@@seifuddeenkutuz Most roading and concrete contractors have universal load testers for routine aggregate source and quality assurance tests. 5, 12 and 20 tonne capacity load testers normally are able to test F'c unconfined compression strengths on industrial diamond cored samples in 20, 40 and even 100 mm diameters to a final cut to height twice that diameter. Then you get your geology team to define what other lithology , index or grams per tonne indicative tests are needed. Having worked with mining and slope stability work, geologist and metallurgy companies are exceptionally good value for locking down tests from simple, cheap contractor Density/ Mega Pascal compression test and source property tests like sulphate degradation and mass spectrometry tests.
For rock sample testing, you’ve got a few solid options. You can start with local universities that have geology or earth science departments-they often have labs that handle mineral analysis and chemical composition testing. Another option is to check out commercial labs like ALS Global, SGS, or Bureau Veritas. They specialize in rock and mineral analysis and offer everything from basic identification to in-depth testing. If you’re near a natural history museum or a geology center, they sometimes offer testing or can point you in the right direction. And if you’re cool with mailing in your samples, there are also online services that provide things like XRF and mass spectrometry. Good luck with your samples, and happy testing! ⛏️🔬😊
There are a dozen fresh water lakes on Macquarie Island that have never been investigated or explored. It is only visited a few times a year by Australia's Antarctic Expeditions. It is wonderful that someone stayed there and helped to remove the introduced pests, (rabbits, rats and mice). It took 7 years to make it pristine again.
@@thor.halsli yeah mate they brought in these huge ships that were essentially giant rat traps. Filled it up with cheese and left it there for 6 months and then sunk the ships.
@@thor.halsli Hi there from Macquarie Island. I can definitely confirm the rats and mice are gone, and have been gone for 10 years now. It was a massive undertaking by TAS Parks.
Mate thanks heaps for making this video. As promised, I’ll be sharing this with our crew of 24 currently wintering at Macquarie Island. Awesome work, cheers
HELLOOOOO DOWN THERE FROM OZ 'DOWN UNDER'! A bit chilly I suspect? What is the weirdest, and/or most surprising, thing you've seen on, or around, Macquarie Is? Any land based wildlife there? And, why not start a monthly podcast with photos, video of whales, other creatures, red flagged subs, anything like that? That would be fun, informative and fascinating! Volcanism says diamonds to me! Any of those little critters sparkling in the rocks? All the volcanic tectonic shoving around down there reminds me of a visit to a volcano as a kid. My dad was an exploration geologist. He took mum, my brother and I up to PNG, in 1968 I think it was? One day he hired a plane to do a bit of a recon. We flew out of Lae, to eventually find this huge volcano island. majestically rising out of the sea. An incredible technicolor sight to behold. Deep blue sea surrounding it, a small strip of sand on one side, with a 'Gillian's Island' thatched village on it, a steep incline with a deep green jungle covering, then light green jungle on the inside, leading down to the huge light blue lake and a yellow extruding sulphur cone in the centre. Dad was looking for sulphur, he told us to keep a lookout for anything yellow. Being an excited 12 year old, I shouted, "THERE'S SOME YELLOW!" I felt triumphant! I was a discoveror, a budding exploration geologist! Father, tersely replied, "I know!" But went on to say he'd better contact Sydney (museum, or the metallurgical dept?) to let them know this monster was 'dormant', not extinct! It was probably an hour's flight or so out of Lae, can't recall it's name, or find it on Google. Earth. Maybe someone down there can discover where it is and tell me? I remember we stopped on an island with a children's mission on it, before we headed to the volcano. I'd love to see it again. It was so huge the pilot flew the plane, like a roller coaster. Close up the top third, he came closer in, then over the lip and plunged down into it, flying across the width (taking some seconds to cross) and up and out the other side! Just prior to this 'Easter Show' ride, the pilot had asked dad if he wanted a close look...😳 As we charged over the top dad shot the pilot a hard look😂 (dad trained as a RAAF pilot in last year of the war; after holidaying in Tobruk, Egypt, Malta and then PNG, as a 25 pounder bombadier). Anyway, I hope you read this and reply to me, that would be great. Cheers to all, and thank you for your important research in such a harsh and isolated environment. Look after yourselves!🙏☺ P,S. If things start to get a bit shaky down there, do let us know, so we can drag our lazy added off the beach and head to a bar on higher ground!😂😂😂
@@troyjenkins5299 We have quite a lot of emergency contingencies here, but worst case scenario, Icebreaker RSV Nuyina will likely pick us up in anywhere between 3-10 days and we would return to Tasmania.
This is exactly why I'm fascinated by remote islands. They're like little samples of specific geologies and ecologies that can't be found on any other dry land because they are the ONLY dry land in their respective regions of the planet.
That’s awesome! 🦭 Macquarie Island is a true haven for elephant seals, and seeing those massive herds along the rugged coastline is absolutely amazing. It’s like nature’s own wildlife show, right there on satellite images! Their presence really highlights how unique and vibrant this remote island is. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm-nature is incredible! 🌊🐧🦭
As Laboratory technician for 11 years, we noted at the Fletcher Dilliham Ilbau Tail Race Extension at Te Anau that Gneiss and serpentine deposits are a common at plate boundaries that are similar to Macquarie Is. Its exciting to see in a natural state these and other rocks exist in close proximity 🥝✔️
That’s really fascinating! Seeing gneiss and serpentine up close in places like Te Anau must have been an incredible experience, especially with your background as a lab technician. It’s true-these types of rocks are often found along plate boundaries and can tell us a lot about tectonic forces at work. Macquarie Island’s serpentinite and amphibole-rich rocks are another great example of what you’ve observed, where deep mantle materials are exposed due to tectonic action. It’s amazing to think about how these rocks, formed under such extreme conditions, end up on the surface for us to study in their natural state. Seeing that connection must make geology in places like Macquarie Island feel especially exciting! 🥝🌋🪨
Many years ago, I was a crewmember on a ship that took a scientific expedition from NZ to the Snares Islands which lie in the same area. No one had been there in 25 years, so the animals, Snares Penguins, Seals and many birds were completely tame. The Earth as it used to be before Humans.
@@rolandnelson6722 I made one mistake, though. I tried to pick-up one of the penguins (quite large) and found-out about they defense mechanism, they vomit. The smell was so bad, I had to discard my clothes and, despit showering several times a day, The smell lingered for weeks, to the gereat humor of the other crew members.
That’s such a beautiful perspective! Macquarie Island truly embodies the idea that our world is always evolving. It reminds us that there’s so much left to discover, and nature has a way of surprising us with its constant transformations. Here’s to embracing the mystery and wonder of our ever-changing planet! 🌍✨
Just investigated the climate/temperature on MacQuarie island. Very strange - but stable - temperature range. The season/month doesn't seem to make much difference to it - it has an average daily high, regardless of month, that hovers around 2' or 3' Celsius up to around 7' Celsius. The average daily low rarely goes below -2' Celsius and rarely exceeds 2' Celsius. Rather bizarre. I assume it's very stable temperature range is a result of the ocean currents establishing a stable micro/local climate. Really strange.
It has seasons. It's warmer in summer and colder in winter. Everything is just moderated by the ocean. Typical for an island in the middle of the ocean. 5 to 9 degrees in summer, January/February. 2 to 5 degrees in winter, June to September. Typical for an island at 54.6 degrees South.
@@eljanrimsa5843 Compared to the entire subantarctic, temperatures on Macquarie are significantly warmer than those on other islands in the "Furious Fifties": just look at South Georgia, Heard Island, or, the most extreme, Bouvet Island, which is almost completely glaciated! The climate of Macquarie resembles more that of the islands in the "Roaring Forties" such as the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands or Kerguelen... in the northern hemisphere, the Aleutian Islands would be the closest match!
@@AncientWildTV I'm not an expert in subantarctic biomes, but I assume that vegetation will be quite similar to the mentioned islands in the Roaring Forties - tussock grass, peat bogs, some megaherbs, Kerguelen cabbage...
