SLIPPERY ROCK — A Slippery Rock University professor recently returned from a research expedition in Antarctica.

Michael Zieg, assistant professor of geography, geology and the environment collected 150 rocks he and SRU geology majors will analyze to learn more about the separation of continents.

Zieg was selected as one of nine geologists, eight from America and one from Poland, for the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs project. The project hopes to shed light on the rifting of Antarctica from Australia.

The NSF selected Zieg because of his previous Antarctic experience and his ongoing study of igneous rocks. He has been to Antarctica three times.

The igneous rocks, formed by cooling magma, are part of a sequence of sills, or horizontal intrusions, Zieg said. These sills were discovered as part of Capt. Robert Scott's famous Discovery Expedition from 1901 to 1904.

He said the trip was an outstanding opportunity to examine a classic rock sequence and provide learning opportunities.