Models of crustal flow in the India–Asia collision zone

Surface velocities in parts of the India–Asia collision zone are compared to velocities calculated from equations describing fluid flow driven by topographically produced pressure gradients. A good agreement is found if the viscosity of the crust is ∼10²⁰ Pa s in southern Tibet and ∼10²² Pa s in the area between the Eastern Syntaxis and the Szechwan Basin. The lower boundary condition of the flow changes between these two areas, with a stress-free lower boundary in the area between the Szechwan basin and the Eastern Syntaxis, and a horizontally rigid but vertically deformable boundary where strong Indian lithospheric material underlies southern Tibet. Deformation maps for olivine, diopside and anorthite show our findings to be consistent with laboratory measurements of the rheology of minerals. Gravitationally driven flow is also suggested to be taking place in the Indo–Burman Ranges, with a viscosity of ∼10¹⁹–10²⁰ Pa s. Flow in both southern Tibet and the Indo–Burman Ranges provides an explanation for the formation of the geometry of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis. The majority of the normal faulting earthquakes in the Tibetan Plateau occur in the area of southern Tibet which we model as gravitationally spreading over the Indian shield.     

Petrology and mineralogy of the shock-melted H chondrites Yamato–791088 and LaPaz Ice Field 02240

We studied the petrology and mineralogy of two types of shock-melted H chondrites: Yamato (Y)–791088 and LaPaz Ice Field (LAP) 02240. Y–791088, which consists of numerous coarse-grained relict phases (40%) and euhedral fine-grained minerals solidified from the shock melt (60%), experienced incomplete melting; a quiescent melt is indicated by the existence of abundant relict phases, pseudomorphed chondrules, and two types of glass. LAP 02240, which consists of small amounts of coarse-grained relict phases (～10%) and fine-grained minerals (～90%), experienced near-complete melting; a rapidly cooled mobilized melt is indicated by the homogeneous compositions of glass and opaque veins.The homogeneous compositions of relict olivines indicate that the precursors of both chondrites were equilibrated H chondrites. The melting features of Y–791088 and LAP 02240 are very similar to those of Y–790964 (LL) and the fine-grained lithology of Y–790519 (LL), respectively. These two types of shock-melted ordinary chondrites possibly formed in situ during dike formation. The quiescent melt is thought to have originated from the injection of shock-heated chondrite blocks into mobilized melt. These two types of melting could have occurred during dike formation on the H chondrite parent body. The textures of the two types of shock melts were not simply affected by the degree of shock melting: they were also controlled by the degree of shear stress.     

Diverse mineralogical and oxygen isotopic signatures recorded in CV3 carbonaceous chondrites

We describe the petrography and mineralogy of six CV3 carbonaceous chondrites. LAP02206, LAP02228, LAP04843, and GRA06101 are classified as oxidized Allende-like chondrites (CV3_oxA). RBT04143 and QUE97186 are classified as members of the reduced subtype (CV3_red). Chondrules in the CV3_oxA chondrites show extensive Fe–Mg zoning. Fe-rich olivine in the rims of the CV3_oxA chondrules are ¹⁶O-poor relative to Mg-rich olivine in the cores, suggesting that in addition to Fe and Mg, oxygen was exchanged between chondrules and matrix during weak thermal metamorphism. The CV3_red chondrites appear to have formed through various processes. QUE97186 shows chondrule flattening with a preferred orientation, which is interpreted to have resulted from shock impact at a pressure of ～20 GPa. The post-shock residual heat (～1000 °C) is likely to be responsible for the restricted Fe/Mg ratios of matrix olivine. Based on the degree of Fe–Mg homogenization of matrix olivines, we estimate the spatial scale of the shock-heated region to be ～1 m. RBT04143 is a breccia containing many clasts of two types of lithologies: reduced-type material and very weakly altered material.     