You're so welcome! 😊 It’s always exciting to introduce new places like Macquarie Island-a true hidden gem with such unique geology and wildlife. Thanks for watching, and I’m glad you found it interesting! Stay tuned for more fascinating discoveries! 🌍🪨🐧
Search Macquarie Island, go to maps, change to satellite view and zoom out, looking at the undersea terrain. I like to just scroll around the Earth, see a place, zoom in, maps is amazing!
The only thing more fascinating than the Video itself, is the Vast Assortment of Science Geeks in the comments ! 🤓👍 Thanks for Showing Up Fellas ! ☺️👏Just delighted to see that Science is STILL Fascinating and Education Is Still A Thing... It gives me hope. 😌
@@kaydog890 Why do you spell "Capitalize" wrong? Strange how sometimes on the WORLD WIDE WEB, that English may not be someone's native language. Who knew? See how easy being a troll on the Internet is. Kinda makes you wonder, WhY BotHeR?
Non native speakers (as myself) may be used to capitalising differently, sometimes you just catch yourself doing it in a strange way. On top, mobile keyboards usually rely on autocorrect/word soggestions depending on what you set as a language. If you type all languages without constantly changing, you train your autocorrect with what you write, often when you use it first time, autocapitalised at the start of the message. Annoying but harmless, many reasons 😁
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the uploads-it’s a pleasure to share these fascinating topics with you! There’s always something amazing to explore on our planet, so stay tuned for even more discoveries. 🌍📚🎥
I only heard about Macquarie island from the dollops episode about it. Penguins, and seals were hunted to make oil. Nice to hear something different about it.
My brother spent some time there in the 1960s. I sent me sketches of the wild life, which I unfortunately mislaid. A fascinating place, thanks for this video.
I did not know the word mislaid, which is odd because it’s a very simple word and useful because it describes something we all do regularly. Thanks for teaching me 👍🏻
@@WoodlandT mislaid implies putting something in a special place, in my case my box of treasures (I was very young at the time), but the item going missing anyway. A hint of regret attached. I love the nuances of the English language. In the video I was fascinated by the names of the rocks and wondering where they came from. Some sound obviously scientific and recently created, like dolerite, but gabbro?
Thanks so much-that means a lot, especially coming from a fellow rock enthusiast! 😊 Prospecting is such a cool way to connect with the Earth and see these processes firsthand. I’m thrilled you enjoy the explanations on mineral formation! There’s so much fascinating geology out there, and it’s awesome to share it with someone who appreciates the journey of finding treasures in the ground. Keep up the great work out there, and stay tuned for more rock and mineral insights! ⛏️🪨🌍
I worked on a project that had a team land on Heard Island in 2016. Its even more rare than Maquarie. One member of the team has done rotations on Maquarie.
This was pretty fascinating! Cheers! .. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but is this exactly what the Southern Alps would have looked like early in their formation? A strike slip fault pushing the earths crust upward out of the sea? Remember also that the Southern Alps are still getting pushed up at a massive rate & they would be ludicrously high if they didnt erode at almost the same speed they get pushed up by. So it looks like at some point in a few million years that Macquarie Island will be a high mountainous ridge just like the Southern Alps? In that photo i can already see erosion formed plains just like the Canterbury Plains. I must say i didnt know there was a strike-slip zone below the Pseyger Trench.. One thing ive always wondered, if Psyger Trench is a Subduction Zone, is there any volcanism there, or potential for it? Now one more thing, i dont know if youve done it already, but it be cool if you could do a video sometime on the huge uplift of the Southern Alps, & the equally huge erosion of them, the formation of the canterbury plains, & just how much earth had to be eroded to fill up what would have been a rather deep gap between the Southern Alps & Banks Peninsula, given that the plains themselves rise up to 400m. Thats ALOT of uplift & erosion to fill up the sea & bank up to 400m above it.. Living in Christchurch, when I'm looking at the Alps from the Christchurch Port Hills when i ride up them, i sometimes think of that & it just blows my mind. That & also how stupidly high the Southern Alps would be, & actually how much bigger the landmass would be id say, if the Alps got pushed up by the same amount but eroded even 20% less.. Thats a crazy thought!
Thanks for the awesome comment! You’ve raised some great points and questions. First, you’re absolutely right that uplift and erosion are both key processes in shaping the Southern Alps. However, the Alps were formed by continent-to-continent collision between the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates, rather than the oceanic-oceanic transform setting of Macquarie Island. Both involve strike-slip motion with uplift, but the Alps are built on continental crust along the Alpine Fault, leading to the towering mountains we see today. So, while Macquarie Island could rise more over time, it’s likely to remain very different from the Southern Alps. Regarding the Puysegur Trench, yes, it’s a subduction zone, but it currently lacks significant volcanism due to its unique characteristics and the oblique angle of subduction. This might change over millions of years as the subduction deepens, but for now, it's not as volcanically active as some other subduction zones. I’ve actually made a video on the formation of the Southern Alps but it doesn't cover the erosion side of things. Here's a link to it: th-cam.com/video/6JHvHti533I/w-d-xo.html It’s mind-blowing to think about how much sediment has been deposited, building up to around 400 meters-quite a feat of natural engineering! Thanks again for the fantastic questions, and I’m thrilled you enjoyed the video! 😊🌍”
Wow, so much information! I rarely find it necessary to slow down the playback speed, but I had to for this video. Excellent video, and fascinating, detailed information.
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m thrilled to hear you’re enjoying the videos and found this one especially captivating! There’s just so much to discover about our amazing planet, and I’m glad to share these fascinating topics with you. Stay tuned-there’s plenty more to come! 🌍📚✨
Macquarie Island isn’t “claimed” by Australia. It’s been legally part of Australia since its inception as well as the State of Tasmania. No one challenges that status. The UN recognises it along with everyone else.
@@Robespierre-lI Interesting. As regards "Red China", you are being technical, but I suppose I am as well !?! For me it is a convenient term that 'technically' still has some relevance and rightly or wrongly , if I didn't use it I would feel compelled to refer to that entity as something like : communist(!) China or the Chinese tyranny or the Chinese oligarchs and so on. Nah !! For me the term "Red Chinese" has an appropriate "1984" ring to it.😮🤨🤔😲😮😉😉😉
It's not desolate! I would love to explore beneath the waves there ... but then again, I've also studied advanced environmental chemistry and marine ecology, so I might be just a little biased in thinking this is a wonderland rather than a desolate island doomed to cower before the ferocity of the mighty Southern Ocean :)
I love your enthusiasm! You’re absolutely right-Macquarie Island may seem harsh and remote to some, but it’s truly a wonderland for those who appreciate its unique marine ecology and geology. Beneath those waves lies an incredible, thriving ecosystem, teeming with life adapted to the Southern Ocean’s raw power. With your background in environmental chemistry and marine ecology, I can see why you’d view it as a dream destination rather than a desolate place. It’s a treasure trove of biodiversity and geological marvels waiting to be explored! 🌊🐧🪸😊
It'd be a bit rough and a bit chilly for exploring the sea floor. You'd want a good submarine to keep you warm, and a good power system to keep you off the rocks.
Thank you so much for the kind words! 😊 I'm thrilled to hear you enjoy the videos and find the geological insights interesting. There’s so much more to explore, and I can't wait to dive into even more fascinating topics with you. Stay tuned for more adventures into the wonders of our planet! 🌍🪨📚
Only an Ozzie would say that. If you look at a map its actually more the Very South South Island of New Zealand, idk how Australia can claim it as theirs 🤨
Thanks so much! 😊 I’m glad you’re enjoying the info! There’s definitely a lot more to explore when it comes to the fascinating geology of places like Macquarie Island and beyond. I’ll keep diving into the unique characteristics of different rocks, minerals, and tectonic features. Stay tuned for more rock talk-there’s a whole world beneath our feet to discover! 🪨🌍🔍
Absolutely! 🌱🐦 Macquarie Island is home to unique endemic species that have adapted to its remote and harsh environment. For example, the Macquarie Island cabbage (Stilbocarpa polaris) is a hardy plant found only here, while Macquarie Island shags and subantarctic fur seals also call the island home. The island’s isolation has allowed these species to evolve separately, making it a truly unique ecological hotspot! It’s incredible how life has thrived in such an extreme setting, isn’t it? 😊
Thank you so much! 🙌 I’m glad you enjoyed the video and found the data fascinating. There's so much more to explore-stay tuned for more deep dives into incredible places like Macquarie Island! 🌍📊😊
Thank you so much for the kind words! 🌟 We're thrilled you’re enjoying the content, and we’re excited to keep bringing you more amazing discoveries. Your support means the world to us-stay tuned for more adventures! 🙏😊
Reminds me of ophiolites in the northern Sierra Nevada and Klammath Mountains range. Presumably generated by similar processes, then accreted to the N. American plate.
