Million Year Ice Core Project
@millionyearice.bsky.social
Information about the Australian Antarctic Program's Million Year Ice Core Project.
To manage the handling and recovery of Estisol, drip trays have been installed and connected so as to return fluid to the borehole. 📷 JP /..
December 2, 2025 at 6:12 AM
To manage the handling and recovery of Estisol, drip trays have been installed and connected so as to return fluid to the borehole. 📷 JP /..
The final bit of vertical travel confirmed that the casing was no longer free to turn as its chamfered bottom seated into the ice that was reamed last season to match.
📷 JP. /..
📷 JP. /..
December 2, 2025 at 6:08 AM
The final bit of vertical travel confirmed that the casing was no longer free to turn as its chamfered bottom seated into the ice that was reamed last season to match.
📷 JP. /..
📷 JP. /..
The process involves connecting each section that is lowered to the suspended casing already in the borehole. Joints are sealed with o-rings and connected with locking wires. The casing ends are heated and o-rings kept warm until needed.
Casing being lowered into the trench. 📷 J. Pedro /..
Casing being lowered into the trench. 📷 J. Pedro /..
December 2, 2025 at 6:06 AM
The process involves connecting each section that is lowered to the suspended casing already in the borehole. Joints are sealed with o-rings and connected with locking wires. The casing ends are heated and o-rings kept warm until needed.
Casing being lowered into the trench. 📷 J. Pedro /..
Casing being lowered into the trench. 📷 J. Pedro /..
Science activity has seen the successful installation of borehole casing to a depth of just over 120 metres.
The casing is assembled in sections, suspended from a “quad pod” and progressively lowered into the borehole.
Quad pod centred over the borehole 📷 J. Pedro /..
The casing is assembled in sections, suspended from a “quad pod” and progressively lowered into the borehole.
Quad pod centred over the borehole 📷 J. Pedro /..
December 2, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Science activity has seen the successful installation of borehole casing to a depth of just over 120 metres.
The casing is assembled in sections, suspended from a “quad pod” and progressively lowered into the borehole.
Quad pod centred over the borehole 📷 J. Pedro /..
The casing is assembled in sections, suspended from a “quad pod” and progressively lowered into the borehole.
Quad pod centred over the borehole 📷 J. Pedro /..
The past week has been busy as the station infrastructure is installed, providing kitchen and amenities buildings independent of the traverse facilities. Camp with newly constructed kitchen and mess in the centre. 📷 D. Beloin /..
December 2, 2025 at 5:57 AM
The past week has been busy as the station infrastructure is installed, providing kitchen and amenities buildings independent of the traverse facilities. Camp with newly constructed kitchen and mess in the centre. 📷 D. Beloin /..
Before casing, the team confirmed the hole diameter was sufficient - no significant closure since last season.
This was done by lowering a disc of ice of appropriate diameter down the hole. A prudent check which allowed a graceful "failure" if the disc got stuck as it could be broken. 📷 J. Pedro
This was done by lowering a disc of ice of appropriate diameter down the hole. A prudent check which allowed a graceful "failure" if the disc got stuck as it could be broken. 📷 J. Pedro
November 26, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Before casing, the team confirmed the hole diameter was sufficient - no significant closure since last season.
This was done by lowering a disc of ice of appropriate diameter down the hole. A prudent check which allowed a graceful "failure" if the disc got stuck as it could be broken. 📷 J. Pedro
This was done by lowering a disc of ice of appropriate diameter down the hole. A prudent check which allowed a graceful "failure" if the disc got stuck as it could be broken. 📷 J. Pedro
Activity at the Dome C North station is fully underway with the final placement of camp infrastructure and science drilling commencing. The first drilling task will be installation of 120 metres of casing in the upper borehole. 📷 J. Pedro /1
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Activity at the Dome C North station is fully underway with the final placement of camp infrastructure and science drilling commencing. The first drilling task will be installation of 120 metres of casing in the upper borehole. 📷 J. Pedro /1
And for those who might not have seen it, here’s the journey the traverse has completed:
November 21, 2025 at 7:56 AM
And for those who might not have seen it, here’s the journey the traverse has completed:
MYIC drilling team landed at Dome C earlier today. We are one day behind schedule, which in the face of logistical and weather challenges of operating in Antarctica is a big WIN!!
Two months ahead of us for deep drill set up and ice coring. Bring it on!!
Two months ahead of us for deep drill set up and ice coring. Bring it on!!
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 AM
MYIC drilling team landed at Dome C earlier today. We are one day behind schedule, which in the face of logistical and weather challenges of operating in Antarctica is a big WIN!!
