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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

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 /..

MYIC DCN camp, aerial view. Traverse vehicles and vans are seen alongside vans for amenities and sleeping and the new kitchen and mess shelter. The large drill tent is seen at the far right.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

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

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

And for those who might not have seen it, here’s the journey the traverse has completed:

A map of a sector of East Antarctica that extending inland from Casey Station to the drilling site at Dome C North. The map shows the route taken by the traverse.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

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!!

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams. 📸 Damien Beloin

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Home for the next two months for the Traverse and MYIC teams. 📸 Damien Beloin

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

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,

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

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

L to R: MYIC team members Joel Pedro, Lenneke Jong and Julius Rix arrive to Wilkins runway. Terra bus in the background for the 3hr ride over ice sheet from Wilkins to Casey Station.

ADF Operation Southern Discovery first C17 flight for season to Wilkins. Delivering Expeditioners and cargo to support the Aus Antarctic Program.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Traverse is making excellent progress more about this and some great picutres at www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fxr...

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

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

Ice sample being sublimated with infrared light under a vacuum - to the extract the air content from the bubbles.

Andy and Daniel overseeing the gas extraction.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

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

Picture showing two drill sondes standing side by side, ready to be installed inside their pressure housings.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Preparations are in full swing for the coming season’s fieldwork. This will see the start of drilling with the large drill built by AAD to core to around 3 km depth.

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Reposted by Million Year Ice Core Project

Australian Antarctic Program Partnership @antarctic.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

🚨 WORK WITH US at @utas.edu.au IN HOBART! 🧊 Research Associate – Ice Core Atmospheric Sciences 🫧 Play a lead role in interpreting gas records from the Million Year Ice Core (MYIC) @millionyearice.bsky.social project ✍️ Applications close 13 July 2025 ▶️ aappartnership.org.au/vacancies/#i...

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Yesterday, the cores arrived back in Hobart ready for analysis.

Insulated Terra-vac box with ice core boxes inside safely back in our Hobart warehouse

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

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).

Traverse vehicles flying the Austrian flag coming downhill toward the coast of Law Dome. 📷 credit Chris Wilkinson

Picture in the rear view mirror of a tractor towing fuel and empty sleds. 📷 credit Chris Wilkinson

The Terravac insulated transport container with 32 boxes of 1 metre lengths of ice cores drilled this season. Two people standing beside the open container loaded and ready to close up. 📷 credit AAD

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

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 📷)

Looking down the borehole, blue light is seen welling up from the walls around the central darkness.

Etienne and Joel after the final reaming run. Standing in the drill shelter with the reamer/drill.

The reamer enters the hole for the last run.

Aerial view of the fully populated MYIC-DCN camp at the end of season one. Several tractors and snow groomers are seen toward the top near the traverse sleds and vans. The tents seen centre and bottom and vans for sleeping and mess will remain ready for next season. The large drill tent is at the bottom of the picture.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Welcome to a number of new followers. Just a recap: this has been the first of several drilling seasons that will take us to about 3100 m depth and hopefully well over a million years of earth history. The link below is a good place to start, and our posts this season will fill out the story.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

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.

Group photograph of the MYIC-DCN team - 17 people as named in main post. Photo is set in the drilling tent. Australian and old style ANARE flags in the background with large reamer.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

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).

The modified drill sonde is lowered into the hole. The large diameter reamer can be seen entering the hole. The upper anti-torque skates can be seen - configured to provide traction against the now widened borehole.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

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).

Three people pictured inside the drill shelter with the reaming drill. Derryn Harvie (📷)

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

You can now follow along with the more detailed drilling field diary for MYIC available below, and we will continue posting summary snippets here at bluesky. www.antarctica.gov.au/science/clim...

antarctica.gov.au

Ice core drilling team diary – Australian Antarctic Program

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

The season is drawing to a close as the short high plateau summer recedes and harsher weather approaches. Over the next week, the science team will fly out, camp will close and traverse depart. Winterising is already underway.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Progress over the last couple of days continues with the 1st of 3 reaming passes completed and the 2nd pass more than halfway. This progressive widening of the borehole will allow the casing of this upper porous section and give a tight interface to the natural “casing” provided by the solid ice.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

In recent days, the upper borehole has been completed, to around 150m deep. The next phase has begun, which is to progressively widen the top 130 metres or so so that borehole casing can be installed. The widening is done with special reaming attachments.

Daniel looking down into the trench as the drill with its reaming attachment is raised to the surface.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Thanks for the wishes and the nice satellite image!

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

An interesting diversion today while the team get on with drilling. The resupply "road" from the coast to Concordia Station operated by France's IPEV runs nearby to our MYIC-DCN location. Our own road runs up from Casey creates an interesting crossroads in the heart of Antarctica! (📷 Wilkinson)

Chris Wilkinson 📷 standing next to an intersection of two snow "roads" made by large tractor traverses. Next to Chris is a standard looking Give Way sign. In the distant background are other road signs and a letterbox.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Now drilling is in operation, a routine is established. The drilll is winched from the trench and rotated horizontal and the inner core barrel is removed. Vertical panorama from borehole below to drill tower above (📷Chris Wilkinson). Derryn and Etienne removing barrel (📷Jack McLeod) , /.

