Daily Report 62 -- Friday 11 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Expedition 330 concludes when we arrive in port on Friday the 11th of February. Two months of drilling are over and a happy science team leaves the ship, knowing that all scientific objectives have been met and beyond. Now for many a few days or weeks of rest is deserved and after that the rock samples will arrive in our labs and we will start the second phase of this project, our shore-based analyses!
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Daily Report 61 -- Thursday 10 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
The last site meeting for Site U1377 was conducted in the morning. All lab groups presented their findings and preliminary results. Later today, the scientists submitted their last site reports. Scientists, technical personnel and ships crew are busy with preparing the labs and the ship for arrival in Auckland. While the ship crossed the Kermadec deep sea trench, magnetic field strength data were collected with the ships towed magnetometer before the instrument was retrieved early next morning.
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Daily Report 60 -- Wednesday 09 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
The last sampling for personal, post-cruise studies was conducted for all cores from last Site U1377. The first lab groups have submitted their U1377 Site Reports and the co-chief scientists are busy writing the expedition summary. Cleaning activities in all areas of the lab stack have started or are underway.
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Daily Report 59 -- Tuesday 08 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Drilling operations for Expedition 330 were concluded this morning. While the vessel is underway to Auckland, all lab groups are busy with describing the last core sections, analyzing shipboard samples and preparing their last site report.
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Daily Report 58 -- Monday 07 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1377B-1R to -5R were retrieved with 30% average recovery. The first core recovered 1.09 m of predominantly soft, pelagic foraminiferal ooze containing well-preserved Pliocene to recent foraminifers. About 30 cm of basaltic conglomerate covered by a ferromanganese crust was found at the bottom of the core. The conglomerate is cemented by a white limestone matrix that contains planktonic and larger benthic foraminifers. Cores U1377B-3R to -5R contain moderately altered aphyric volcanic...
298
Daily Report 57 -- Sunday 06 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1377A-3R to -6R (15.1 to 53.3 mbsf) were retrieved with 22% recovery and comprise a variety of igneous lithologies. Core U1377A-3R recovered 1.4 m of relatively altered igneous rocks that could represent a dike based on the occurrence of subvertical vesicle bands but no contacts were recovered. Preliminary results of the shipboard ICP-spectrometer indicate a more evolved, silica-rich composition for this unit. Deeper in the hole is a succession of moderately ol-phyric and aphyric pillow...
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Daily Report 56 -- Saturday 05 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Hole U1377A was spudded in the early afternoon. Core U1377A-1R (0-6.1 mbsf) contained only a few cm of foraminifera ooze with abundant recent nannofossils and pumiceous volcanic glass fragments in the core catcher. Core U1377A-2R (6.1-15.1 mbsf) retrieved 14 cm of bioturbated offshore micritic limestone with ferromanganese encrustations. The material contains abundant planktonic foraminifers but the investigation is still ongoing. Sampling for personal, post-expedition research was conducted...
296
Daily Report 55 -- Friday 04 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
The scientists spent today’s transit day to catch up with thin section description and report writing. The series of U1376 Site Meetings was continued with presentations by the Igneous Petrology, Alteration Petrology, and Structural Geology lab groups.
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Daily Report 54 -- Thursday 03 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Hole U1376A was successfully logged from 181.1 mbsf up to the pipe (set at ~80 mbsf) with three tool strings: the Triple Combo (natural gamma radiation, density, porosity and resistivity), the third party borehole magnetometer (magnetic field), and the Formation MicroScanner (electrical images of the borehole wall). After completion, the drill string was recovered and the vessel left for the last Site U1377 in the late evening. The scientific party is busy preparing site reports and lab group...
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Daily Report 53 -- Wednesday 02 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1376A-20R to -23R (148.1-182.8 mbsf) were retrieved with 73% recovery. The succession continues downhole with heterolithic breccia in a hyaloclastic matrix. Both matrix and clasts are highly olivine-phyric with up to cm-size olivine crystals of variable preservation stage (fresh to altered). As in the cores above, fresh volcanic glass is abundant and can be found both in the matrix and in some of the clasts. In the lower part of Core U1376A-22R another aphyric dike was encountered that...
