes at the most challenging site in our area—the Mirror Peninsula. Alongside detailed sampling and descriptions of rock formations, a significant portion of the fieldwork focused on tectonic disruptions. Thorough data analysis and meticulous laboratory-analytical studies are, of course, required. Initial data processing has refined geological boundaries and identified several fault disruptions that were not marked on the existing geological map of the area, which was previously constructed by Australian researchers», - emphasized Nikita Krikun, a lead engineer at the Arctic Research Center.
For over 50 years, drilling teams from the Mining University have been working in Antarctica. They successfully drilled into Lake Vostok, a feat known worldwide, and are now actively searching for a site for a drilling rig at the Progress Station. Studying the area around the base represents the field phase of this complex task. After analyzing all the collected data, the team will provide a report recommending the best location for drilling a well for future deep geothermal research. Next year, during the 71st Russian Antarctic Expedition, the Mining University plans to deploy a drilling rig to the icy continent.