南极GRV 99027火星陨石的地球化学特征

南极GRV 99027陨石是二辉橄榄岩质辉玻无球粒陨石(L-S)的火星陨石,具有嵌晶、非嵌晶和冲击熔融袋结构。矿物模式组成以橄榄石(55%)、辉石(37.5%)为主,有少量熔长石(6%)、铬铁矿(1.5%)以及微量白磷钙石、陨硫铁等。本文在阐述该陨石的岩石学和矿物化学特征的基础上进一步研究了稀土元素及氢同位素的地球化学特征。该陨石∑REE总量低;橄榄石及辉石以HREE富集为特征;熔长石富LREE,且具高正的δEu;副矿物白磷钙矿含量虽少(约0.2%),但具有极高的∑REE,LREE≈HREE,δEu负异常明显。GRV99027全岩稀土元素分配模式与L-S陨石的模式十分相似,而与SNC其它类型陨石的REE分配模式不同,反映不同类型火星陨石物质源区不同。火星陨石氢同位素以高δD为特征,各类含水矿物对陨石δD的贡献不同。陨石磷酸盐矿物中δD-水含量间一般没有正相关性,间或存有弱的负相关性。根据GRV99027陨石的矿物学模式,REE分配模式,及氢同位素特征,可以确定GRV99027陨石为L-S陨石。为了探讨GRV99027陨石的物质源区及演化历史,我们广泛收集了L-S火星陨石的Sr,Nd,Pb,Os和稀有气体同位素...     

南极GRV 024237橄辉无球粒陨石的岩石矿物学特征

GRV024237是第19次中国南极科学考察队在南极格罗夫山地区一号冰碛上发现的。主要由粗粒状橄榄石(60vol%)、易变辉石(30vol%)和不透明矿物(10vol%)组成,粗粒橄榄石辉石、颗粒边界呈120°接触角,无球粒,粗粒橄榄石具有明显的反环带结构,这些特征符合典型的橄辉无球粒陨石结构。薄片中橄榄石颗粒的边部到核部化学组成变化显著,边部富镁,Fa6.2—Fa17.5;易变辉石组成比较均一,Fs14.0—Fs15.5;基质不透明矿物富含碳质,充填于大颗粒的间隙及裂隙。岩石学和矿物化学组成两方面都表明GRV024237是一块橄辉无球粒陨石,且属于I型单矿角砾岩,中等FeO/MgO比值,冲击程度较弱,经历了部分熔融。     

A late Pleistocene and Holocene mineral magnetic record from sediments of Lake Aibi,Dzungarian Basin,NW China

We studied mineral magnetic properties of a 6-m-long, late Pleistocene through Holocene sediment sequence from Lake Aibi in Dzungaria (Zunggary, Junggar), northern Xinjiang, China. Results were used to infer environmental changes and are compared with previously studied cores from Lake Manas. Both water bodies occupy the deepest parts of the Dzungarian Basin and are remnants of large Holocene lakes. During the Late Pleistocene, the magnetic mineralogy in both lakes was dominated by detrital, iron oxide minerals. Oxic conditions, which dominated during sedimentation and early diagenesis, persisted over the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. Later, during the middle Holocene, lake bottom conditions enabled authigenic formation of iron sulphide minerals such as pyrite (FeS₂) in Lake Aibi, and pyrite and greigite (Fe₃S₄) in Lake Manas. This iron sulphide mineralogy suggests increased biological activity in stagnant, anoxic bottom waters. Anoxic bottom conditions started about 9.8 cal kyr BP in Lake Manas and at about 7.2 cal kyr BP in Lake Aibi. A short dry event recorded in Lake Manas between 6.8 and 5.2 cal kyr BP is not clearly observed in Lake Aibi. In the late Holocene, i.e. the last 2.8 cal kyr, sediments of both lakes are again characterised by iron oxides, suggesting well-mixed, shallow water bodies. For this recent period, it seems that the detrital material in the two lakes had a common origin. Magnetic properties of sediments in Lakes Aibi and Manas show broadly similar environmental evolution during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Nevertheless, despite the close proximity of the two lakes (~200 km) in the same basin, they display some different magnetic properties and record environmental changes at different times.     