Photograph from far end of drill trench with panorama (some fisheye effect) from bottom of the trench (cable disappearing into the hole) to the tent roof, with the drill centre-view. (📷Chris Wilkinson)

Derryn and Etienne removing the inner ice core barrel with the core inside from the now horizontal drill. The inner barrel is the part of the drill that spins and spiral plastic on the barrel ensures that the ice chips from cutting are transported up the barrel during drilling. The chips at the top of the spiral then deposit onto the top of the core and separated later.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

A landmark day yesterday (14/01) as first cores drilled in the MYIC-DCN borehole, reaching driller's depth 35.4 m. 3064 m of ice and well over a million years of climate and atmospheric history lie below! Guiding the drill as it starts (📷Jack McLeod), first core comes up in the drill (📷Joel Pedro).

Looking down into the 6 metre deep trench as a driller holds the drill as it begins to cut into the firn. Once inside a hole, anti-torque springs ("skates") at the top of the drill will ensure it holds position while the cutters turn, but until the drill is fully in the hole, the operator provides the anti-torque. (📷Jack McLeod).

After the first drill run - photo shows the drill being winched up in the trench with the first core visible. Some protrusion occurs where core catching 'dogs' (small metal chisel-like spring-loaded protrusions in the wall of the drilling head) slip a little before biting hard enough to break the core. (📷Joel Pedro).

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

A timelapse of some of the construction and setup inside the drill shelter. Credit Nate Payne.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Plenty of activity to report despite mixing things up with some rest as required. The team moves the eclipse drill inside ready to begin the main borehole this week. /.

Four people and the Eclipse drill readying a wooden incline to move the drill into the large drill tent/shelter.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

You might think there wouldn’t be wildlife sightings high on the Antarctic Plateau, but as is traditional for an Aussie camp, a visitor has appeared in recent days.

Picture shows a distant silhouette near the edge of the camp - a life size familiar shape of a kangaroo.

No infringements of Antarctic Treaty provisions have occurred - although someone might have been creative with woodwork!

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Outside the drill shelter, drilling and science work proceeded. Chelsea and Chris completed a transect of shallow cores from the main drill location to assist in characterising the site. The larger eclipse drill was tested further for reaming operations and some repairs effected.

Two scientists operating a shallow auger style drill (Kovacs drill).

Two scientists using the eclipse intermediate depth drill.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Yesterday was busy in the drill shelter. The trench that allows the large drill to pivot from horizontal to vertical will be 6.2 metres deep. Not there yet, but it is taking shape. Meanwhile Jack and Rob are seen here busy laying the non-slip floor covering.

A view of the deep trench inside the drill tent. 📷 Chris Gallagher

Two people in the drill tent featured with the grid tiles that are laid on the floor to provide a non-slip working surface.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

The big achievement yesterday was to get the drilling tent cover in place. It involved all hands hauling the cover over the frame with ropes and then securing it.

Picture of the ribbed frame of the large tent. Several people are standing on one side holding ropes ready to pull the cover over the top.

Picture inside the covered tent. Several people standing next to a scaffold. A large cabin like a site office is visible. This is the drillers cabin where the large drill can monitored and controlled in relative warmth.

A picture of the camp showing several vans and the large covered tent.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Meanwhile, the main drill shelter is progressing with floor, arch supports and drillers cabin installed. The outer skin goes on next and then it is essentially ready.

Picture inside the drill shelter showing arch frames, drillers cabin and change cabins. The exterior is still visible as the tent cover/skin is yet to be deployed over the frame.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

The science/drill team continued using the drill for auxilliary core, testing, training and effecting minor repairs before starting the main borehole. This included testing use of a conical reamer in the hole. /.

A section of ice core in a v-channel showing the indented top produced by the conical reamer shown to the left.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Drilling reached around 30.79 metres depth after a couple of days, which modelling suggests is around 490 years old. Early data from the ApRES radar indicates the ice thickness at this location is 3073-3074 metres.

Sections of shallow ice core being measured and packed by two scientists for return to lab in Australia.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Building the base frame for the drill shelter and commencing the trench where the drill will swing from horizontal to vertical when it is lowered down the bore hole.

Constructing a base frame for the large drill shelter that will be erected.

Cutting the start of a trench in the base frame for the drill shelter.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Setting up and using the light-weight Eclipse drill that is used to drill the upper 100 metres or so of the borehole.

Scientists setting up a mechanical ice drill.

End-on view of ice drill with core inside the barrel.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Setting up ApRES (radar) near the drill site. With deployments over multiple years at this same location, this will give us information on ice flow below and its crystal structure.

Scientist setting up radar equipment on the surface of the ice sheet. 📷Joel Pedro

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

The heart of the camp. Dark red van at centre is the Traverse kitchen. On right are two inland station sleeping vans (each sleep 4). The blue MECC shelter in the middle is our mess area.

Sleds with vans and tent shelter for the drill camp. 📷Joel Pedro

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

The beginnings of the MYIC Dome C North drilling camp, from the window of Basler JKB.

View of drilling camp from several hundred feet altitude out the window of a Basler BT-67 aircraft operated for the Australian Antarctic Program by Ken Borek Air.

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

The traverse arrived at Dome C on Christmas Eve and established camp at DCN, consolidating earlier cargo from LDC and preparing for the science and drilling team who flew into camp on 31st December. /1

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Million Year Ice Core Project @millionyearice.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

This map shows the traverse route from Casey Station to the Million Year Ice Core (MYIC) drill site at Dome C North (DCN). This site is approximately 9 km north of the joint French-Italian Concordia Station. /1

Map of Antarctica showing the traverse route from Casey Station to the drill site, MYIC-DCN.

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