Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 14:59

Hi Mrs. Herrmann, sounds like you are having a great time! I was reading your journal on the geology at Palmer, and I was wondering if there are any sedimentary rocks where you are. Are they all igneous and metamorphic? I know the inner parts of Antarctica have some ancient mountain regions, when did the rocks at Palmer originate? Also, what does the station do with the diesel fuel cleaned out of the tanks?

I love the pictures you put up! ~Anna W.

Nell Herrmann

Hi Anna,There are no sedimentary rocks here; all igneous and a few metamorphic (there's a little bit of gneiss around) but mostly granite, granodiorite and basalt. The rocks here are about 6-10 million years old.
The fuel they clean out of the tank will be shipped out of here and disposed of properly in South America. I'm not exactly sure what that entails, but it will go to some sort of fuel processing/recycling plant in Chile.
I'm glad you are enjoying the pictures.
Keep in touch!
-Ms. Herrmann