Petrology and geochemistry of Yamato 984028: a cumulate lherzolitic shergottite with affinities to Y 000027, Y 000047, and Y 000097

We report the petrography, mineral and whole-rock chemistry (major-, trace-, and highly-siderophile element abundances, and osmium and oxygen isotope compositions) of a newly recognized lherzolitic shergottite, Yamato (Y) 984028. Oxygen isotopes (Δ¹⁷O = 0.218‰) confirm a martian origin for this meteorite. Three texturally distinctive internal zones and a partially devitrified fusion crust occur in the polished section of Y 984028 studied here. The zones include: 1) a poikilitic region with pyroxene enclosing olivine and chromite (Zone A); 2) a non-poikilitic zone with cumulate olivine, interstitial pyroxene, maskelynite and Ti-rich chromite (Zone B) and; 3) a monomict breccia (Zone C). The pyroxene oikocryst in Zone A is chemically zoned from Wo_3–7En_76–71 in the core region to Wo_33–36En_52–49 at the rim, and encloses more Mg-rich olivine (Fo_74–70) in the core, as compared with olivines (Fo_69–68) located at the oikocryst rim. Constraints from Fe–Mg partitioning between crystals and melt indicate that constituent minerals are not in equilibrium with the corresponding bulk-rock composition, implying that Y 984028 represents a cumulate. The whole-rock major- and trace-element compositions, and initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os value (0.1281 ± 0.0002) of Y 984028 are similar to other lherzolitic shergottites and this sample is probably launch-paired with Y 793602, Y 000027, Y 000047, and Y 000097. The Os isotopic composition and highly-siderophile element (HSE) abundances of Y 984028 and other lherzolitic shergottites are consistent with derivation from a martian mantle source that evolved with chondritic Re/Os.     

Spectroscopy of Yamato 984028

Comprehensive spectroscopic characterization of interior and exterior chips of the lherzolitic shergottite Y-984028 has been performed using results from six techniques. Data from UV–visible–near-IR reflectance spectra, thermal (mid-IR) emission spectra, attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectra, transmission FTIR spectra, Raman microprobe spectra, and Mössbauer spectra of whole rock and mineral separates from this meteorite are integrated and compared. Five of these analytical techniques accurately determined the ～Fo₆₅ composition of the olivine within ±10 mol%. Both transmission FTIR and ATR spectra show broad features near 3500 cm^?1 indicating the presence of OH/H₂O that does not arise from surface water adsorption. The brown color of the Y-984028 olivine is likely due to the presence of nanophase metallic iron particles (npFe⁰) dispersed throughout the olivine during a major shock event on Mars. Y-984028 olivine also contains a significant amount of Fe³⁺, but this cannot be distinguished from Fe³⁺ that is present in pyroxene and possibly clay minerals. This meteorite and the nakhlite MIL03346 are the two most oxidized of the SNC meteorites studied to date, with Fe³⁺ contents consistent with high-temperature equilibration near the QFM oxygen buffer.     

