Discussion on the Papers on Earth Sciences

M. J. ROOBOL Yesterday we heard how the large whales and seals were taken from Antarctica to provide oil for light and heating. This partly assisted us in attaining our present population level of 4000000000. So today we are even more dependent on natural gas and oil. The Weddell and Ross Seas appear to overlie large sedimentary basins which are a part of the shelf of the Antarctic Continent. These basins could well contain oil and gas deposits. Dr Adie's description of the Antarctic Peninsula, of granodiorites and diorites intruding volcanic rocks, sounds an ideal prospect for porphyry copper deposits, while the many faults mentioned could prove to be the sites of other types of mineral deposits. Could Dr Adie tell us a little about B.A.S. efforts and plans for the exploration of these potential mineral deposits.