Cape Purvis (63°35′S 55°58′W / 63.583°S 55.967°W / -63.583; -55.967) is a cape forming the south extremity of Dundee Island, off the north tip of Antarctic Peninsula.[1] Its topography is that of a promontory which forms a mesa. The rest of the island is smooth.

Composition

The only large, accessible portion of Cape Purvis is at its southwest.[2] It is composed of recently-formed volcanic rock of the James Ross Island Volcanic Group.[2][3] Cape Purvis is described as a basalt tuya in the Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science.[4]

The basalts on Cape Purvis have similar composition to lavas on Paulet Island, which is 5 kilometers east of it. Said composition is relatively low in magnesium oxide but high in titanium dioxide, calcium oxide, and niobium.[2]

Cape Purvis's snow and ice-covered summit boasts an unnamed hill at its northern edge.[2]

Discovery

It was discovered in December 1842 by Captain James Ross, Royal Navy,[1][2] and named by him for Commodore (later Rear Admiral) John B. Purvis, Royal Navy, who was of assistance to Ross' expedition.[1] Of all islands in the James Ross Island Volcanic Group, it is the furthest north. It is also one of the youngest.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cape Purvis". U.S. Geological Survey. 1 January 1963. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Smellie, J.L.; McIntosh, W.C.; Esser, R.; Fretwell, P. (2006). "The Cape Purvis volcano, Dundee Island (northern Antarctic Peninsula): Late Pleistocene age, eruptive processes and implications for a glacial palaeoenvironment". Antarctic Science. 18 (3): 399–408. Bibcode:2006AntSc..18..399S. doi:10.1017/S0954102006000447.
  3. ↑ "Geological Map of James Ross Island" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  4. ↑ Smelie, J. L. (2013). "GLACIAL LANDFORMS | Quaternary Vulcanism: Subglacial Landforms". In Elias, Scott A.; Mock, Cary J. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Elsevier. pp. 780–802. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53643-3.00074-1. ISBN 978-0-444-53642-6.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from "Cape Purvis". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 


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