南极GRV 99027火星陨石的地球化学特征

南极GRV 99027陨石是二辉橄榄岩质辉玻无球粒陨石(L-S)的火星陨石,具有嵌晶、非嵌晶和冲击熔融袋结构。矿物模式组成以橄榄石(55%)、辉石(37.5%)为主,有少量熔长石(6%)、铬铁矿(1.5%)以及微量白磷钙石、陨硫铁等。本文在阐述该陨石的岩石学和矿物化学特征的基础上进一步研究了稀土元素及氢同位素的地球化学特征。该陨石∑REE总量低;橄榄石及辉石以HREE富集为特征;熔长石富LREE,且具高正的δEu;副矿物白磷钙矿含量虽少(约0.2%),但具有极高的∑REE,LREE≈HREE,δEu负异常明显。GRV99027全岩稀土元素分配模式与L-S陨石的模式十分相似,而与SNC其它类型陨石的REE分配模式不同,反映不同类型火星陨石物质源区不同。火星陨石氢同位素以高δD为特征,各类含水矿物对陨石δD的贡献不同。陨石磷酸盐矿物中δD-水含量间一般没有正相关性,间或存有弱的负相关性。根据GRV99027陨石的矿物学模式,REE分配模式,及氢同位素特征,可以确定GRV99027陨石为L-S陨石。为了探讨GRV99027陨石的物质源区及演化历史,我们广泛收集了L-S火星陨石的Sr,Nd,Pb,Os和稀有气体同位素资料。GRV99027与同类L-S陨石的物质来源为原始火星幔源区;约4M a(溅射年龄)经天体强烈碰撞溅射,在宇宙空间经历不同时间的运行(宇宙射线暴露年龄不同),随后进入地球引力范围,先后陨落在南极。     

西宁陨石的岩石学特征及其类型划分

西宁陨石具有典型的球粒结构,球粒轮廓依稀可辨-模糊,基质重结晶程度中-高等,次生斜长石粒度5-40μm,部分颗粒大于50μm。橄榄石和低钙辉石的化学成分均一：球粒中橄榄石Fa24.7-25.2,平均Fa24.9,相对标准偏差PMD值0.64%;低钙辉石Fs21.3-21.9 En 77.6-78.2 Wo 0.46-0.57,平均Fs21.5,Fs的PMD值0.84%。说明该陨石已达热力学平衡状态,为平衡型普通球粒陨石。根据该陨石结构构造特征、金属含量、矿物化学组成特征和热变质特征（平衡温度为778℃）,西宁陨石被划分为L群普通球粒陨石,岩石类型为5型,但已开始向6型过渡。该陨石的冲击变质程度为S3,风化程度W0。陨石母体形成之后遭受了冲击变质作用和热变质作用,导致原始球粒破碎、脱玻化和基质重结晶。     

A Holocene record of endogenic iron and manganese precipitation and vegetation history in a lake-fen complex in northwestern Minnesota

Little Shingobee Lake and Fen are part of the extensive network of lakes and wetlands in the Shingobee River headwaters of northwestern Minnesota, designed to study the interactions between surface and ground waters. Prior to about 11.2 cal. ka, most of these lakes and wetlands were interconnected to form glacial Lake Willobee, which apparently formed when a debris flow dammed the Shingobee River. Between 11.2 and 8.5 cal. ka, the level of Lake Willobee fell as a result of breaching of the dam, transforming the deep lake into the existing lakes and wetlands. Analyses of a 9-m core from Little Shingobee Lake (LSL-B), and lacustrine sediments under 3.3 m of peat in a 17-m core from Little Shingobee Fen (LSF-10), show that the dominant components are allogenic clastic material, and endogenic CaCO₃ and organic matter. In both cores almost all of the iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are incorporated in endogenic minerals, presumed to be X-ray amorphous oxyhydroxide minerals, that occur in significant quantities throughout the cores; almost no Fe and Mn are contributed from detrital aluminosilicate minerals. This suggests that, for most of the Holocene, the allogenic watershed contributions to lake chemistry were minor compared to the dissolved mineral load. In addition, prior to 3.5 cal. ka, pollen zone boundaries coincide with large changes in lake-sediment mineralogy, indicating that both landscape and climate processes were linked to early- and mid-Holocene lake chemistry. The pollen time series, with sequential domination by spruce, pine, sagebrush-oak, birch-oak and, finally, white pine is typical of the region and reflects the changing location of the prairie-forest transition zone over time. These changes in vegetation had some profound effects on the geochemistry of the lake waters.     