I'd say Riddle, Oregon would be part of that due the serpentine rock around Douglas county and the nickel deposits. It seems the continents have scraped up bits of micro continents. I recall Matt Mitchell had something to say about the topic back in the very early 60's. He was mining engineer and geologist on the region.
Ppl might be more familiar with another mineral in the serpentine class, jade. This mineral has its own very interesting history and mild dispute, as it seems to be difficult to distinguish as jade, serpentine, or others of similar composition and porperties. Geologists have fairly clear descriptions of properties for how to identify it, where mineral hunter books tend to be more general with some even being completely wrong about the hardness range, causing a lot of confusion for mineral hunters.
Absolutely, Pedra Branca is fascinating in its own right! 🌊 It’s a tiny, rugged island south of Tasmania, famous for its dramatic cliffs and as a hotspot for marine wildlife-particularly seabirds and the occasional great white shark. While it doesn’t have the unique geology of Macquarie Island, it’s still an impressive piece of rock in the Southern Ocean, braving intense winds and waves. Definitely an interesting place with its own charm, just on a smaller scale! 🪨🐦🌬️
Yeah. It's a cinder cone type volcano. So not solid rock, and easily eroded by wind and rain. It's the Bárcena volcano on San Benedicto Island if you want to look it up.
Right?! Those striations are incredible-they really do make it look like the rock has been pulled straight up from the depths of the Earth! 🌋 And the commentor above was spot on with which volcano it is, so definitely check it out if you have some time :)
Great catch! 🌍 While it may seem like tectonic plates are pushed apart by upwelling mantle material, the primary force at mid-ocean ridges is actually slab pull-where the weight of a subducting plate pulls the rest of the plate apart. The upwelling magma at these ridges fills the gap and creates new crust, but it doesn’t actively push the plates. Instead, it’s a combination of slab pull and ridge push (gravity pulling the newly formed ridge down) that contributes to plate movement. Thanks for pointing that out-geology is all about these details! 😊
Thanks. This has profoundly changed my perspective. I always thought the force behind subduction was upwelling at the mid-ocean ridge, not the other way around.
My understanding is that it is the frictional flow of circulations underneath the plates that pulls them apart and that the magma simply bubbles through the expanding crack, rather than the pressure itself push them apart. Could be wrong...
@@fr57ujfNope. And the very engine to that subduction slab pull is none other than the metamorphic rock that forms as a result of the subduction- eclogite! Eclogite is dense than even the surrounding mantle, so normally the eclogite pulls the entire slab above down to the mantle-core boundary as the eclogitized crust sinks into the surrounding mantle.
Macquarie Island is the one that threw an earthquake or two as a warning before the earthquake which set off the Boxing Day tsunami in Indonesia. I look to it for bigger ructions elsewhere.
Interesting. Is there a particular website for accessing this information? I'll go oggle of course, but perhaps you could recommend one? Please and thank you.
This is an excellent video. Although I've been interested in Geology all my life, I didn't know this place existed or of its unique value to geological research. Many thanks. Best wishes from Suffolk, England.
Thank you very much for this informative video introduction to this remote island! I would suspect that there is an extensive amount of research that could still be done on the island, particularly on the flora and fauna of the island, and especially on the aquatic life forms that can be found in the various lakes of the island, since they all very remote and likely have not been planted with species from other parts of the world, and likewise would each have their own unique ecosystems. This would potentially be a very unique opportunity to study how freshwater ecosystems have developed since the formation of the island, and would also have been preserved from ecological contamination by the introduction of non-indigenous species, since those would only have been terrestrial species, and not freshwater species. Thanks for sharing! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨🌎
It would be an adventure, that’s for sure! 😄 Macquarie Island’s rugged beauty, unique wildlife, and fascinating geology make it an incredible place to visit-but with its remote location, wild weather, and lack of facilities, it’s more suited to the brave scientists who stay there to study the island’s ecosystem! If you’re up for a challenge, though, it would definitely be a vacation like no other! 🌊🐧🌋
How similar is this to Zabargad Island (also St John's Island) on the Red Sea coast of Egypt? This island is also formed of mantle material with large quantities of olivine including gem quality peridot. It has been mined for thousands of years.
Great question! Zabargad Island and Macquarie Island are similar because they both have exposed mantle rocks with olivine. Zabargad, in the Red Sea, has been famous for its gem-quality peridot (olivine) for thousands of years, while Macquarie Island, in the Southern Ocean, isn’t known for gems but for its geological uniqueness. The big difference is their tectonic settings-Zabargad formed at a spreading rift, while Macquarie is on a transform fault. Both are amazing in their own ways!
As an amateur naturalist I am very interested in Island Geology and Biology and the interrelationships of the two. I suggest when discussing such topics in future you could also cover the particular soil types formed by the geology, as this can directly influence the Flora and Fauna types that colonise the island. For instance: are they nutrient rich or poor, heavy or light. Is the soil subject to high rainfall or low? etc Thanks !
I like to think i know more about geography than the average Joe and yet I made it to age 35 without ever knowing this place even existed. What am amazing planet!
As always - very interersting subject. I was going to comment that given its lat long and on a moving plate boundary, it might not be great place for humans to live, but one of the comments below said that 24 are doing just that...and over winter. I can only assume you made it through a rouring fifties winter, if you are reading this. Good luck to you all!
Thanks for the kind words! You're absolutely right-Macquarie Island's latitude, harsh climate, and active tectonic setting make it a tough place to call home. The team of around 24 people there, mostly scientists and support staff from the Australian Antarctic Division, brave those Roaring Fifties winds and challenging conditions to conduct important research. They stay through the winter, studying the island’s unique geology, wildlife, and ecosystems. Hats off to them for enduring such an extreme environment-they’re definitely the real adventurers! 🧊🌊❄️
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed the video and found Macquarie Island as fascinating as I do! It really is one-of-a-kind. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more amazing places and geology stories! 🌍🪨✨
Only _active_ location where this can be found? A part of Western Newfoundland, much more accessible than Macquarie Island, also contains a large area of mantle called the Tablelands, formed from the closure of the Iapetus Ocean. It's a desolate vegetation free zone with serpentine rocks laying alongside accessible walking trails and natural concrete forming in a nearby river. It's an incredible experience. However, geologic activity has ceased hundreds of millions of years ago.
Great question! Australia laid claim to Macquarie Island in 1810 when it was first discovered by Frederick Hasselborough, an Australian sealing captain. The island was later formally annexed by New South Wales in 1825 before being transferred to Tasmania in 1890, which was then part of the British Empire. When Australia became a federation in 1901, the island remained under Australian control, and today it is administered by the Tasmanian Government.
New Zealand and Australia are two completely seperate countries and COMPLETELY different landmasses, infact New Zealand is part of a completely different continential plate than Australia, and is infact the only major landmass of the plate, but if the plate was raised just a few hundred meters, or if the seas receded, it would break the surface and make up an entire new continental archipelago, much like Australia/Southeastern Asia. This may be an "Australian" island, but it is part of the New Zealand plate as the whole island system is built from this geological border. -a Canadian who had to teach themself geology.
Macquarie Island looks like it’s cold, desolate and economically worthless. Obviously it ‘should’ belong to New Zealand - hey, we’re the original dagger pointed at the heart of Antarctica, and Macquarie is the tip of the blade - but somehow I don’t mind if the Aussies keep it. It’d be terrible if we had to pay to maintain a research station there, and unless it turns out to be made of pure lithium or seagull guano or unobtanium or similar then I wish them many happy years of ownership. Hooray, youse jokers!