293
Daily Report 52 -- Tuesday 01 February 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1376A-13R to -19R (101.2 to 148.1 mbsf) were retrieved with 63% recovery. With Core U1376-13R we reached the base of the unusually thick (33 m) highly olivine-augite-phyric lava flow and continued drilling into at mixed succession of hyaloclastic breccia and clasts, a smaller olivine-phyric lava flow (2 m thick) and aphyric, sub-vertical sheet intrusions (dikes). Since this material is relatively soft, compared to the massive flow above, the penetration rate increased to 2.9 m/hr. Vast...
292
Daily Report 51 -- Monday 31 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
After a successful (open hole) re-entry into U1376A in the early morning, coring of the massive, highly olivine-augite-phyric lava flow continued today with Cores U1376A-11R and -12R (86.8 to 101.2 mbsf). Drilling has now advanced 28 m into this single unit with an excellent recovery of 90% but with an extremely slow penetration rate of ~1m/hr. At noon, the U1375 Site Meeting was conducted with joint presentations from the Sedimentology, Paleontology, Igneous Petrology, Alteration Petrology and...
291
Daily Report 50 -- Sunday 30 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1376A-8R to -10R (67.0 to 86.8 mbsf) were received with 90% recovery. The high recovery is particularly incredible since most of the cored interval is composed of massive fresh igneous rock. Core U1376A-8R recovered more of the fragmented moderately olivine- and pyroxene-phyric lava breccia within a hyaloclastite matrix. The breccia transitions downhole into a massive (>14 m thick) lava flow comprising the lower half of Core U1376A-8R and continuing throughout Core -10R. The rock is...
290
Daily Report 49 -- Saturday 29 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1376A-5R to -7R (38.2 - 67.0 mbsf) were retrieved with 88% recovery. The upper part of Core U1376A-5R records the transition from the bright white limestone to the volcanic basement; the algae reef grows on top of a ~3 m thick conglomerate formed by rounded basaltic clasts of various size within a fine-grained matrix that shows several erosional surfaces. The conglomerate lies on top of a mixed succession of hyaloclastite breccia and vesicular lava units that continues into Core...
289
Daily Report 48 -- Friday 28 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1376A-2R to -4R (9.5-38.2 mbsf) were cored with 66% recovery. Layered, sandy volcanic breccia dominates Core U1376A-2R. Core U1376A-3R shows a sharp transition from brown-beige bioturbated volcanic tuff in the upper core sections to dazzling white limestone in Section U1376A-3R-4 (corresponding to 23.4 mbsf). The limestone continues downhole in Core U1376A-4R. First investigations revealed that the limestone was not formed by corals but by reef-building algae. Minor components are...
288
Daily Report 47 -- Thursday 27 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Although the TV survey of the seafloor at new Site U1376 found no soft sediment cover, Hole U1376A was successfully spudded into hard ground in mid morning. Core U1376A-1R (0-9.5 mbsf) retrieved an interesting succession of sedimentary rocks with 85% recovery. The material is described as cemented volcaniclastic breccia and volcaniclastic sandstone. Four prominent 1-2 cm thick manganese layers and two yellow, several cm thick altered and bioturbated volcanic ash layers can be found in the...
287
Daily Report 46 -- Wednesday 26 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
The second attempt to start a proper hole at Site U1375 was unsuccessful. Hole U1375B had be abandoned after just 8.5 meter of advancement when it became clear that the uppermost part of the formation was not stable enough for drilling. However, Core U1375B-1R (0-8.5 mbsf) recovered 0.57 cm of relatively fresh micro-gabbro; a term that was chosen to reflect its coarser mineral grain size. The rock is olivine-augite-phyric and contains abundant plagioclase needles in the groundmass. Since...
286
Daily Report 45 -- Tuesday 25 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
The vessel arrived at the new site in the early morning and Hole U1375A was spudded on a flat, sandy seafloor plane in the early afternoon. Core U1357A-1R (0-8.5 mbsf) recovered only 2 cm of loose sand in the core catcher. The material is described as sandy, foraminiferal ooze containing abundant Pleistocene to Holocene planktonic foraminifers and nannofossils. Unfortunately the uppermost part of the hole was not stable enough to continue coring, therefore coring was cut short and Core...
