The paper deals with geodynamic reconstructions of Australia and Antarctica (using the GPlates program) 79, 68-61, 48, 44, and 40 Ma based on the comparison of conjugate single-age magnetic anomalies. The relevance of the present study is determined by the increased scientific interest in the problems of Gondwana break-up and the influence of lithospheric block tectonics on the processes of riftogenesis and ocean opening. The early stage of oceanic opening between Australia and Antarctica is characterised by a series of distinct linear magnetic anomalies. Oceanic spreading occurred in an ultra-slow to slow regime with rates of 20-26 mm/year between 33o and 21u anomalies (80-48 Ma) and 40 mm/year between 21u and 18o anomalies (48-40 Ma). According to the studies, there is a clear correlation between the change in spreading rate and the position of the rotation poles. Between 80 and 48 Ma, the rotation pole was located to the west, in the Kerguelen Plateau region, and Australia shifted westward relative to Antarctica. About 48 million years ago, the rate of seafloor spreading almost doubled (from ultra-slow to slow), and Australia began to migrate northwards. The rotation pole was near the southern edge of Tasmania and continued to move southeast towards the Pacific Ocean. The separation of Australia and Antarctica was associated with the advance of the spreading axes of the Indian and Pacific oceans towards each other, with orthogonal inter-section of the ancient lithospheric blocks of the two continents, and was determined by the geometry of the marginal rift structures.

Antarctica is the least studied continent on the planet. Extreme climate conditions, ice cover, and the lack of permanent infrastructure make it difficult to conduct field and stationary research. Nevertheless, interest in Antarctica as a unique natural laboratory is steadily growing, which is confirmed by a stable increase in the number of scientific publications covering a wide range of topics from geodynamics and glaciology to applied engineering solutions.

The paper focuses on the technique and results of an aeromagnetic survey conducted using a fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) in East Antarctica at the Bunger Hills and Highjump Archipelago (Wilkes Land) during the 69th Russian Antarctic Expedition. The above survey was carried out at a 250-meter distance between flight lines (scale 1:25,000) over the area of 600 km2 to increase the geological knowledge of the area. The magnetic anomaly map obtained after data processing is more detailed than any of known published geological maps of the area. The size of anomalies detected varies from dozens of meters up to large, kilometer-scale structures traced within the entire area under survey. The data analysis shows that the surveyed region is characterized by morphological heterogeneity and amplitude variability of anomalous magnetic field. Along with relatively calm zones one can observe strong gradient ones. Even the fluent analysis of aeromagnetic survey results proves their high information content. The UAS-based survey results demonstrate that the technique implemented is an important tool of applied geophysics and can effectively solve tasks of geological mapping in harsh weather conditions of Antarctica. It can adequately replace conventional aeromagnetic surveys that are now done using manned aircraft.

The subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctic is a unique natural phenomenon, its comprehensive study involves sampling of water and bottom surface rocks. For further study of the lake, it is necessary to drill a new access well and develop environmentally safe technologies for its exploration. This article discusses existing and potential technologies for sampling bottom surface rocks of subglacial lakes. All these technologies meet environmental safety requirements and are conducive for sampling. The authors have proposed an alternative technology, using a walking device, which, due to its mobility, enables selective sampling of rocks across a large area from a single access well. The principal issues, related to the implementation of the proposed technology, are investigated within this article. This report is prepared by a team of specialists with many years of experience in drilling at the Vostok Station in Antarctic and in experimental work on the design of equipment and non-standard means of mechanization for complicated mining, geological and climatic conditions.

The paper proves the timeliness of obtaining and examining bottom sediments from subglacial Lake Vostok. Predictive geological section of Lake Vostok and information value of bottom sediments have been examined. Severe requirements towards environmental security of lake examinations and sampling of bottom sediments rule out the use of conventional drilling technologies, as they would pollute the lake with injection liquid from the borehole. In order to carry out sampling of bottom sediments from the subglacial lake, it is proposed to use a dynamically balanced tool string, which enables rotary drilling without any external support on borehole walls to transmit counter torque. A theoretical analysis has been carried out to assess the operation of the tool string, which is a two-mass oscillatory electromechanical system of reciprocating and rotating motion (RRM) with two degrees of freedom.