Interesting . Another place I am aware of having exposed mantle is the Table Lands of the Island of Newfoundland , on the east coast of Canada. I have been there . The island itself is known for many geological wonders . Mcquarrie Island may in some ways be a modern version of what Newfoundland was eons ago.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! C'est magnifique, indeed! 😊 Macquarie Island is full of hidden wonders and surprising details-it’s amazing how much there is to learn about our planet. Thanks for watching and sharing the excitement! 🌍✨
Before the concept of plate tectonics was proposed, investigated and accepted--what was the understanding among geologists and other scientists about this formation? Or did it become a site for investigation and theorizing later?
Thank you so much, mate! 🙌 I’m thrilled you enjoyed the video, and welcome to the channel! Your support means a lot, and I’m excited to share more fascinating content with you. Cheers for subscribing! 😊🌏🎉
How fascinating. So is there a lot geological research going on there? Drilling for rock cores or shafts to explore the different layers? Also, where is that amazing volcano that was shown?
Geologists do visit the island during short resupply periods, but the island has a small crew maintaining the facilities to support various scientific activities throughout the year (such as weather and wildlife monitoring etc).
@@NeverRest300 This seems like a place where Australian geologists - perhaps from some University Geology Department or the CSIRO - could set up a truly unique research lab.
@@anthonyalles1833 Some of our team maintain quite a lot of research equipment such as geomagnetic sensors and instruments, seismometers etc.. The station has been here for 76 years (we are the 77th crew), so I’m sure geological surveys are a big part of the data gathering processes.
Very interesting. In ‘A Farewell to Ice’ prof. Peter Wadhams describes the formation of Ice in the arctic, where icefields move in a very similar fashion as tectonic plates do. Forming high ridges, and als deep keels. I would suspect this island to have a keep too and that must be of interst to study because it in turn should have an effect on magma flow around it.
Maori oral tradition suggests they would've come across Macquarie Island at some point. If they didn't settle it, perhaps they realized it was a poisonous island. And now I want to know if there are any Maori legends of the poison island in the freezing south.
That’s a really interesting thought! While Maori oral traditions do include stories of long voyages across the Southern Ocean, there aren’t any well-documented legends specifically mentioning Macquarie Island. However, the idea of it being a “poison island” could relate to the island’s harsh environment and barren, windswept landscapes. Macquarie Island is uninhabitable due to its cold climate, extreme isolation, and limited resources. In the past, invasive species like rats and rabbits heavily impacted the local ecosystem, but there aren’t any natural toxins in the island itself that would make it “poisonous.” If the Maori did encounter the island, it’s easy to imagine they would have found it inhospitable and continued on their journeys. Maori traditions do speak of Te Tai Tonga-the “great southern ocean”-and some legends mention the Roaring Forties and fierce seas that align with the harsh conditions around Macquarie Island. It would be fascinating if there were undiscovered stories or legends that describe encounters with islands far to the south! Thanks for sparking such an intriguing question! 🌊🌬️🗺️
@@OzGeologyOfficial Loose asbestos on the surface would be pretty poisonous, although it's questionable if anyone would identify that without modern scientific equipment. People living on an island as bleak as that and dying young of lung disease wouldn't strike people as poison, just as a miserable climate, I would think.
Awesome video. My neighbor is a geology professor who did a bunch of work on the South Island of New Zealand. Can’t wait to ask him if he went down here. Random question: It sure seems like it would be part of New Zealand. Why is it Australia?
Historical reasons. The bloke who found it was working out of Australia at the time. And NZ doesn't want it enough to start an argument about it - if they wanted to send their own scientists down there they'd only have to ask, anyway.
Remarkable! Was aware of spreading centers, where surficial deposits are almost always pillow basalts, but had not heard of this right-lateral transpressional fault system that has dramatically thrust up the underlying gabbros and even deeper peridotite/serpentinites. Just wow. Thx for covering this tectonic oddity. Subscribed.
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Quick question bro,we’re can I get rock samples tested ?
@@seifuddeenkutuz Most roading and concrete contractors have universal load testers for routine aggregate source and quality assurance tests. 5, 12 and 20 tonne capacity load testers normally are able to test F'c unconfined compression strengths on industrial diamond cored samples in 20, 40 and even 100 mm diameters to a final cut to height twice that diameter. Then you get your geology team to define what other lithology , index or grams per tonne indicative tests are needed. Having worked with mining and slope stability work, geologist and metallurgy companies are exceptionally good value for locking down tests from simple, cheap contractor Density/ Mega Pascal compression test and source property tests like sulphate degradation and mass spectrometry tests.
For rock sample testing, you’ve got a few solid options. You can start with local universities that have geology or earth science departments-they often have labs that handle mineral analysis and chemical composition testing. Another option is to check out commercial labs like ALS Global, SGS, or Bureau Veritas. They specialize in rock and mineral analysis and offer everything from basic identification to in-depth testing.
If you’re near a natural history museum or a geology center, they sometimes offer testing or can point you in the right direction. And if you’re cool with mailing in your samples, there are also online services that provide things like XRF and mass spectrometry.
Good luck with your samples, and happy testing! ⛏️🔬😊
Any loot on the island?
Fascinating to see the similarities between Macquarie Island and New Caledonia. New Caledonia has ultra mafic rocks from plate obduction.
There are a dozen fresh water lakes on Macquarie Island that have never been investigated or explored. It is only visited a few times a year by Australia's Antarctic Expeditions. It is wonderful that someone stayed there and helped to remove the introduced pests, (rabbits, rats and mice). It took 7 years to make it pristine again.
A few cruise ships go down there every year as well.
No way they got rid of all the rats and mice
@@thor.halsli yeah mate they brought in these huge ships that were essentially giant rat traps. Filled it up with cheese and left it there for 6 months and then sunk the ships.
@@thor.halsli Hi there from Macquarie Island. I can definitely confirm the rats and mice are gone, and have been gone for 10 years now. It was a massive undertaking by TAS Parks.
@@NeverRest300 How has the island transformed since the rats and mice are gone?
Mate thanks heaps for making this video. As promised, I’ll be sharing this with our crew of 24 currently wintering at Macquarie Island. Awesome work, cheers
HELLOOOOO DOWN THERE FROM OZ 'DOWN UNDER'!
A bit chilly I suspect?
What is the weirdest, and/or most surprising, thing you've seen on, or around, Macquarie Is?
Any land based wildlife there?
And, why not start a monthly podcast with photos, video of whales, other creatures, red flagged subs, anything like that?
That would be fun, informative and fascinating!
Volcanism says diamonds to me!
Any of those little critters sparkling in the rocks?
All the volcanic tectonic shoving around down there reminds me of a visit to a volcano as a kid.
My dad was an exploration geologist.
He took mum, my brother and I up to PNG, in 1968 I think it was?
One day he hired a plane to do a bit of a recon.
We flew out of Lae, to eventually find this huge volcano island. majestically rising out of the sea.
An incredible technicolor sight to behold.
Deep blue sea surrounding it, a small strip of sand on one side, with a 'Gillian's Island' thatched village on it, a steep incline with a deep green jungle covering, then light green jungle on the inside, leading down to the huge light blue lake and a yellow extruding sulphur cone in the centre.
Dad was looking for sulphur, he told us to keep a lookout for anything yellow.
Being an excited 12 year old, I shouted, "THERE'S SOME YELLOW!"
I felt triumphant!
I was a discoveror, a budding exploration geologist!
Father, tersely replied, "I know!"
But went on to say he'd better contact Sydney (museum, or the metallurgical dept?) to let them know this monster was 'dormant', not extinct!
It was probably an hour's flight or so out of Lae, can't recall it's name, or find it on Google. Earth.
Maybe someone down there can discover where it is and tell me?
I remember we stopped on an island with a children's mission on it, before we headed to the volcano.
I'd love to see it again.
It was so huge the pilot flew the plane, like a roller coaster.
Close up the top third, he came closer in, then over the lip and plunged down into it, flying across the width (taking some seconds to cross) and up and out the other side!
