Agile Sub-Ice Geological (ASIG) Drill development and Pirrit Hills field project. Issue 84 (7th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuhl, Tanner; Gibson, Chris; Johnson, Jay; Boeckmann, Grant; Moravec, Elliot; Slawny, Kristina
• Is Part Of: Annals of glaciology. Volume 62:Issue 84(2021)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2021-04-07
• Subjects: Ice and climate, -- ice coring, -- ice engineering, -- rock coring, -- sub-glacial sampling; Glaciology -- Periodicals; 551.3105 qA613
• DOI: 10.1017/aog.2020.59
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-3055

Abstract

Abstract: A new drilling system was developed by the US Ice Drilling Program (IDP) to rapidly drill through overlying ice to collect subglacial rock cores. The Agile Sub-Ice Geological (ASIG) Drill system is capable of drilling up to 700 m of ice in a continuous manner. Intermittent ice core samples can be taken as needed. Ten-plus meters of subglacial bedrock and unconsolidated, frozen sediment cores can be drilled with wireline core retrieval. The functionality of the drill system was demonstrated in 2016–17 at the Pirrit Hills, Antarctica where 8 m of high-quality, continuous granite core was retrieved beneath 150 m of ice. The particulars of the drill system development, features and performance are discussed.