As part of China’s 32^nd scientific expedition to Antarctic, the 25-day China-Chile joint geological excursion to West Antarctic was successfully carried out on South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula in West Antarctic from February 12 to March 7, 2016. Geological profile survey and rock sample collection were conducted by the two countries’ joint geological expedition team to study on the petrochemical features, magma evolution mechanism and mass movement of the region.

The Chinese participating institutions included the First Institute of Oceanography and the Third Institute of Oceanography, the State Oceanic Administration; the Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS); and Beijing Normal University. The Chilean counterpart was the Chilean Antarctic Institute. Three geoscientists from the Institute of Geomechanics, CAGS participated in the joint expedition, namely Prof. Zhao Yue, Prof. Zhang Shuanhong and Prof. Pei Junling.

Investigations and researches were focused on outcropping Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic rocks and representative sedimentary rock profiles to figure out spatial and geochronological relationship between volcanic and sedimentary rocks on South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. A variety of geo-analyses will be conducted to further explore volcanic eruption periods since Mesozoic and Cenozoic, mass movement processes and duration, and the impact of climate change on West Antarctic.

In accordance with the thorough excursion plan, the expedition team landed on a multiple of carefully chosen points on South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. And around 120 pieces of Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic, sedimentary and metamorphic rock samples were collected, with the total weight reaching about 200 kilograms. The expedition team carried out geological investigations along 3 geological routes and mapped out 2 geological profiles on Byers Peninsula.