南极乔治王岛长城站地区火山岩中矿物包裹体的研究

本文主要讨论了长城站地区第三纪火山岩系的透辉石和斜长石中熔融包裹体的特征、均一温度、挥发组分、玻璃和子矿物的化学成分。透辉石中熔融包裹体均一温度为1070～1170℃,斜长石中熔融包裹体均一温度m≥1100℃。透辉石和斜长石熔融包裹体气泡中组分CO_2为45～93％,H_2S为微量～35％,CH_4为2～20％和CO为2～14％,少量为N_2,O_2,H_2O和H_2。这些组分从火山喷发早期至晚期呈规律性变化。对熔融包裹体的玻璃和子矿物进行成分测定,其子矿物为钙铁橄榄石。     

Provenance of sediments deposited at paleolake San Felipe,western Sonora Desert: Implications to regimes of summer and winter precipitation during last 50 cal kyr BP

Rare earth element, major and trace element and mineralogy in the sediments representing last 50 cal kyr BP from the summer precipitation fed paleolake San Felipe identify the different association of minerals and selective transportation of different grain size fractions and relate them to the variation in pluvial discharge into the basin as well as aeolian activities in the western Sonora Desert. Period of lower pluvial discharge during 14–48 cal kyr BP is contemporary to the regime of dominant winter storms in the region. Transportation of coarser quartz and plagioclase during 40–48 cal kyr BP and dominant finer fractions during 14–40 cal kyr BP possibly mirror the variation in the frequency of winter storms. During 3–14 cal kyr BP, higher catchment erosion (sedimentation increased 4–12 times) and transportation of REE bearing heavy minerals into the basin indicate higher pluvial discharge. We relate this period to a regime of dominant summer precipitation associated with the North American Monsoon and tropical cyclones. Geochemical and mineralogical signatures of the sediments deposited during ca. 8, 12–13 and >48 cal kyr BP suggest selective mobilization of quartz and plagioclase from the surrounding sand dunes by the aeolian processes.     

Estimation of Shallow Geothermal Energy Resource in Canada: Heat Gain and Heat Sink

Maps of shallow depth (down to −250 m) temperature distribution across Canada show large variability, related mainly to surface climatic forcing. Very small changes of temperature with depth in the upper 250 m are related to heat gained by the subsurface due to recent global warming. Temperature data compiled from precise temperature logs in equilibrium wells, and temperature time series from a network of meteorological stations, allow calculation of the available heat energy for heating in the cold period and for cooling in peak warm months. Utilization of this energy resource has the potential for significant CO₂ reduction in Canada. The geothermal energy stored in the ground can be used, with the help of heat pumps, for heating, given very low winter temperatures. The amount of potential heat available is vast. In Canada, south of permafrost border, the integrated value of potentially available heat during the heating season down to −50 m is 1.1 E21 J (1100 quads).     

西南极利文斯顿岛中部中－新生代火山岩的岩相学和矿物学特征

出露在利文斯顿岛中部的中－晚白垩世火山碎屑岩为多源的角砾凝灰岩、角砾岩和集块碎屑岩，成分以安山质为主。橄榄玄武岩主要在史莱夫角出露，为全晶质斑状构造；主要出露在中利文斯顿和汉那角的安山岩、玄武安山岩多具细晶微斑构造。更新世至现代的火山岩为全晶质斑状的橄榄玄武岩和火山碎屑岩。熔岩的基本矿物组合大致相似，均为斜长石＋辉石（＋橄榄石）＋铁的氧化物，但矿物的含量比例因岩性不同而有所区别。岩石中的斜长石斑晶多具正环带；随着岩石ＳｉＯ２含量的增加，斜长石中Ｏｒ和Ａｂ组分增加而Ａｎ含量下降，斑晶边缘成分一般与基质里长石的成分相近。安山岩和玄武安山岩含有中长石－拉长石斑晶，玄武岩主要含拉长石斑晶，但橄榄玄武岩和粗玄岩中斜长石斑晶的核部为富钙的倍长石。更新世－现代的橄榄玄武岩，其所含斜长石斑晶和基质长石亦比较富钙。玄武安山岩中的辉石多为普通辉石，橄榄玄武岩和玄武岩中含有透辉石斑晶。辉石的Ｔｉ含量低，这是钙碱性火山岩的共同特点。史莱夫角的橄榄玄武岩含有贵橄榄石斑晶。粗玄岩中橄榄石成分与史莱夫角基质橄榄石成分相近。更新世至现代的橄榄玄武岩中既有正常结晶的橄榄石斑晶，还见到高Ｆｏ组分的深源捕掳晶。上述玄武岩中矿物组合的基本特征证明     