Two months ahead of us for deep drill set up and ice coring. Bring it on!!
Two months ahead of us for deep drill set up and ice coring. Bring it on!!
Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams.
📸 Damien Beloin
📸 Damien Beloin
November 21, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams.
📸 Damien Beloin
📸 Damien Beloin
Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams.
📸 Damien Beloin
📸 Damien Beloin
November 21, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams.
📸 Damien Beloin
📸 Damien Beloin
The camp looks in great shape after the cold and lonely winter. Some drifts outside but no snow inside the shelters.
Ice coring team members are standing by at Casey Station to fly in via Concordia as soon as weather permits. Stay tuned!
📸 D. Harvie
Ice coring team members are standing by at Casey Station to fly in via Concordia as soon as weather permits. Stay tuned!
📸 D. Harvie
November 19, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The camp looks in great shape after the cold and lonely winter. Some drifts outside but no snow inside the shelters.
Ice coring team members are standing by at Casey Station to fly in via Concordia as soon as weather permits. Stay tuned!
📸 D. Harvie
Ice coring team members are standing by at Casey Station to fly in via Concordia as soon as weather permits. Stay tuned!
📸 D. Harvie
Australian Antarctic Program Traverse team rolls into Dome C North! The 1168 km journey was completed in 17 days 🚜⚡️. A superb result so early in the season.. months of teamwork and planning!
A moment to celebrate before we move to setting up our ice core drill system!
📸 D. Harvie, A. Doherty,
A moment to celebrate before we move to setting up our ice core drill system!
📸 D. Harvie, A. Doherty,
November 19, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Australian Antarctic Program Traverse team rolls into Dome C North! The 1168 km journey was completed in 17 days 🚜⚡️. A superb result so early in the season.. months of teamwork and planning!
A moment to celebrate before we move to setting up our ice core drill system!
📸 D. Harvie, A. Doherty,
A moment to celebrate before we move to setting up our ice core drill system!
📸 D. Harvie, A. Doherty,
Meanwhile traverse is making excellent progress toward the drill site at Dome C North. As of this morning, they have reached 3080 m altitude and have 269 km to go.
The science and drilling team will fly by Basler to Concordia Station to meet traverse team and set up our deep ice core drill.
The science and drilling team will fly by Basler to Concordia Station to meet traverse team and set up our deep ice core drill.
November 16, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Meanwhile traverse is making excellent progress toward the drill site at Dome C North. As of this morning, they have reached 3080 m altitude and have 269 km to go.
The science and drilling team will fly by Basler to Concordia Station to meet traverse team and set up our deep ice core drill.
The science and drilling team will fly by Basler to Concordia Station to meet traverse team and set up our deep ice core drill.
Touchdown on ice.. three MYIC science and drilling team members arrived to Casey Station yesterday after ride in the big jet with other incoming Casey Station crew. Thanks ADF!
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
November 16, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Touchdown on ice.. three MYIC science and drilling team members arrived to Casey Station yesterday after ride in the big jet with other incoming Casey Station crew. Thanks ADF!
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
#AusAntarctic 📸 JP
While the field teams are already in action, preparing to traverse to the drill site, things in the MYIC labs are moving forward. Daniel and Andy made the first serious gas sublimation measurement using our system with some known-composition Law Dome core. 📷 Joel Pedro
October 31, 2025 at 7:39 AM
While the field teams are already in action, preparing to traverse to the drill site, things in the MYIC labs are moving forward. Daniel and Andy made the first serious gas sublimation measurement using our system with some known-composition Law Dome core. 📷 Joel Pedro
And here we see one sonde inside its housing. 📷 Joel Pedro.
September 4, 2025 at 4:21 AM
And here we see one sonde inside its housing. 📷 Joel Pedro.
This picture shows two complete AAD deep drill sondes (electronics assembly, motor and transmission) ready to be sealed inside pressure housings to drive deep drilling at Dome C North this summer. Photo: Derryn Harvie
September 4, 2025 at 4:18 AM
This picture shows two complete AAD deep drill sondes (electronics assembly, motor and transmission) ready to be sealed inside pressure housings to drive deep drilling at Dome C North this summer. Photo: Derryn Harvie
Yesterday, the cores arrived back in Hobart ready for analysis.
March 3, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Yesterday, the cores arrived back in Hobart ready for analysis.
Yesterday the traverse team arrived back at Casey Station with the precious ice cores drilled this season. They will be kept refrigerated and flown to Australia in the coming weeks. 📷 Chris Wilkinson/AAD (see ALT text).
