Macquarie Island, Australia

Abstract

Macquarie Island lies 1500 km southeast of Tasmania, halfway between Australia and the Antarctic continent. It is the only place on Earth where rocks from the Earth’s mantle are being actively exposed above sea level. Its unique exposures include active faults, examples of pillow basalts and other extrusive rocks, all geological evidence for seafloor spreading, and continental drift. It provides a unique opportunity to study, in detail, geological features and processes of oceanic crust formation and plate boundary dynamics. In addition, its remote and windswept landscape of steep escarpments, lakes, and dramatic changes in vegetation provides an outstanding spectacle of wild, natural beauty complemented by vast congregations of wildlife.