Hi there! This is Tessa and Larkin, reporting in from aboard the JOIDES Resolution. In preparation for our next livestream event with you (when we will tour the ship's onboard laboratory), we want to share the story behind each of the precious cores collected during this expedition. It isn’t as easy as simply digging a hole and taking home the sediment collected. There are many steps from start to finish.
First, the scientist has to find the location they want to collect cores from. In our case, the scientist had seismic evidence and samples from a previous expedition of the area in 1986 that showed it contained an intact mantle, which is one of the features we are interested in. The chief scientists write a proposal explaining why drilling should happen in the area, and what research could be done based on the samples found in the sea. The goal of any International Ocean Discovery Program expedition is to make sure every little bit of the seafloor samples can be used or shared by various scientists.
After submitting their proposal, several different groups review it, including an environmental protection team and a marine mammal protection team. They both review to ensure the crew, the ship, and the area remain safe while drilling.