Just prior to this 'Easter Show' ride, the pilot had asked dad if he wanted a close look...😳
As we charged over the top dad shot the pilot a hard look😂 (dad trained as a RAAF pilot in last year of the war; after holidaying in Tobruk, Egypt, Malta and then PNG, as a 25 pounder bombadier).
Anyway, I hope you read this and reply to me, that would be great.
Cheers to all,
and thank you for your important research in such a harsh and isolated environment.
Look after yourselves!🙏☺
P,S. If things start to get a bit shaky down there, do let us know, so we can drag our lazy added off the beach and head to a bar on higher ground!😂😂😂
During a emergency what country do you go to? New Zealand or Australia?
@@troyjenkins5299 We have quite a lot of emergency contingencies here, but worst case scenario, Icebreaker RSV Nuyina will likely pick us up in anywhere between 3-10 days and we would return to Tasmania.
A mate ofi mine spent 12 months there as a cook
Wintering? Ain’t it summer there? 😒
This is exactly why I'm fascinated by remote islands. They're like little samples of specific geologies and ecologies that can't be found on any other dry land because they are the ONLY dry land in their respective regions of the planet.
Same. Love it.
i visited Maquarie Island on my way back from Antarctica and it was the highlight of the trip. Incredible place.
Any diamonds on the surface?
Wow, lucky!
A friend of mine wintered for a year on Macquarie Island as a research botanist. She has some wonderful photographs of the place.
Can she post them on Google, since there are very few photos of this place online
I love this island because when you look at it on satellite images you can see TONNES of elephant seal herds all along the coasts and its super cool
That’s awesome! 🦭 Macquarie Island is a true haven for elephant seals, and seeing those massive herds along the rugged coastline is absolutely amazing. It’s like nature’s own wildlife show, right there on satellite images! Their presence really highlights how unique and vibrant this remote island is. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm-nature is incredible! 🌊🐧🦭
Great white shark drive through
@@OzGeologyOfficial Won't those remote ( hence supposedly tame ) elephant seals stampede if you try to walk amongst them !?!😮
As Laboratory technician for 11 years, we noted at the Fletcher Dilliham Ilbau Tail Race Extension at Te Anau that Gneiss and serpentine deposits are a common at plate boundaries that are similar to Macquarie Is. Its exciting to see in a natural state these and other rocks exist in close proximity 🥝✔️
That’s really fascinating! Seeing gneiss and serpentine up close in places like Te Anau must have been an incredible experience, especially with your background as a lab technician. It’s true-these types of rocks are often found along plate boundaries and can tell us a lot about tectonic forces at work.
Macquarie Island’s serpentinite and amphibole-rich rocks are another great example of what you’ve observed, where deep mantle materials are exposed due to tectonic action. It’s amazing to think about how these rocks, formed under such extreme conditions, end up on the surface for us to study in their natural state. Seeing that connection must make geology in places like Macquarie Island feel especially exciting! 🥝🌋🪨
Many years ago, I was a crewmember on a ship that took a scientific expedition from NZ to the Snares Islands which lie in the same area. No one had been there in 25 years, so the animals, Snares Penguins, Seals and many birds were completely tame.
The Earth as it used to be before Humans.
Strewth. What an experience that must have been!
@@rolandnelson6722
I made one mistake, though. I tried to pick-up one of the penguins (quite large) and found-out about they defense mechanism, they vomit. The smell was so bad, I had to discard my clothes and, despit showering several times a day, The smell lingered for weeks, to the gereat humor of the other crew members.
@@untermench3502 LOL !?!😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@untermench3502that’s incredible tho. You will be one of the few people on earth that experienced it lol
@@untermench3502 Did you have any specific interesting experience there??
Macquarie island is so nostalgic to me. Not that I've been there, but i remember learning about it in primary school.
My late father worked for CSIRO in the 1960's and 70's, he used to go to Macquarie Island on the Nella Dan.
Nothing is set in stone. This gives me hope of newness and discovery
That’s such a beautiful perspective! Macquarie Island truly embodies the idea that our world is always evolving. It reminds us that there’s so much left to discover, and nature has a way of surprising us with its constant transformations. Here’s to embracing the mystery and wonder of our ever-changing planet! 🌍✨
Pretty sure this island is set in stone.
I thought that the St. Paul Rocks in the mid-Atlantic near the equator contained exposed mantle material.
@@randyparker2134 Lol.
Just investigated the climate/temperature on MacQuarie island. Very strange - but stable - temperature range. The season/month doesn't seem to make much difference to it - it has an average daily high, regardless of month, that hovers around 2' or 3' Celsius up to around 7' Celsius. The average daily low rarely goes below -2' Celsius and rarely exceeds 2' Celsius. Rather bizarre. I assume it's very stable temperature range is a result of the ocean currents establishing a stable micro/local climate. Really strange.
It has seasons. It's warmer in summer and colder in winter. Everything is just moderated by the ocean. Typical for an island in the middle of the ocean. 5 to 9 degrees in summer, January/February. 2 to 5 degrees in winter, June to September. Typical for an island at 54.6 degrees South.
@@eljanrimsa5843
Compared to the entire subantarctic, temperatures on Macquarie are significantly warmer than those on other islands in the "Furious Fifties": just look at South Georgia, Heard Island, or, the most extreme, Bouvet Island, which is almost completely glaciated! The climate of Macquarie resembles more that of the islands in the "Roaring Forties" such as the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands or Kerguelen... in the northern hemisphere, the Aleutian Islands would be the closest match!
@@yadgar1969 off topic but how do you think the warmer climate of Macquarie Island affects its flora and fauna compared to other subantarctic islands?
@@AncientWildTV
I'm not an expert in subantarctic biomes, but I assume that vegetation will be quite similar to the mentioned islands in the Roaring Forties - tussock grass, peat bogs, some megaherbs, Kerguelen cabbage...
When I was a NZ coast radio operator we used to contact VJM by morse code radio to get their daily meteorological reports.
The "be Australian and try not to name something after Lachlan Macquarie" challenge (hard)
Who? (I’m American. lol)
who, this famous Karcist who explored many rejionas of tha world?
They named a sandstone bench after his wife - technically not him
This story of the origin of Macquarie Island is a well done presentation. Thanks so much OZGeology.
I didn’t know this place existed. So interesting. Thanks OzGeology!
You're so welcome! 😊 It’s always exciting to introduce new places like Macquarie Island-a true hidden gem with such unique geology and wildlife. Thanks for watching, and I’m glad you found it interesting! Stay tuned for more fascinating discoveries! 🌍🪨🐧
Search Macquarie Island, go to maps, change to satellite view and zoom out, looking at the undersea terrain. I like to just scroll around the Earth, see a place, zoom in, maps is amazing!
@@OzGeologyOfficial check out "The Dollop" podcast for the history of the island, it's INSANE. The place has been worked over hard for 300 years
The only thing more fascinating than the Video itself, is the Vast Assortment of Science Geeks in the comments ! 🤓👍
Thanks for Showing Up Fellas ! ☺️👏Just delighted to see that Science is STILL Fascinating and Education Is Still A Thing... It gives me hope. 😌
why Do you RandomLy capatialise Words?
"A proper noun is a noun that names a specific person, place, or thing, and is always capitalized in English"
@@kaydog890 Why do you spell "Capitalize" wrong?
Strange how sometimes on the WORLD WIDE WEB, that English may not be someone's native language. Who knew?
See how easy being a troll on the Internet is. Kinda makes you wonder, WhY BotHeR?
Non native speakers (as myself) may be used to capitalising differently, sometimes you just catch yourself doing it in a strange way.
On top, mobile keyboards usually rely on autocorrect/word soggestions depending on what you set as a language. If you type all languages without constantly changing, you train your autocorrect with what you write, often when you use it first time, autocapitalised at the start of the message. Annoying but harmless, many reasons 😁
What a bounty of information on the formation and processes of the earth. What a gift and it is not being ruined.
