Black Island (Ross Archipelago)
Black Island, in the Ross Archipelago, is immediately west of White Island. It was first named by the Discovery Expedition because of its lack of snow. The island's northernmost point is named Cape Hodgson, commemorating Thomas Vere Hodgson.
The highest point is Mount Aurora, a principal radio relay point. On the minor peak of Mt. Melania is the principal earth-based ground-station for the US Antarctic Program.
Black Island is volcanic in origin, consisting of a series of trachytic lava domes and basaltic pyroclastic cones. Potassium–argon dating of Black Island volcanic rocks has given ages ranging from 1.69 to 3.8 million years.