南极格罗夫山陨石岩石学特征Ⅰ:非平衡L3型普通球粒陨石

我国第16次南极科学考察队在格罗夫山区域的蓝冰表面回收到28块陨石,其中有6块属于非平衡型(即3型)普通球粒陨石。它们保存了原始的岩石矿物学特征,包括非常清晰的球粒结构、基质未重结晶和不透明、橄榄石和低钙辉石颗粒具有明显的成分环带和极不均一的化学组成等。Fe-Ni合金含量、含Fe总量和橄榄石成分综合分析表明这6块陨石全部属于低铁群(L)。因为非平衡普通球粒陨石橄榄石成分变化的PMD(Fa)值与岩石类型亚型有良好的相关性,因此,根据橄榄石Fa的PMD标准这6块陨石被划分为如下亚型:GRV 99019为3.6型,GRV99020、GRV 99021和GRV 99026为3.5型,GRV 99001为3.4型,GRV 99022为3.0—3.4型。     

The thermal maturity of sedimentary basins as revealed by magnetic mineralogy

The thermal evolution of sedimentary basins is usually constrained by maturity data, which is interpreted from Rock-Eval pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance analytical results on field or boreholes samples. However, some thermal evolution models may be inaccurate due to the use of elevated maturities measured in samples collected within an undetected metamorphic contact aureole surrounding a magmatic intrusion. In this context, we investigate the maturity and magnetic mineralogy of 16 claystone samples from Disko-Svartenhuk Basin, part of the SE Baffin Bay volcanic margin. Samples were collected within thermal contact metamorphic aureoles near magma intrusions, as well as equivalent reference samples not affected by intrusions. Rock-Eval pyrolysis (T_max), and vitrinite reflectance (Ro) analysis were performed to assess the thermal maturity, which lies in the oil window when 435°C ≤ T_max ≤ 470°C and 0.6%–0.7% ≤ Ro ≤ 1.3%. In addition, we performed low- (<300K) and high-temperature (>300K) investigations of isothermal remanent magnetization to assess the magnetic mineralogy of the selected samples. The maturity results (0.37% ≤ Ro ≤ 2%, 22°C ≤ T_max ≤ 604°C) show a predominance of immature to early mature Type III organic matter, but do not reliably identify the contact aureole when compared to the reference samples. The magnetic assemblage of the immature samples consists of iron sulphide (greigite), goethite and oxidized or non-stoichiometric magnetite. The magnetic assemblage of the early mature to mature samples consists of stoichiometric magnetite and fine-grained pyrrhotite (<1 μm). These results document the disappearance of the iron sulphide (greigite) and increase in content of magnetite during normal burial. On the other hand, magnetite is interpreted to be the dominant magnetic mineral inside the contact aureole surrounding dyke/sill intrusions where palaeotemperatures indicate mature to over-mature state. Interestingly, the iron sulphide (greigite) is still detected in the contact aureole where palaeotemperatures exceeded 130°C. Therefore, the magnetic mineralogy is a sensitive method that can characterize normal burial history, as well as identify hidden metamorphic contact aureoles where the iron sulphide greigite is present at temperatures beyond its stability field.     