Fascinating 😮 feeling spoiled with all these uploads
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the uploads-it’s a pleasure to share these fascinating topics with you! There’s always something amazing to explore on our planet, so stay tuned for even more discoveries. 🌍📚🎥
I only heard about Macquarie island from the dollops episode about it. Penguins, and seals were hunted to make oil. Nice to hear something different about it.
My brother spent some time there in the 1960s. I sent me sketches of the wild life, which I unfortunately mislaid. A fascinating place, thanks for this video.
I did not know the word mislaid, which is odd because it’s a very simple word and useful because it describes something we all do regularly. Thanks for teaching me 👍🏻
@@WoodlandTlost
@@WoodlandT mislaid implies putting something in a special place, in my case my box of treasures (I was very young at the time), but the item going missing anyway. A hint of regret attached.
I love the nuances of the English language. In the video I was fascinated by the names of the rocks and wondering where they came from. Some sound obviously scientific and recently created, like dolerite, but gabbro?
@@WoodlandT Misthepoint in another word you probably never heard of.
Been a prospector for a few years now and love watching how you explain minerals formation.
Thanks so much-that means a lot, especially coming from a fellow rock enthusiast! 😊 Prospecting is such a cool way to connect with the Earth and see these processes firsthand. I’m thrilled you enjoy the explanations on mineral formation! There’s so much fascinating geology out there, and it’s awesome to share it with someone who appreciates the journey of finding treasures in the ground. Keep up the great work out there, and stay tuned for more rock and mineral insights! ⛏️🪨🌍
I worked on a project that had a team land on Heard Island in 2016. Its even more rare than Maquarie. One member of the team has done rotations on Maquarie.
This was pretty fascinating! Cheers! .. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but is this exactly what the Southern Alps would have looked like early in their formation? A strike slip fault pushing the earths crust upward out of the sea? Remember also that the Southern Alps are still getting pushed up at a massive rate & they would be ludicrously high if they didnt erode at almost the same speed they get pushed up by. So it looks like at some point in a few million years that Macquarie Island will be a high mountainous ridge just like the Southern Alps? In that photo i can already see erosion formed plains just like the Canterbury Plains. I must say i didnt know there was a strike-slip zone below the Pseyger Trench.. One thing ive always wondered, if Psyger Trench is a Subduction Zone, is there any volcanism there, or potential for it?
Now one more thing, i dont know if youve done it already, but it be cool if you could do a video sometime on the huge uplift of the Southern Alps, & the equally huge erosion of them, the formation of the canterbury plains, & just how much earth had to be eroded to fill up what would have been a rather deep gap between the Southern Alps & Banks Peninsula, given that the plains themselves rise up to 400m. Thats ALOT of uplift & erosion to fill up the sea & bank up to 400m above it.. Living in Christchurch, when I'm looking at the Alps from the Christchurch Port Hills when i ride up them, i sometimes think of that & it just blows my mind. That & also how stupidly high the Southern Alps would be, & actually how much bigger the landmass would be id say, if the Alps got pushed up by the same amount but eroded even 20% less.. Thats a crazy thought!
Thanks for the awesome comment! You’ve raised some great points and questions. First, you’re absolutely right that uplift and erosion are both key processes in shaping the Southern Alps. However, the Alps were formed by continent-to-continent collision between the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates, rather than the oceanic-oceanic transform setting of Macquarie Island. Both involve strike-slip motion with uplift, but the Alps are built on continental crust along the Alpine Fault, leading to the towering mountains we see today. So, while Macquarie Island could rise more over time, it’s likely to remain very different from the Southern Alps.
Regarding the Puysegur Trench, yes, it’s a subduction zone, but it currently lacks significant volcanism due to its unique characteristics and the oblique angle of subduction. This might change over millions of years as the subduction deepens, but for now, it's not as volcanically active as some other subduction zones.
I’ve actually made a video on the formation of the Southern Alps but it doesn't cover the erosion side of things. Here's a link to it: th-cam.com/video/6JHvHti533I/w-d-xo.html
It’s mind-blowing to think about how much sediment has been deposited, building up to around 400 meters-quite a feat of natural engineering!
Thanks again for the fantastic questions, and I’m thrilled you enjoyed the video! 😊🌍”
Never knew about this place until now. So cool.
Wow, so much information! I rarely find it necessary to slow down the playback speed, but I had to for this video. Excellent video, and fascinating, detailed information.
This one is truly fascinating! Actually ALL your videos are fascinating! This is just extra interesting!
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m thrilled to hear you’re enjoying the videos and found this one especially captivating! There’s just so much to discover about our amazing planet, and I’m glad to share these fascinating topics with you. Stay tuned-there’s plenty more to come! 🌍📚✨
@@OzGeologyOfficial 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
"It's not your fault."
Macquarie Island: Yes , it is my fault ...
Fascinating!
Macquarie Island isn’t “claimed” by Australia. It’s been legally part of Australia since its inception as well as the State of Tasmania. No one challenges that status. The UN recognises it along with everyone else.
Say that to the Red Chinese.
It looks much closer to NZ than Auz...
@@Robespierre-lI Interesting. As regards "Red China", you are being technical, but I suppose I am as well !?! For me it is a convenient term that 'technically' still has some relevance and rightly or wrongly , if I didn't use it I would feel compelled to refer to that entity as something like : communist(!) China or the Chinese tyranny or the Chinese oligarchs and so on. Nah !! For me the term "Red Chinese" has an appropriate "1984" ring to it.😮🤨🤔😲😮😉😉😉
Gook point
Claimed is an inaccurate description. It’s part of Australia.
I always learn something fascinating from your videos, thank you so much.
It's not desolate! I would love to explore beneath the waves there ... but then again, I've also studied advanced environmental chemistry and marine ecology, so I might be just a little biased in thinking this is a wonderland rather than a desolate island doomed to cower before the ferocity of the mighty Southern Ocean :)
I love your enthusiasm! You’re absolutely right-Macquarie Island may seem harsh and remote to some, but it’s truly a wonderland for those who appreciate its unique marine ecology and geology. Beneath those waves lies an incredible, thriving ecosystem, teeming with life adapted to the Southern Ocean’s raw power. With your background in environmental chemistry and marine ecology, I can see why you’d view it as a dream destination rather than a desolate place. It’s a treasure trove of biodiversity and geological marvels waiting to be explored! 🌊🐧🪸😊
Desolate doesn't mean dismal...
It'd be a bit rough and a bit chilly for exploring the sea floor. You'd want a good submarine to keep you warm, and a good power system to keep you off the rocks.
Another wonderfully interesting video.
Always look forward to your insight on our geology
Thank you so much for the kind words! 😊 I'm thrilled to hear you enjoy the videos and find the geological insights interesting. There’s so much more to explore, and I can't wait to dive into even more fascinating topics with you. Stay tuned for more adventures into the wonders of our planet! 🌍🪨📚
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your donation! I appreciate it so much :)
Incredible👍. Fascinating. Amazing. And educative.
Thank you! I really appreciate it! 😊
Macquarie Island is the Tasmania of Tasmania.
Haha, that’s a perfect way to put it! 😄 Macquarie Island really is like Tasmania’s own remote outpost, even more rugged and isolated.
Or the, down under-under-under….
Only an Ozzie would say that. If you look at a map its actually more the Very South South Island of New Zealand, idk how Australia can claim it as theirs 🤨
@@tomwilson7452 It was discoved by an Australian hunting for seals.
False. It's the Auckland island of the Auckland Islands, and is rightful kiwi clay.
Too cool !!! Love the info. Please continue with more information of the rocks.
Thanks so much! 😊 I’m glad you’re enjoying the info! There’s definitely a lot more to explore when it comes to the fascinating geology of places like Macquarie Island and beyond. I’ll keep diving into the unique characteristics of different rocks, minerals, and tectonic features. Stay tuned for more rock talk-there’s a whole world beneath our feet to discover! 🪨🌍🔍
Interesting but the amount of repetition in this video is extreme. Padding for length, I guess? Could have been 1/2 the length with no loss.
Well said...Well said...
All islands are rare. They are all unique
Very similar geology at Mt Rosa in the western Italian Alps. OK, that isn't in the middle of an ocean … but it used to be 😉
As a australian i thank you for this video
Macquarie Island also has some interesting endemic plant and animal species some of which are found nowhere else.
