Sewing-Machine Needles
Sewing-Machine Needles, also known as Rocas Ministro Ezcurra is a group of three prominent rock needles, the highest 45 m above water, lying close southeast of Rancho Point, Deception Island, in the South Shetland Islands. The name Sewing-Machine Rock was given by whalers for what was originally a conspicuous natural arch. Needles is now considered the more suitable descriptive term; an earthquake tremor in 1924 caused the arch to collapse. The name Rocas Ministro Ezcurra was given by Dr Douglas Mawson, leader of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1912-14.
These rocks are remnants of a tuff cone, part of the Baily Head Formation.