285
Daily Report 44 -- Monday 24 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
While the ship is steaming towards our next drill site the lab groups are catching up with thin section observations and physical and chemical analysis for the lowermost cores from Hole U1374A. The first lab groups submitted their site reports for U1374 and the co-chiefs and expedition manager are busy reviewing them. Before noon, sampling for personal, post-expedition research continued from Cores U1374A-38R through -49R.
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Daily Report 43 -- Sunday 23 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Despite all efforts the stuck pipe could not be worked free. Therefore the lower end of the drill string (bottom hole assembly) was severed in the early afternoon. After the remaining drill string was recovered and the vessel secured, we started our 322 nmi long transit to next Site U1375 (Prospectus Primary Site LOUI-2B). Today the last U1374 cores got samples for shipboard studies and the series of U1374 site meetings was opened with presentations by the sedimentology and...
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Daily Report 42 -- Saturday 22 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
The extensive downhole logging program in Hole U1374A is completed. The Formation Micro Scanner (acquires high-resolution electrical images of the borehole wall and its structures) was run two times, the Ultrasonic Borehole Imager (provides acoustic amplitude images with 100% borehole wall coverage) acquired high-resolution data from 5 main sections of the hole and the downhole magnetometer was run a second time to complement the data set from yesterdays first run of the instrument....
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Daily Report 41 -- Friday 21 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
The extensive downhole logging program in Hole U1374A is completed. The Formation Micro Scanner (acquires high-resolution electrical images of the borehole wall and its structures) was run two times, the Ultrasonic Borehole Imager (provides acoustic amplitude images with 100% borehole wall coverage) acquired high-resolution data from 5 main sections of the hole and the downhole magnetometer was run a second time to complement the data set from yesterdays first run of the instrument....
279
Daily Report 40 -- Thursday 20 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
By mid morning the second attempt to log Hole U1374A had to be abandoned. Even a shorter version of the tool string was not able to advance further then a few meters into open hole. Since downhole logging (including running the third-party borehole magnetometer) is considered very important for this particular deep site, it was decided to make a third and final attempt. The entire drill string was retrieved and Hole U1374A was re-entered with a used C-4 drill bit. The hole was then washed...
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Daily Report 39 -- Wednesday 19 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
After a new drill string was assembled with a shorter bottom hole assembly and dedicated logging bit, Hole U1374A was successfully re-entered in the early morning. The following time was spent with preparing Hole U1374A for downhole logging and attempts to start the actual logging operations. Unfortunately, the first logging tool suite (Triple Combo) was not able to advance more then a few meters beyond the drill pipe due to formation blockage. In response, the blockage was cleared by...
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Daily Report 38 -- Tuesday 18 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
After 133.5 hours of bit rotation drilling in Hole U1347A terminated this morning. To everyone’s delight, Cores U1374A-71R, -72R and -73R (513.1-522.0 mbsf) retrieved predominantly lava flows (and only minor intervals of volcanoclastic breccia) with 81% recovery. Advancement for the last Core -73R had to be stopped after only 1 m (due to beginning bit failure) and retrieved 88 cm of basalt. Curiously, its recovery of 88% reflects exactly the overall recovery for this amazingly...
276
Daily Report 37 -- Monday 17 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Although the drill bit had accumulated 128 hours of rotation, Cores U1374A-65R to -70R (460.3 to 513.1 mbsf) were retrieved with continuing high penetration rate (3.1 m/hr) and sky-high recovery (93%). Whereas Cores U1374A-65R through -67R recovered the familiar brecciated material, Cores -68R, -69R, and -70R contained well-preserved volcanic units with >6 m, <1 m and ~5 m recovered thickness respectively. The recovered contacts between the volcanic units and the breccia indicate...
275
Daily Report 36 -- Sunday 16 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Although the drill bit has accumulated 110 hours of rotation, today’s penetration rate (3 m/hr) and recovery (93%) is still record-high. Cores U1374A-59R to -64R (402.8 - 460.3 mbsf) continue to deliver greenish-gray, relatively homogeneous breccia with intercalated lava flows. Whereas two smaller volcanic units are found in U1374A-59R, a massive flow (>7 m recovered) was found in U1374A-60R. The first sampling party for personal, post-expedition research of “hard rock” samples from...