Absolutely! 🌱🐦 Macquarie Island is home to unique endemic species that have adapted to its remote and harsh environment. For example, the Macquarie Island cabbage (Stilbocarpa polaris) is a hardy plant found only here, while Macquarie Island shags and subantarctic fur seals also call the island home. The island’s isolation has allowed these species to evolve separately, making it a truly unique ecological hotspot! It’s incredible how life has thrived in such an extreme setting, isn’t it? 😊
Endemic
Awesome DATA I thoroughly enjoyed this video .
Thank you so much! 🙌 I’m glad you enjoyed the video and found the data fascinating. There's so much more to explore-stay tuned for more deep dives into incredible places like Macquarie Island! 🌍📊😊
@@OzGeologyOfficial Will do ! Liked/subscribed and Notification Bell ON .
the best channel . ty again.
Thank you so much for the kind words! 🌟 We're thrilled you’re enjoying the content, and we’re excited to keep bringing you more amazing discoveries. Your support means the world to us-stay tuned for more adventures! 🙏😊
Strangely engaging.
Reminds me of ophiolites in the northern Sierra Nevada and Klammath Mountains range. Presumably generated by similar processes, then accreted to the N. American plate.
I'd say Riddle, Oregon would be part of that due the serpentine rock around Douglas county and the nickel deposits. It seems the continents have scraped up bits of micro continents. I recall Matt Mitchell had something to say about the topic back in the very early 60's. He was mining engineer and geologist on the region.
Thanks, I learned a lot.
Fascinating, glad you mentioned the fauna, bet there's some interesting flora as well, thanks
Fascinating! Thank you.
Ppl might be more familiar with another mineral in the serpentine class, jade. This mineral has its own very interesting history and mild dispute, as it seems to be difficult to distinguish as jade, serpentine, or others of similar composition and porperties. Geologists have fairly clear descriptions of properties for how to identify it, where mineral hunter books tend to be more general with some even being completely wrong about the hardness range, causing a lot of confusion for mineral hunters.
Pedra banca below Tasmania is a Interesting place as well.
Although not in the League of Macquarie Island.
Absolutely, Pedra Branca is fascinating in its own right! 🌊 It’s a tiny, rugged island south of Tasmania, famous for its dramatic cliffs and as a hotspot for marine wildlife-particularly seabirds and the occasional great white shark. While it doesn’t have the unique geology of Macquarie Island, it’s still an impressive piece of rock in the Southern Ocean, braving intense winds and waves. Definitely an interesting place with its own charm, just on a smaller scale! 🪨🐦🌬️
‼️‼️ Wow… look at the striations in ‼️‼️
Volcano
Looks like it’s been pulled up directly up.
Yeah. It's a cinder cone type volcano. So not solid rock, and easily eroded by wind and rain. It's the Bárcena volcano on San Benedicto Island if you want to look it up.
Right?! Those striations are incredible-they really do make it look like the rock has been pulled straight up from the depths of the Earth! 🌋
And the commentor above was spot on with which volcano it is, so definitely check it out if you have some time :)
Video is a good start on a deeper dive.🙂
Pusica point, the most south west point of the south Island, both shears it's name with a great rift and the highest, most windy Lighthouse.
It looks so beautiful ❤
Outstanding. Both the content and the prsentation!
At 2:45 you say that tectonic plates are pulled apart at midoceanic ridges. They are actually being pushed apart by the upwelling mantle.
Great catch! 🌍 While it may seem like tectonic plates are pushed apart by upwelling mantle material, the primary force at mid-ocean ridges is actually slab pull-where the weight of a subducting plate pulls the rest of the plate apart. The upwelling magma at these ridges fills the gap and creates new crust, but it doesn’t actively push the plates. Instead, it’s a combination of slab pull and ridge push (gravity pulling the newly formed ridge down) that contributes to plate movement. Thanks for pointing that out-geology is all about these details! 😊
Thanks. This has profoundly changed my perspective. I always thought the force behind subduction was upwelling at the mid-ocean ridge, not the other way around.
My understanding is that it is the frictional flow of circulations underneath the plates that pulls them apart and that the magma simply bubbles through the expanding crack, rather than the pressure itself push them apart. Could be wrong...
@@fr57ujfNope. And the very engine to that subduction slab pull is none other than the metamorphic rock that forms as a result of the subduction- eclogite! Eclogite is dense than even the surrounding mantle, so normally the eclogite pulls the entire slab above down to the mantle-core boundary as the eclogitized crust sinks into the surrounding mantle.
Interesting. I’ll have to look for some videos exploring the island.
Nice video. I learnt something new. 👍
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed it and learned something new-that’s what it’s all about! 👍 Stay tuned for more fascinating discoveries. 🌍📚
Macquarie Island is the one that threw an earthquake or two as a warning before the earthquake which set off the Boxing Day tsunami in Indonesia. I look to it for bigger ructions elsewhere.
Interesting. Is there a particular website for accessing this information? I'll go oggle of course, but perhaps you could recommend one? Please and thank you.
@@Kayenne54 Fascinating!!! We definitely get a few small shakes every year, i think we’ve counted 7 already in the 5mths we’ve been here
My dad went there when he was in the Australian Navy in the 50s
Wow, that’s amazing! Your dad must have had quite an adventure visiting such a remote and unique place, especially back in the 1950s!
This is an excellent video. Although I've been interested in Geology all my life, I didn't know this place existed or of its unique value to geological research. Many thanks.
Best wishes from Suffolk, England.
Fascinating! Thanks for this. I'd heard of the island but had no idea about its unique geology.
@OzGeology Isn't Iceland a similar feature, though on a larger scale?
Goosey, I know you and Erica spent time there, as Masters students back in early 2000's......Big shout out to Merrick Goosey Underwood!
Remembering reading about when record people first got there, they found older ship wrecks, and that just sounds insane to me.
Thank you very much for this informative video introduction to this remote island!
I would suspect that there is an extensive amount of research that could still be done on the island, particularly on the flora and fauna of the island, and especially on the aquatic life forms that can be found in the various lakes of the island, since they all very remote and likely have not been planted with species from other parts of the world, and likewise would each have their own unique ecosystems.
This would potentially be a very unique opportunity to study how freshwater ecosystems have developed since the formation of the island, and would also have been preserved from ecological contamination by the introduction of non-indigenous species, since those would only have been terrestrial species, and not freshwater species.
Thanks for sharing!
Please have an excellent and awesome day!
☀️✨🌎
looks and sounds like a great place to have an extended vacation....
It would be an adventure, that’s for sure! 😄 Macquarie Island’s rugged beauty, unique wildlife, and fascinating geology make it an incredible place to visit-but with its remote location, wild weather, and lack of facilities, it’s more suited to the brave scientists who stay there to study the island’s ecosystem! If you’re up for a challenge, though, it would definitely be a vacation like no other! 🌊🐧🌋
How similar is this to Zabargad Island (also St John's Island) on the Red Sea coast of Egypt? This island is also formed of mantle material with large quantities of olivine including gem quality peridot. It has been mined for thousands of years.
Great question! Zabargad Island and Macquarie Island are similar because they both have exposed mantle rocks with olivine. Zabargad, in the Red Sea, has been famous for its gem-quality peridot (olivine) for thousands of years, while Macquarie Island, in the Southern Ocean, isn’t known for gems but for its geological uniqueness. The big difference is their tectonic settings-Zabargad formed at a spreading rift, while Macquarie is on a transform fault. Both are amazing in their own ways!
As an amateur naturalist I am very interested in Island Geology and Biology and the interrelationships of the two.
I suggest when discussing such topics in future you could also cover the particular soil types formed by the geology, as this can directly influence the Flora and Fauna types that colonise the island.
For instance: are they nutrient rich or poor, heavy or light. Is the soil subject to high rainfall or low? etc
Thanks !
I like to think i know more about geography than the average Joe and yet I made it to age 35 without ever knowing this place even existed. What am amazing planet!
Sounds like a fun place to rock hound.
