GALINDEZ ISLAND – PHYSIOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

• Дата: 2025
• Автор: Митрохин, О.В.
• Формат: Стаття
• Мова: Ukrainian
• Опубліковано: Institute of Geological Sciences, NAS of Ukraine 2025
• Теми: West Antarctica; Ukrainian Antarctic Station; Argentine Islands
• Онлайн доступ: http://geojournal.igs-nas.org.ua/article/view/335320
• Назва журналу: Geological journal

Galindez Island belongs to the Wilhelm Archipelago located west of the Graham Coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ukrainian Antarctic Station (UAS) is situated on Galindez Island. Long-term environmental research monitoring is conducted here. Ukrainian polar researchers require upto- date data on the location of the UAS to effectively implement the tasks of the State Target Scientific and Technical Program for Research in Antarctica. The purpose of this study was to create a modern physiographical and geological description of Galindez Island. The author demonstrates that the main physiographic features of Galindez Island include its location in maritime Antarctica on the shallow shelf of the Antarctic Peninsula; the small size of the island and its low absolute elevation; the presence of a contemporary snow and glacial cover, beneath which outcrops of volcanic and hypabyssal rocks of Mesozoic-Cenozoic age are exposed. The rocky relief of the island is determined by the increased erosional resistance of local volcanites and the nature of their tectonic fracturing. Signs of glacial exaration and erratic debris are attributed to Pleistocene ice sheet that covered the entire Wilhelm Archipelago and surrounding marine areas during the last glacial maximum. It has been established that most of the bedrock outcrops of Galindez Island, as well as the subglacial bed, consist of Jurassic–Cretaceous volcanic strata. The oldest volcanic rocks are andesitic lavas, which are widespread at Marina Point. Slightly younger than the andesites are lapilli tuffs and pyroclastic breccias of dacitic composition. They form the greater part of the island to the east and southeast of Marina Point. It was found that the original bedding of the volcanic strata is disrupted by tectonic deformations. In addition the volcanites have undergone low-temperature hydrothermal alteration. Hypabyssal dykes and sill intrude the volcanites in many places. Mesozoic and Cenozoic intrusions are distinguished among them. An early Cretaceous age is assumed for a sill-like intrusive body of microdiorites, which in several locations is exposed beneath the volcanic strata. Numerous small microdiorite dykes are believed to be of Late Cretaceous age. At least two Cenozoic basaltic dykes intrude into the sill-like microdiorite body.