The Prince Charles Mountains (PCMs) of East Antarctica were first spotted

from the air during The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program

'Operation Highjump' in 1946-47. but first visited nearly a decade later by

Australian explorers. In the austral summer of 1994-95. Andrew Drinnan (University

of Melbourne) and I ventured to the PCMs to search for fossil plants.

Most of the rocks there are ancient - Archaean and Proterozoic granites and

metamorphics - but one small area. the Amery Oasis. hosts Permian coal-rich

strata and Triassic red-beds.