February 11, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Yesterday the traverse team arrived back at Casey Station with the precious ice cores drilled this season. They will be kept refrigerated and flown to Australia in the coming weeks. 📷 Chris Wilkinson/AAD (see ALT text).
The view down the borehole shows the “blue of time” www.the-tls.co.uk/science-tech... - now sealed under the trap door until next season.
Etienne and Joel reamed the final short segment ready for the casing next season; and the camp is readied for traverse to depart soon. 📷 Pedro; McLeod (aerial 📷)
Etienne and Joel reamed the final short segment ready for the casing next season; and the camp is readied for traverse to depart soon. 📷 Pedro; McLeod (aerial 📷)
January 26, 2025 at 2:54 AM
The view down the borehole shows the “blue of time” www.the-tls.co.uk/science-tech... - now sealed under the trap door until next season.
Etienne and Joel reamed the final short segment ready for the casing next season; and the camp is readied for traverse to depart soon. 📷 Pedro; McLeod (aerial 📷)
Etienne and Joel reamed the final short segment ready for the casing next season; and the camp is readied for traverse to depart soon. 📷 Pedro; McLeod (aerial 📷)
This completes all but a short ream to 222 mm at the 120 m depth where the borehole casing will seat. Two science/drilling team will stay to do this before leaving soon and the remaining science team will now depart, likely Saturday.
Mark and Chris loading ice core boxes into the TerraVac (see Alt).
Mark and Chris loading ice core boxes into the TerraVac (see Alt).
January 24, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This completes all but a short ream to 222 mm at the 120 m depth where the borehole casing will seat. Two science/drilling team will stay to do this before leaving soon and the remaining science team will now depart, likely Saturday.
Mark and Chris loading ice core boxes into the TerraVac (see Alt).
Mark and Chris loading ice core boxes into the TerraVac (see Alt).
It's done!
MYIC DCN 2024-25 team. Back row from left: Mark Cook, Etienne Gros, Chris Plummer, Daniel Baggenstos, Tim Harris, Derryn Harvie, Dave Holley, Chris Wilkinson, Jack McLeod(📷), Rob Teasdale. Front row: Chris Gallagher, Chelsea Long, Nate Payne, Joel Pedro, Liv Grover-Johnson, Damien Beloin.
MYIC DCN 2024-25 team. Back row from left: Mark Cook, Etienne Gros, Chris Plummer, Daniel Baggenstos, Tim Harris, Derryn Harvie, Dave Holley, Chris Wilkinson, Jack McLeod(📷), Rob Teasdale. Front row: Chris Gallagher, Chelsea Long, Nate Payne, Joel Pedro, Liv Grover-Johnson, Damien Beloin.
January 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
It's done!
MYIC DCN 2024-25 team. Back row from left: Mark Cook, Etienne Gros, Chris Plummer, Daniel Baggenstos, Tim Harris, Derryn Harvie, Dave Holley, Chris Wilkinson, Jack McLeod(📷), Rob Teasdale. Front row: Chris Gallagher, Chelsea Long, Nate Payne, Joel Pedro, Liv Grover-Johnson, Damien Beloin.
MYIC DCN 2024-25 team. Back row from left: Mark Cook, Etienne Gros, Chris Plummer, Daniel Baggenstos, Tim Harris, Derryn Harvie, Dave Holley, Chris Wilkinson, Jack McLeod(📷), Rob Teasdale. Front row: Chris Gallagher, Chelsea Long, Nate Payne, Joel Pedro, Liv Grover-Johnson, Damien Beloin.
Yesterday the third and final reaming pass started and reached 47 m before drill faults intervened. This required replacement of the motor and a transmission seal. It’s literally “down to the wire” now to complete the work to a logical phase, taking care to avoid pitfalls.
Large reamer (see alt).
Large reamer (see alt).
January 23, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Yesterday the third and final reaming pass started and reached 47 m before drill faults intervened. This required replacement of the motor and a transmission seal. It’s literally “down to the wire” now to complete the work to a logical phase, taking care to avoid pitfalls.
Large reamer (see alt).
Large reamer (see alt).
Yesterday, 22/1, another step on the way was reached with the second reaming pass completed to target depth of 125 m, widening the hole to 209 mm. This leaves the third pass to go, which will widen to final diameter of 260 mm down to 120 m. Derryn, Daniel and Chelsea pictured (📷D.Harvie).
January 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Yesterday, 22/1, another step on the way was reached with the second reaming pass completed to target depth of 125 m, widening the hole to 209 mm. This leaves the third pass to go, which will widen to final diameter of 260 mm down to 120 m. Derryn, Daniel and Chelsea pictured (📷D.Harvie).