2008 February 2 (Day 46)
Weather: Fine but Cloudy
Site: C0008 (NT2-10) (33°12’ N, 136°43’ E)

Coring continued to completion in C0008C, with good recovery using the HPCS piston coring system in slope basin mudstone with intercalated silt, sand, and ash. We reached refusal with the HPCS, and switched to ESCS, and collected one core. The quality of the core was ok for basic description but not suitable for collection of the gas, fluids, hydrates, or fine-scale materials that were of interest in the lower porting of Hole C0008C. It was determined that the scientific goals at this site had been complteed, and TD was reached. Following completing the scientific goals of the site, we tested a modified ESCS system, the "Punch," designed by core technician Jim Aumann with excellent results in terms of both quality and recovery.