Members of the 12th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition (BAE) managed to obtain a unique scientific material – they collected a record-breaking paleogeographic core sample (a sample of rock extracted from a well by means of a special type of drilling).

According to Alexey Gaidashov, the head of the BAE, the scientific program of studies of Enderby Land nature and climate changes under the influence of anthropogenic and natural factors at the Nizhnee lake (in the area of the Belarusian Antarctic Station) included collection of the paleogeographic core samples consisting of bacterial mat and benthal deposit masses. Using an original method developed by the BAE members Alexey Gaidashov and Alexey Khatkevich, with a complex use of technological equipment and special tools, the explorers managed to extract a core sample with a full structure section of bacterial mats and benthal deposits, all the way to the underlying solid rocks forming a primary bed of the Nizhnee lake. This core is a record sample for this region of the Antarctic. The core column filling depth is 1 m 95 cm, and approximate age of the lower part may be from 14 to 20 thousand years. Studying of this sample will allow characterization of different aspects of physical and geographical conditions of the geological history, and natural and climatic development of this region of the Antarctic from the last glacial maximum to the present days. Upon recommendations of the Russian and Belarusian experts, the core sample was deep-frozen after the collection. An ice adit was constructed near the Hayes glacier for temporary storage of the core sample. All members of the 12th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition working under the State Program on the Vechernyaya Mount Belarusian station provided technical support for core sampling.

Russian experts from State Research Center Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of the Federal Service on Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of the Environment and the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences showed a keen interest in collaborative work with this unique scientific material. Currently, a transport and logistic scheme of safe core transportation is organized.