Easter Island Blog        

Tuesday 14 April: Coring Rano Kau

Today we began our efforts to core Rano Kau, the massive crater lake
at the southwest end of Easter Island. Getting there is a challenge in
itself. The walk down to where we are coring is a descent of 300m
across boulder slopes and then out onto the floating mat that covers
the lake.

Our first hole reached 20 meters below water level. Like most previous
work in Rano Kau, we found entirely organic sediments (today's second
photo shows an ideal sample from deep in the core). These organic
layers are derived entirely from vegetation. We were pleased to find
the organic layers interrupted by at least two layers of clay, silt
and fine sand that may indicate ancient landslides from the crater rim.

 
8:22 PM