Evening star., 1949-08-17
Anturcticu-Continent
Or Two Great Islands?
Navy Hopes Eventually to Solve
Mystery of Ice Cap Formation
By Thomas X. Henry


Is Antarctica, the 6,000,0 900 square miles
of ice-covered land which surrounds the
South Pole. one great continent or two great
islands?
This Is q major problem which the Nays
proposed Antarctic expedition-temporarily
postponed as announced by Acting Secretary
Of the Navy Dan A. Kimball yesterday-ex-
poets to solve when feasible.
1t is . mystery which extends back to tho
Permian geological period, about $50. 900 900
years ago. when the first animals were ap-
pearing on land. At that time. geological
evidence indicates. the climate Of much of
tho land now around the pole was temperate
or even semitropical. At the same time great
ice sheets covered parts Of the earth's surface
now on the Equator In Central Africa.
Drift From Two Directions?
Tho thesis Of such . radical redistribution
of climate Is hardly tenable. Largely from
evidence of fossil plants in the rocks geolo-
gists have reconstructed an enormous land
mass which included much Of what is now
Africa. India. New Zealand, Australia and
Antarctica. This great mass, somehow or
other, presumably "exploded' and its frag-
ments drifted into their present positions.
But there is evidence that Antarctica may
have drifted together from two directions.
It is generally accepted that the regions
south Of Australia and New Zealand belong
to the same geological complex. The noun
tains of the Palmer Peninsula, the northern
most extension Of Antarctica however, seem
to be extensions of the Andes. constituting
link in mountain chain which generally
surrounds the Pacific.
The thesis has been advanced with some
supporting evidence. that they drifted into
their present position from the geological
complex of South America and that North
ern Antarctica is really distinct island.
Any separating channel is buried under
ice A prominent feature of the work of
the Navy expedition when it can be sent
South will be the use of the airborne mag
netometer. This is the marvellous device
developed as a submarine detector during
the war which since has been found ex-
tremely valuable in detecting undertaking
geological formations from the air. 1t now
is widely used in explorations for oil. It
reveals the structures where oil is likely to be
found rather than the presence of oil itself.
Used Before in Expedition.
1t Is ideally adapted to detecting from
the air any such break as might exist be-
tween the two parts of Antarctica. The mag
netometer was used experimentally during
the 1946-47 Antarctic expedition. 1t was
found to give a quite accurate picture of
the terrain under the thick sheet Of ice
which covers the continent Since then it
has been further perfected 1t may well
be possible to give a general picture OF the
terrain underlying many thousands Of square
miles OF the ice cap.
The problem of the South American ex-
tension Is of special interest at this time
During the last few years major oil deposits
have been found in the southern Andes. It
Is quite possible that these may extend into
Antarctica, where they will constitute
major reservoir for the future needs Of the
world. The magnetometer will reveal
whether their existence Is probable.
The resources Of this great continent re-
main unknown and unattainable ut present
Navy to 60 ahead with its new Antarctic
expedition. something should bs learned
about them.