The extension of the Quaternary glaciations has been studied in the semi-arid Andes of north-central Chile, where the glacial modelling is striking. In the Elqui valley (lat. 30°S.), two glacial advances were identified reaching down to 3 100 m (Laguna glaciation) and 2 500 m (Tapado glaciation). In the Aconcagua valley (lat. 33°S.), moraines from three major glacial advances were found, at 2 800 m (Portillo glaciation), 1 600 m (Guardia Vieja glaciation) and 1 300 m (Salto del Soldado glaciation).

The Quaternary glaciations were linked with a decrease of temperature, but more significantly with a marked increase of precipitation probably related to an equatorward shift of 5–6 degrees of the austral polar front. The results obtained in the semi-arid Chilean Andes are correlated with those recently reported from other sectors of the southern Andes.

The study of temperate glaciers has led to the development of three drilling processes. The steam drill used for ablation stakes is easily portable and its speed is 30–40 m/h for the first 10 m. With the hot-water drill we can drill a fairly large but irregular hole; and reach 100 m depth in less than 5 h. The electro-thermal drill, usable to great depths, is particularly suitable for rapid drilling (15m/h and more) of small diameter holes (25 min) with easily portable equipment.

Studies of Norwegian glaciers indicate that foliation is frequently derived from sedimentary stratification. Shearing and accompanying recrystallization of the ice is most likely to occur in the planes of the sedimentary layers, particularly where they are steeply dipping and have a longitudinal trend, Foliation not related to pre-existing layering is uncommon. Steeply dipping transverse layers, often referred to as foliation, are believed to be simply the traces of former crevasses.

Dirty snow avalanches have been observed to carry considerable amounts of rock debris on to lake ice at the foot of scree slopes. As ice breaks up in the spring thaw, this material is carried back and forth on ice floes and is gradually deposited in the lake. In some areas this produces typical drop stones of rock debris in predominantly fine-grained deposits. Most avalanche debris is very angular which enables avalanche drop stones to be differentiated from those of glacial or other drift-ice origins. However, where avalanches incorporate glacial debris, such deposits may be indistinguishable from those formed by floating glacier ice.