Bulgarian Paleontologists to Study Rocks of Bayes Peninsula

BTA special correspondent Emil Granicharov

BTA Photo

Livingston Island,

08.02.2024 19:05

(BTA)

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Antarctica

Paleontologists Assoc. Prof. Dr. Docho Dochev and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lubomir Metodiev told BTA about their work in Antarctica. The aim of their project is to do paleontological and stratigraphic research in the westernmost part of the Bayes peninsula.

They will try to make a cross-section of the oldest rocks exposed in this area and describe the rock sequences layer by layer. The researchers plan to take samples from each layer. They will focus on collecting fossils that will reveal the age of the rocks in which they were found.

“We will make geochemical studies of the collected samples, and we will try to make paleontological interpretations - what was the salinity of the sea, the temperature of the water, were there conditions for life of ancient organisms,” Metodiev explained.

According to his colleague, the rocks on the Bayes peninsula are mainly sedimentary, i.e. they were formed in a water basin. "Parallel to their formation there was volcanic activity, which led to the formation of volcanic rocks. The whole island is made of sedimentary and volcanic rocks, which should be of the same age," Dochev added. The presence of this type of rock means that Antarctica was not always an ice desert. "When these rocks were formed and the corresponding volcanic eruptions occurred, whether underwater or on the Earth's surface, the peninsula was the bottom of some warm basin," is the expert's opinion.

The Bulgarian scientists suggest that the warm pool was either marine or oceanic.

Metodiev said that the process of data collection is classical. "Building on a geological map already made and data from earlier publications, we will collect samples sequentially to make a larger geological section and then, at a later stage, make interpretations using laboratory methods. We assess what the rock is, take samples of about 100-150 grams, put them in special envelopes, describe from which section and at which metre they were found - that's how we go sequentially,” the paleontologist said.

“When we know what climate changes were like in the geological past, we can predict what climate changes will be like in the future," the Bulgarian researchers said.

"There has been a periodisation done based on the evolution of living things 250 years ago. This is the best, simplest and cheapest method to date sedimentary rocks," Metodiev said. According to him, it is easier to find a fossil, but it is difficult to find a specialist to determine its age.

Dochev pointed out that the Bayes Peninsula is the westernmost part of Livingston Island, where the Bulgarian Antarctic base is located. "This is a peninsula that is very little occupied by ice and snow. All the islands, even the smallest ones, have an ice cap and the rocks are not visible. The Bayes Peninsula is the widest ice-free area, not only on the whole archipelago, which makes it possible to work," Metodiev said, adding that research will be successful if nature is kind.

"We don't have any facilities, we will sleep in tents for about ten days," Dochev said. According to him, the Spanish scientists have two temporary shelters on the field base, which the Bulgarian scientists will be using for communications and laboratory work.

***

During the 32nd Bulgarian expedition to Antarctica, which started on November 8, 2023, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is publishing interviews with Antarctic researchers. The Bulgaria-Antarctica BTA's Log again provides coverage of the voyage of the Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii to Antarctica and back and its stay there, as it did during the 31st expedition between December 27, 2022 and May 2, 2023. Back then, only BTA had a correspondent, Daily News Editor Konstantin Karagyozov, who covered the 127-day expedition with text, video and photos during the entire voyage (including across the Atlantic in both directions) and throughout the stay in Antarctica. In June 2023, BTA published in Bulgarian and in English an issue of its LIK magazine "To Antarctica and Back under the Bulgarian Flag" dedicated to the historic expedition.

Again, all of BTA's information on the Bulgarian scientific research in Antarctica and the support provided by the Bulgarian naval research vessel, as well as on the other activities at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base, will be available to all media outlets in Bulgarian and in English on BTA's website in the Bulgaria - Antarctica: BTA's Log section.

BTA has a National Press Club on board the ship and is planning to open a National Press Club at the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island.

/DT/