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Daily Report 35 -- Saturday 15 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1347A-52R to -58R (335.9-402.8 mbsf) were retrieved with 86% recovery and 3.5 m/hr penetration rate and continued to deliver mainly volcaniclastic breccia. However, the character of the breccia has changed to greenish-gray, finer, and more homogenous material. In addition, the number and thickness of intercalated volcanic units increased; Cores U1347A-52R, -55R and - 58R contain thick lava flows (~4 m, ~3 m and ~1m recovered respectively). Although the bit has reached 93...
273
Daily Report 34 -- Friday 14 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Coring in Hole U1374A continues with record-breaking recovery; Cores U1374A-46R to -51R (278.3-335.9 mbsf) were retrieved with 97% recovery and a penetration rate of 3.0 m/hr. The lithology continues to be volcaniclastic breccia with occasionally intercalated possible lava flows. Thin section examinations reveal that a specific clast type contains large (> 1 cm) plagioclase (feldspar) crystals (e.g. found in Cores U1374AR-25 and -29), which contain numerous large melt inclusions.
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Daily Report 33 -- Thursday 13 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Deepening of Hole U1374A continued. Cores U1374A-41R to -45R (230.3 to 278.3 mbsf) were drilled with 2.9 m/hr and attained 92% recovery. We are still coring the unusual thick sequence (> 230 m) of mainly volcaniclastic breccia occasionally containing thin units of unbrecciated volcanic rocks. It can be debated if those units represent thin lava flows or larger clasts. A small sampling party for personal post-cruise research was conducted for unconsolidated (soft) sediments from the...
271
Daily Report 32 -- Wednesday 12 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1373A-34R to -40R (182.3-230.3 mbsf) were recovered with 71% recovery and continued to deliver variably altered volcaniclastic breccia with occasionally intercalated thin volcanic units (possible lava flows?). In the meantime, the biostratigraphic investigation of the thin limestone layer recovered at the top of Core U1374A-3R continued. By now we have compelling evidence both from nannofossil and foraminifer identifications that the limestone is of Late Cretaceous age. This...
270
Daily Report 31 -- Tuesday 11 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1374A-27R to -33R (140.0-182.3 mbsf) were retrieved with 91% recovery and continue to deliver variably altered volcaniclastic breccia. It is still unclear to what extend the breccia was transported and reworked before deposition. Some intervals appear autobrecciated (possible lava flow fragments) other intervals represent sedimentary interbeds (with bivalve fragments between volcanic clasts). Well-preserved clasts can be found next to completely altered material whereas other...
269
Daily Report 30 -- Monday 10 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1374A-24R and -25R (120.8 to 130.4 mbsf) were retrieved in the early morning hours with an amazing recovery of 105%. The necessity of the subsequently scheduled drill bit change provided a welcome opportunity for all lab groups to catch up with core descriptions and shipboard measurements. After the hole was successfully re-entered in the late afternoon, Core U1374-26R (130.4-135.2 mbsf) was retrieved in the late evening with 97% recovery. All three cores recovered more of the...
268
Daily Report 29 -- Sunday 09 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Today’s Cores U1374A-17R through -23R (87.2-120.8 mbsf) continued to recover volcaniclastic breccia with 86% recovery. So far, 12 lithologically different volcanic clast types have been identified. Occasionally (e.g. in Core U1374A-21R), large bioclasts, such as complete bivalve shells, are found, providing evidence that this material has been reworked under submarine conditions. Meanwhile, the shipboard investigation of the 10 cm thick fossil-rich limestone that was recovered in Core...
264
Daily Report 28 -- Saturday 08 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1374A-9R (43.8-48.6 mbsf), -10R (48.6-53.4 mbsf), -11R (53.4-58.4 mbsf), -12R (58.4-68.0 mbsf), -13R (68.0-72.8 mbsf), -14R (72.8-77.6 mbsf), -15R (77.6-84.6 mbsf) and -16R (84.6-87.2 mbsf) were retrieved with an average recovery of 84%. Almost the whole recovered sequence consists of reddish, highly to completely altered volcaniclastic breccia cemented by white calcite (and minor zeolite) that fills most of the voids. Some of the larger (>5 cm) clasts are possible pillow lava...
