MAPPING VOLCANIC CONES IN THE MELBOURNE AND HALLET VOLCANIC PROVINCES, ANTARCTICA: A REMOTE SENSING AND GIS APPROACH

Cenozoic volcanic provinces occur in both East and West Antarctica, with major activity associated with the West Antarctic rift system and its flanks. The McMurdo Volcanic Group forms an extensive alkali volcanic province exposed along the western margin of the West Antarctic rift system. The volcanic group is comprised of basaltic shield volcanoes, active stratovolcanoes, and extensive fields of scattered basaltic cinder cones and lava flows. In northern Victoria Land, the McMurdo Volcanic Group is widely exposed within the Hallett and Melbourne provinces and basaltic cones and lava flows, referred to as the "Local Suite", are widely scattered between, around and within these two main provinces. Although the McMurdo Volcanic Group provinces have been mapped, at least on a reconnaissance level, there are few comprehensive, detailed maps of parasitic cones and vents in these areas. We are using a combination of aerial photography, LANDSAT-7 satellite imagery, pre-existing maps, and field-based studies to map these provinces in more detail than has been previously possible. Specifically, we are mapping the locations, shapes, and breaching relationships of cones within the Melbourne and Hallet volcanic provinces. We are using LANDSAT-7 imagery as a map base and these maps will be co-registered such that cone locations are spatially consistent with each other. These maps are linked to a GIS database on cone location, shape, breaching certainty, and age. Future work will use this database to identify any possible cone alignments and systematic breaching relationships within the province.