Tristan : German Geophyscists Visit Tristan to Collect Rock Samples
Submitted by Tristan Times (Juanita Brock) 06.10.2004 (Current Article)

Juergen Matzka and Marko Leitner, geophysicists from the University Munich in Germany have visited Tristan da Cunha to do geological fieldwork.

Photo (c) James Glass (Tristan Times) - Juergen Matzka using a hand drill to take a sample of bluestone from Tristan.

GERMAN GEOPHYSICISTS VISIT TRISTAN TO COLLECT ROCK SAMPLES

By James Glass (Tristan Times)

Juegen Matzka sampling Tristan bluestone.

Juergen Matzka and Marko Leitner, geophysicists from the University Munich in Germany have visited Tristan da Cunha to do geological fieldwork. The men collected rock samples for paleomagnetic measurements in the laboratory in Munich. Such measurements on volcanic rocks allow reconstructing the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field in the past, at the time when the rock formed and "locked in" the magnetic field information.

The men further explained that when the rocks were laid down the earth’s poles could have been in a different place than they are today.  And, that through time the poles have changed location, for example the South Pole, from an area in the Indian Ocean to somewhere off the tip of South America, the magnetism of the rocks points to the poles present when the rocks were formed and is a factor in discovering how old they are.

Rocks were sampled with handheld drilling equipment. The hardness of most of the rocks, known as "blue stone" to the Tristanians, was a real surprise for the two geophysicists because those formed by volcanism are generally easier to drill.

At home in Munich, Juergen is a scientist at University Munich and responsible for running its geomagnetic observatory. Marko is due to finish his diploma thesis soon. Marko and Juergen

Both scientists said they enjoyed their stay on Tristan with James and Felicity Glass and family a lot.   But both say they missed a visit to the Octoberfest, the world's largest beer festival that was in Munich just during their stay on Tristan.  However, the science was worth the sacrifice.