Triassic to Early Jurassic climatic trends recorded in the Jameson Land Basin,East Greenland: clay mineralogy,petrography and heavy mineralogy

During the Early Triassic the Jameson Land Basin (Central East Greenland) was located around 30° N, in the Northern arid belt, but by the Early Jurassic was positioned at a latitude of approximately 50° N. This study examines the record of this transition through a largely continental succession using clay mineralogy, sedimentology, petrography and heavy mineralogy. The Jameson Land Basin is aligned north–south and is 280 km long and 80 km wide. Following an Early Triassic marine phase the basin was filled by predominantly continental sediments. The Early‐to‐Late Triassic succession comprises coarse alluvial clastics (Pingo Dal Formation) overlain by a succession of fine‐grained evaporite‐rich playa/lacustrine sediments (Gipsdalen Formation), indicative of arid climatic conditions. The overlying buff, dolomitic and then red lacustrine mudstones with subordinate sandstones (Fleming Fjord Formation) record reduced aridity. The uppermost Triassic grades into dark organic‐rich, and in places coaly, mudstones and buff coarse‐grained sandstones of lacustrine origin that belong to the Kap Stewart Group, which spans the Triassic–Jurassic boundary, and appear to record more humid climatic conditions. Clay mineralogy analyses highlight significant variations in the kaolinite/illite ratio, from both mudstone and sandstone samples, through the Triassic and into the earliest Jurassic. Complementary heavy mineral analyses demonstrate that the variations recognised in clay mineralogy and sandstone maturity through the Triassic–Early Jurassic succession are not a product of major provenance change or the effect of significant diagenetic alteration. The observed variations are consistent with sedimentological evidence for a long‐term trend towards more humid conditions through the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, and the suggestion of a significant pluvial episode in the mid‐Carnian.     

Laboratory experiments and thermal calculations for the development of a next-generation glacier-ice exploration system: Development of an electro-thermal drilling device

A next-generation drilling system, equipped with a thermal drilling device, is proposed for glacier ice. The system is designed to penetrate glacier ice via melting of the ice and continuously analyze melt-water in a contamination-free sonde. This new type of drilling system is expected to provide analysis data in less time and at less cost than existing systems. Because of the limited number of parameters that can be measured, the proposed system will not take the place of conventional drilling systems that are used to obtain ice cores; however, it will provide a useful method for quickly and simply investigating glacier ice.An electro-thermal drilling device is one of the most important elements needed to develop the proposed system. To estimate the thermal supply required to reach a target depth in a reasonable time, laboratory experiments were conducted using ice blocks and a small sonde equipped solely with heaters. Thermal calculations were then performed under a limited range of conditions. The experiments were undertaken to investigate the effects of the shape and material of the drill head and heater temperature on the rate of penetration into the ice. Additional thermal calculations were then performed based on the experimental results.According to the simple thermal calculations, if the thermal loss that occurs while heat is transferred from the heater to ice (in melting the ice) is assumed to be 50%, the total thermal supply required for heaters in the sonde and cable is as follows: (i) 4.8 kW (sonde) plus 0 W (cable) to penetrate to 300 m depth over 10 days into temperate glacier ice for which the temperature is 0 °C at all depths and to maintain a water layer along 300 m of cable; (ii) 10 kW (sonde) plus 19–32 kW (cable) to penetrate to 1000 m depth over 1 month into cold glacier ice for which the temperature is −25 °C at the surface and 0 °C at 1000 m depth and to maintain a water layer along 1000 m of cable; and (iii) 19 kW (sonde) plus 140–235 kW (cable) to penetrate to 3000 m depth over 2 months into an ice sheet for which the temperature is −55 °C at the surface and 0 °C at 3000 m depth and to maintain a water layer along 3000 m of cable. The thermal supply required for the cable is strongly affected by the thickness of the water layer, cable diameter, and the horizontal distance from the ice wall at which the ice temperature was maintained at its initial temperature. A large thermal supply is required to heat 3000 m of cable in an ice sheet (scenario (iii) above), but penetration into glacier ice (scenarios (i) and (ii) above) could be realistic with the use of a currently employed generator.