261
Daily Report 27 -- Friday 07 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Drilling in Hole U1374A progresses slowly (today’s average penetration rate= 1.1 m/hr) because the hole is not yet deep enough to apply effective weight on the drill bit. In return, Cores U1374A-5R (25.1-29.4 mbsf), U1374A-6R (29.4-34.2 mbsf), U1374A-7R (34.2-39.0 mbsf), and U1374A-8R (39.0-43.8 mbsf) were retrieved with an exceptional average recovery rate of 98%. A large variety of different lithologies were recovered starting with aphyric, massive basalt in Core U1374A-5R. The...
260
Daily Report 26 -- Thursday 06 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Today’s Cores U1374A-2R (9.6-14.4 mbsf), U1374A-3R (14.4-20.4 mbsf), and U1374A-4R (20.4-25.1 mbsf) were retrieved with recoveries of 91%, 54% and 76% respectively and record the transition from the thin sedimentary cover into the igneous basement of this seamount. Core U1374A-2R retrieved the same, light-brown cemented sandstone already seen at the bottom of previous Core U1374A-1R that was recovered the day before. In contrast to the unconsolidated, upper part of this succession,...
259
Daily Report 25 -- Wednesday 05 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
After re-entering into Hole U1373A failed, we moved to the new Alternate Site LOUI-6B located on the opposite site of this seamount. Hole U1374A was spudded in the evening. It is hoped that drilling at Site U1374 would sample a different set of lava flows (formed at a slightly different time) compared to the lavas recovered at Site U1373. This would add valuably new individual volcanic cooling units for improving the determination of the paleolatitude of the Louisville hotspot at the time...
258
Daily Report 24 -- Tuesday 04 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1373A-12R (56.0-60.7 mbsf) and -13R (60.7-65.7 mbsf) were retrieved with 61% and 88% recovery. The lithology continues with well-preserved, medium gray, aphyric basalt (lava flows). In contrast to the previous cores, the rocks are highly fractured and show a distinct magmatic foliation. At noon, the series of site summary meetings for previous Site U1372 were concluded by presentations from the Geochemistry and Paleomagnetic lab groups. The necessity of the scheduled drill bit...
255
Daily Report 23 -- Monday 03 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Today’s Cores U1373A-7R (32.7-37.4 mbsf), -8R (37.4-42.1 mbsf), -9R (42.1-46.5 mbsf), -10R (46.5-51.3 mbsf) and -11R (51.3-56.0 mbsf) were retrieved with excellent average recovery of 97%. Fluorescent microspheres for microbiologic contamination testing were deployed in Core U1373A-11R. The transition from predominantly clastic (conglomerate) sediment with minor lava units to “igneous basement” (predominantly lava flows) was identified at U1373A-7R-1, 121 cm corresponding to 33.9 mbsf. At...
254
Daily Report 22 -- Sunday 02 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
Drilling in hole U1373A slowly progressed (with 1 m/hr average penetration rate) but with increasing drilling depth more weight can be applied on the drill bit resulting in progressively faster penetration. Cores U1373A-2R (9.6-14.1 mbsf), -3R (14.1-18.6 mbsf), -4R (18.6-23.8 mbsf), -5R (23.8-28.0 mbsf) and -6R (28.0-32.7 mbsf) were retrieved with 53% average recovery. The cores show a succession of conglomerates and breccias with volcanic clasts up to boulder size. Nine different clast...
241
Daily Report 21 -- Saturday 01 January 2011 -- Daily Science Report
After the drillstring was deployed, the VIT camera revealed that the seafloor at the summit of this guyot is covered by boulders and outcrops of hard rock (lava flows?). Eventually a clear location was found and seafloor was tagged at 1458 meter below rig floor. Hole 1373A was spud at 07:00 hr but due to the hard formation the first core was not received until 20:10. Core U1373A-1R (0-9.6 mbsf) recovered a 2.86 m succession of carbonate-cemented, poorly sorted conglomerate, which contains...
240
Daily Report 20 -- Friday 31 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
After Site U1372 was abandoned the ship arrived at the new Site U1373 (approved alternate Site LOUI-6A) in the late afternoon. The first U1372 site meeting was held at noon and the Sedimentology and Paleontology lab groups presented the results of their shipboard investigations and analyses. Presentations from all other lab groups are about to follow in the next days. At midnight, the New Year was greeted by the traditional bell ringing ceremony on the ships bow.
