Testing a Kerguelen Plateau hotspot trace hypothesis

Project aim

McDonald Island is the southern end of a line of submerged islands (seamounts) evenly spaced, similar to the Hawaiian chain. Here, the earth's crust is stationary so the hypothesis is that the source of lava is moving.
If zircons are present, they will indicate a continental signal contained in the rocks thus contributing to understanding the origin and evolution of Kerguelen Plateau, a significant part of which is claimed by Australia.
Understanding evolution of the islands helps elucidate the timing and migration of organisms to modern islands.