1999 年 33 巻 3 号 p. 177-189
For the recent 30 years, about 20 thousand specimens of extraterrestrial material so called "Antarctic meteorites" recovered from the South Pole region as results of numerous meteorite search expeditions of the most US and Japan. Japan now keeps almost 10 thousand Antarctic meteorite specimens and it is the one of the biggest collection of meteorites in the world. The collection are distributing to researchers as unique and important research materials under the Japanese Antarctic meteorite distribution system during the last 30 years. The Antarctic meteorites have been giving a strong impact to the planetary sciences especially meteorite studies in Japan and world. However, Antarctic meteorites have been recovered under unpredicable hand condition such as very low temperature (under -30℃) with strong wind at a very dangerous places where are numerous deep hidden crevasses. Auther report here some interesting activities and histories of Antarctic meteorite expeditions including most of Japan and US-Japan team led by author in the early stage of Antarctic meteorite search.