239
Daily Report 19 -- Thursday 30 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
After it became clear that the drill pipe would remain stuck, the decision was made to sever the drill string at a depth of about 90 mbsf with an explosive load. Since this operation leaves only a short interval of open hole for logging, and any logging operations would be very risky after the formation got further weakened by the explosion; it was decided not to attempt any downhole logging at this site. A science meeting was held at noon to discuss the situation. The science party...
238
Daily Report 18 -- Wednesday 29 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
The retrieved material and percentage of recovery of today’s Cores U1372A-36R (223.4-228.2 mbsf), -37R (228.2-228.9 mbsf), and -38R (228.9-232.9 mbsf) of 5%, 129% and 85% respectively show the transition from the thick pile of hyaloclastites into lava flows again. To the delight of everyone; Core U1372A-37R retrieved the upper part and -38R the central part of a dense lava flow unit containing abundant olivine phenocrysts. Whereas the olivines in the upper part of the flow are completely...
237
Daily Report 17 -- Tuesday 28 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
After getting used to generally good to exceptional recovery in the upper 100 m of the igneous basement at this site, today’s Cores U1372A-26R (170.6-175.4 mbsf), -27R (175.4-180.2 mbsf), -28R (180.2-185.0 mbsf), -29R (185.0-189.8 mbsf), -30R (189.8-194.6 mbsf), -31R (194.6-204.2 mbsf), -32R (204.2-209.0 mbsf), -33R (209.0-213.8 mbsf), -34R (213.8-218.6 mbsf), and -35R (218.6-223.4 mbsf) were retrieved with fluctuating recovery between 19% and 115%. This is caused by the predominance of...
236
Daily Report 16 -- Monday 27 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1372A-21R (145.0-149.2 mbsf), -22R (149.2-156.2), -23R (156.2-161.0), -24R (161.0-165.8), and -25R (165.8-170.6) were retrieved with and average recovery of only 28%. The low recovery rate is most likely caused by the heterogeneous nature of the rocks containing both soft and hard intervals. The core catcher (device at the end of the core barrel that prevents the core from falling out) got jammed several times by individual hard clasts thereby preventing further material to enter....
235
Daily Report 15 -- Sunday 26 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1372A-19R (138.2-143.0 mbsf) and -20R (143.0-145.0 mbsf) retrieved brecciated igneous rocks with a recovery rate of 74% and 55% respectively. These cores are currently being described. After having penetrated 100 m of igneous rock, the paleomagnetic group has announced a positive interim evaluation: All measured rocks show a surprisingly low, drilling induced, magnetic overprint. This is believed to result (at least in part) from the exclusive use of non-magnetic core barrels...
234
Daily Report 14 -- Saturday 25 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1372A-13R (90.1-99.7 mbsf), -14R (99.7-109.3 mbsf), -15R (109.3-119.0 mbsf), -16R (119.0-128.7 mbsf), -17R (128.7-133.4 mbsf), and -18R (133.4-138.2 mbsf) were drilled with an average penetration rate of 2.4 m/hr and retrieved a volcanic lava succession with an average recovery rate of 50%. The recovered rocks are variable altered portions of amygdale lava flows including small intervals of brecciated material cemented by a highly altered, greenish matrix. Downhole, the recovered...
233
Daily Report 13 -- Friday 24 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1372A-9R (51.7-61.3 mbsf), -10R (61.3-70.9 mbsf), -11R (70.9-80.5 mbsf) and -12R (80.5-90.1 mbsf) were retrieved with an exceptional high average recovery rate of 76%. With the identification of the first “in situ” lava flow in Core U1372-8R, the top of the igneous basement is defined at 45.6 mbsf (just about 10 m shallower then expected based on seismic data). All subsequent cores U1372A-9R to -12R returned more lava flows and hence confirmed this interpretation. However, Core...
232
Daily Report 12 -- Thursday 23 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Cores U1372A-6R (23.5-32.8 mbsf), U1372A-7R (32.8-42.1 mbsf), and U1372A-8R (42.1-51.7 mbsf) recovered more of the colorful volcaniclastic, carbonate-cemented breccia with exceptional recovery rates of 50%, 79% and 89% respectively. The breccias include large intervals (boulder-size) of surprisingly well-preserved volcanic rock some of which contain abundant fresh olivine crystals. This discovery was greeted with great delight, as fresh olivine can be used for a range of petrological and...