As always - very interersting subject. I was going to comment that given its lat long and on a moving plate boundary, it might not be great place for humans to live, but one of the comments below said that 24 are doing just that...and over winter. I can only assume you made it through a rouring fifties winter, if you are reading this. Good luck to you all!
Thanks for the kind words! You're absolutely right-Macquarie Island's latitude, harsh climate, and active tectonic setting make it a tough place to call home. The team of around 24 people there, mostly scientists and support staff from the Australian Antarctic Division, brave those Roaring Fifties winds and challenging conditions to conduct important research. They stay through the winter, studying the island’s unique geology, wildlife, and ecosystems. Hats off to them for enduring such an extreme environment-they’re definitely the real adventurers! 🧊🌊❄️
My masters thesis was about the mantle - except I didn’t have an ophiolite - we used mantle xenoliths from Cima
Great video about a truly unique island!
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed the video and found Macquarie Island as fascinating as I do! It really is one-of-a-kind. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more amazing places and geology stories! 🌍🪨✨
Only _active_ location where this can be found? A part of Western Newfoundland, much more accessible than Macquarie Island, also contains a large area of mantle called the Tablelands, formed from the closure of the Iapetus Ocean. It's a desolate vegetation free zone with serpentine rocks laying alongside accessible walking trails and natural concrete forming in a nearby river. It's an incredible experience. However, geologic activity has ceased hundreds of millions of years ago.
enjoyed this thank you
Thank you so much! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching! 🌍✨
Fascinating video. I am curious about one thing; how did Australia lay claim to the island and not New Zealand? Tia
An Australian discovered it and claimed it for the colony of NSW, naming it for the Governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie.
What are you going to do? Send your navy?
(Too soon?😊)
Great question! Australia laid claim to Macquarie Island in 1810 when it was first discovered by Frederick Hasselborough, an Australian sealing captain. The island was later formally annexed by New South Wales in 1825 before being transferred to Tasmania in 1890, which was then part of the British Empire. When Australia became a federation in 1901, the island remained under Australian control, and today it is administered by the Tasmanian Government.
@@OzGeologyOfficial tyvm
Look at NZ navy now look at Australian navy. Now if land possession was done via rugby it would be all NZ. But when it’s done via ships we win that. 😂
New Zealand and Australia are two completely seperate countries and COMPLETELY different landmasses, infact New Zealand is part of a completely different continential plate than Australia, and is infact the only major landmass of the plate, but if the plate was raised just a few hundred meters, or if the seas receded, it would break the surface and make up an entire new continental archipelago, much like Australia/Southeastern Asia.
This may be an "Australian" island, but it is part of the New Zealand plate as the whole island system is built from this geological border.
-a Canadian who had to teach themself geology.
Yes, but NZ and Australia were once both joined as part of ancient Gondwana and therefore share some closely related Flora and Fauna.
True, that's rightful kiwi geologic rock.
Macquarie Island looks like it’s cold, desolate and economically worthless. Obviously it ‘should’ belong to New Zealand - hey, we’re the original dagger pointed at the heart of Antarctica, and Macquarie is the tip of the blade - but somehow I don’t mind if the Aussies keep it. It’d be terrible if we had to pay to maintain a research station there, and unless it turns out to be made of pure lithium or seagull guano or unobtanium or similar then I wish them many happy years of ownership. Hooray, youse jokers!
@SkepticalSteve01 You'll change your tune when Gina Rhineheart exploit the sh!t out of the area😂
Can kimberlite be found on the island since it consists of mantle?
Interesting .
Another place I am aware of having exposed mantle is the Table Lands of the Island of Newfoundland , on the east coast of Canada. I have been there . The island itself is known for many geological wonders .
Mcquarrie Island may in some ways be a modern version of what Newfoundland was eons ago.
Great explanation easy to follow. 👍✅
Thank you so much! I’m glad the explanation was clear and easy to understand. 😊👍
Gee as a geologist, I’d love to visit there to see the gabbros and ultramafic rocks of that island!
I did not know this. C'est magnifique!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! C'est magnifique, indeed! 😊 Macquarie Island is full of hidden wonders and surprising details-it’s amazing how much there is to learn about our planet. Thanks for watching and sharing the excitement! 🌍✨
sounds like some delicious resources out there
What forces cause the different plates to move in different directions ?
Exceptionally interesting. 😀
Before the concept of plate tectonics was proposed, investigated and accepted--what was the understanding among geologists and other scientists about this formation? Or did it become a site for investigation and theorizing later?
ps awesome vid mate new sub
Thank you so much, mate! 🙌 I’m thrilled you enjoyed the video, and welcome to the channel! Your support means a lot, and I’m excited to share more fascinating content with you. Cheers for subscribing! 😊🌏🎉
How fascinating. So is there a lot geological research going on there? Drilling for rock cores or shafts to explore the different layers? Also, where is that amazing volcano that was shown?
San Benedicto Island. About 560 km off the west coast of Mexico.
Geologists do visit the island during short resupply periods, but the island has a small crew maintaining the facilities to support various scientific activities throughout the year (such as weather and wildlife monitoring etc).
@@daveg2104 That's the most amazing volcanic peak I've ever seen. Wonder why it looks like that?
@@NeverRest300 This seems like a place where Australian geologists - perhaps from some University Geology Department or the CSIRO - could set up a truly unique research lab.
@@anthonyalles1833 Some of our team maintain quite a lot of research equipment such as geomagnetic sensors and instruments, seismometers etc.. The station has been here for 76 years (we are the 77th crew), so I’m sure geological surveys are a big part of the data gathering processes.
Thank you
It's a beautiful piece of property.
Cooooool.
Very interesting. In ‘A Farewell to Ice’ prof. Peter Wadhams describes the formation of Ice in the arctic, where icefields move in a very similar fashion as tectonic plates do. Forming high ridges, and als deep keels. I would suspect this island to have a keep too and that must be of interst to study because it in turn should have an effect on magma flow around it.
i am sure i visited this island whilst travelling along the east coast from cairns to sydney.
I'm pretty sure every island on Earth is unique unless it's Twilight Zone Island
Maori oral tradition suggests they would've come across Macquarie Island at some point. If they didn't settle it, perhaps they realized it was a poisonous island. And now I want to know if there are any Maori legends of the poison island in the freezing south.
That’s a really interesting thought! While Maori oral traditions do include stories of long voyages across the Southern Ocean, there aren’t any well-documented legends specifically mentioning Macquarie Island. However, the idea of it being a “poison island” could relate to the island’s harsh environment and barren, windswept landscapes.
Macquarie Island is uninhabitable due to its cold climate, extreme isolation, and limited resources. In the past, invasive species like rats and rabbits heavily impacted the local ecosystem, but there aren’t any natural toxins in the island itself that would make it “poisonous.” If the Maori did encounter the island, it’s easy to imagine they would have found it inhospitable and continued on their journeys.
Maori traditions do speak of Te Tai Tonga-the “great southern ocean”-and some legends mention the Roaring Forties and fierce seas that align with the harsh conditions around Macquarie Island. It would be fascinating if there were undiscovered stories or legends that describe encounters with islands far to the south!
Thanks for sparking such an intriguing question! 🌊🌬️🗺️
@@OzGeologyOfficial Loose asbestos on the surface would be pretty poisonous, although it's questionable if anyone would identify that without modern scientific equipment. People living on an island as bleak as that and dying young of lung disease wouldn't strike people as poison, just as a miserable climate, I would think.
Awesome video. My neighbor is a geology professor who did a bunch of work on the South Island of New Zealand. Can’t wait to ask him if he went down here. Random question: It sure seems like it would be part of New Zealand. Why is it Australia?
Historical reasons. The bloke who found it was working out of Australia at the time. And NZ doesn't want it enough to start an argument about it - if they wanted to send their own scientists down there they'd only have to ask, anyway.
Remarkable! Was aware of spreading centers, where surficial deposits are almost always pillow basalts, but had not heard of this right-lateral transpressional fault system that has dramatically thrust up the underlying gabbros and even deeper peridotite/serpentinites. Just wow. Thx for covering this tectonic oddity. Subscribed.