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CHIKYU MAIL NEWS Vol. 78, December 4th 2007

This mail news service provides you with information
about the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and
science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration.

CHIKYU HAKKEN WEB SITE
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/
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IODP NanTroSEIZE Stage 1:
Expedition 315: NanTroSEIZE Megasplay Riser Pilot
Weekly Report #2
Date 30/Nov/2007
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/Expedition/NantroSEIZE/exp315_wr2.html

Continued coring at the Hole C0001F. After taking 2 cores by HPCS,
changed to ESCS and cored 19.0 m and took 2 cores (20X and 21X).
Because of bad core quality, quitted ESCS coring and abandoned
the hole. Spud a new hole (C0001G) for RCB coring on 25 Nov, jetted
down to 74.5 meters below the seafloor or mbsf, and started drilling.
Just after drilling, ROV umbilical cable jammed to the drill pipe.
Pulled-out-of-hole and recovered ROV safely. Spud a new RCB hole
(Hole H), 10 m west to the previous hole, jetted down to 74 mbsf and
restarted drilling on 26 Nov. Started RCB coring from 230.0 mbsf and
took 24 cores until 28 Nov. Concerning expected bad weather stopped
coring at 448.0 mbsf and set free fall funnel before wait-on-weather
on 29 Nov.

Drilled and cored 28.5 m in Hole C0001F, and 438.5 m in Hole C0001H,
respectively. Total 28 cores (2 HPCS, 2 ESCS and 24 RCB) were
taken and routinely described, measured and sampled by Science
Party. Routine measurement subjects are:
Whole-round (WR) sampling for interstitial water at Core Cutting Area,
CT-scan,
WR sampling for microbiology,
MSCL and thermal conductivity for WR core
(no thermal conductivity for RCB cores),
WR sampling for other purposes (geotechnical, structural),
Visual description,
Image scanning,
Colorimetry,
Magnetic property,
Moisture and density,
Shear strength (Vane shear / penetrometer),
XRD,
Microfossil age determination (nanno, foraminifer),
Sampling for element analyses  (total / inorganic C, N, S),
P-wave velocity and electric conductivity for discrete cubes (for RCB cores) 

In addition to the routine measurement described above,
non-routine chemical analyses (ICP-AES, XRF-CL) have started.
Two ESCS cores had relatively good recovery, however also had
terrible drilling disturbance. RCB cores taken from the overlapping
intervals to ESCS ones showed better qualities. Started systematic
personal sampling from split haves, which was originally planned
during riser hole casing operation. After the core liner burst last
week, all personnel working on core cutting operation wear face
shield in addition to normal Personal Protective Equipment.
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CHIKYU HAKKEN web site introduces you to every
aspect of the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and
science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration.
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an
international marine research drilling program dedicated
to advancing scientific understanding of the Earth by
monitoring and sampling sub seafloor environments.
IODP drilling operations aboard the Chikyu are managed by
JAMSTEC through CDEX, Japan Implementing Organization.
http://www.iodp.org

"CHIKYU HAKKEN" means Discover the Earth in Japanese.
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