231
Daily Report 11 -- Wednesday 22 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
After the pressure test for the new non-magnetic sinker bar was successfully completed in the morning hours (the unit did not leak), the drill string tagged seafloor at 1968.5 meters below rig floor. Hole U1372A was spudded at 08:50 hr and the first core of Exp. 330 was recovered shortly afterwards. In total, five cores (U1372A-1R to -5R) were retrieved before midnight. Whereas Core U1372A-1R retrieved only ~10 cm of unconsolidated sediment, Cores U1372A-2R (0.1-9.7 mbsf) and -3R (9.7-13....
230
Daily Report 10 -- Tuesday 21 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
After crossing the Kermadec Trench in the morning, the vessel arrived Site U1372 at 17:00 hr. A science meeting was held at noon to inform the science party about the upcoming operations and to sort out last details of shipboard sampling and core handling for soft sediments. The Operations Superintendent conducted a second rig floor tour for scientists on the midnight to noon shift. Co-chief Koppers gave a presentation of the expedition objectives to all interested members of the ships...
229
Daily Report 9 -- Monday 20 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
The science party continues to prepare for the arrival of the first core. Details of sampling for shipboard analyses were further refined including the integration of microbiology sampling into the core handling process. Geochemists and Paleomagnetists are testing their instruments including setting up the newly acquired XRF spot scanner that will be used for the first time on this expedition. All core description groups continue practicing the use of DESClogik and keep refining their...
228
Daily Report 8 -- Sunday 19 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Preparations for core processing and description continued. Most lab groups have submitted their first draft of the “Methods” chapter (explanatory notes) for the cruise reports. Co-Chief Scientists and Expedition Manager are busy reviewing them. Template set-up in the DESCLogik application for all four core-describing groups (sedimentology, petrology, alteration, structure) and for biostratigraphers is in an advanced state. A selection of core sections from Leg 197 (Emperors Seamounts)...
227
Daily Report 7 -- Saturday 18 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
The JOIDES Resolution departed Auckland at 08:00 and started its ~3.5 day voyage to the first drill site, the second northernmost seamount of the Louisville seamount chain. Science meetings and core description training resumed shortly after departure. The Curator and Expedition Project Manager conducted “core flow walk trough” tours for all scientists including a discussion of shipboard sampling strategies. Sedimentologists and Paleontologists learned to use the SampleMaster application...
226
Daily Report 6 -- Friday 17 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Lab teams composed of scientists and technical staff continue learning labs, instruments, and how to document the methods they want to apply. Core describers started practicing core description with the DESCLogik software application on selected cores from ODP Leg 197 (Emperors Seamounts), which are supposed to have a similar lithology as anticipated for Exp. 330. Last evening on land!
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Daily Report 5 -- Thursday 16 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
All scientists were introduced to the new data capture concept DESClogik. Subsequently, core-describing scientists split up into lab groups to further learn details of the new data capture applications. All other scientists started writing up the “Methods” chapter for the cruise report, met with their respective lab technicians, and were introduced to analytical instruments. Core describers started reviewing DESCLogik templates that are provided to capture descriptive data for the...
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Daily Report 3 -- Tuesday 14 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Chief Scientists, Staff Scientist and USIO personal continued crossing over with off-going USIO staff. Several VIP tours were conducted in cooperation with the Auckland Museum and the New Zealand IODP office. Exp. 330 scientists boarded the ship at 11:15 and started to explore their new home. Co-chief scientists gave a science talk at a VIP lunch function at Auckland Museum in the afternoon. Most members of the Exp. 330 science party also attended this event (organized by the New Zealand...
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Daily Report 2 -- Monday 13 December 2010 -- Daily Science Report
Expedition 330 Chief Scientists and USIO staff boarded the ship at 10:00 shortly after the arrival of the vessel. Crossover activities with outgoing USIO staff and scientists from previous Expedition 329 continued throughout the day. Chief Scientists discussed upcoming science meeting schedule with EPM. Arriving and off-going shipments were staged on the pier.
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