The Lab Roof Deck is the uppermost deck of the Lab Area, and this is where the Core Cutting Area is connected to the Drill Floor via a catwalk. Here is where the scientists first meet core samples retrieved from below the seafloor. A 9.5 m long core is the “standard” core length, although actual measured recovery can be longer. Each core is then cut into 1.5 m long sections, and samples taken for gas analysis . Because the core might have hazardous gases (e.g. H2S), cores are vented and tested while drilling personnel use special breathing apparatus, the “cascade system”, which is available on the ship.

After the cores are cut into 1.5 m sections, and entered into the laboratory data management system, they are transported to the Core Processing Deck, one deck below by elevator. This deck is designed primarily for physical properties measurements, whole core sampling, visual core description, and microbiological sampling.

First, the core sections are scanned with an X-ray CT scanner to observe details of the internal structure. Next, the cores are logged with physical property sensors such as density, magnetic susceptibility, etc. Short whole-round cores are cut for specific analyses, such as interstitial water analysis, microbiological studies, stress analysis, etc.

After all “whole-round core handling” has been completed, the cores are split into “archive” and “working” halves in the Core Splitting Room. The archive halves are used for “non-desctructive measurements” such as visual core description, image scanning, paleo magnetic measurements, etc and are preserved as is for future research. On the other hand, “destructive measurements” such as density measurement, chemical analysis, thin section making, etc are carried out on working halves. Personal samples for post-cruise studies are also taken from the working halves.

The Lab Street Deck, located two decks downstairs from the Core Cutting Area, is designed mainly for chemical analyses and microscope observation. Here are located the Sample Preparation Room, Geochemistry Lab, Thin Section Room, and X-ray Diffraction Room. Samples are squeezed under high pressure to extract interstitial water, or milled/powdered, etc., in the Sample Preparation Room, and then chemical composition analyzed in the Geochemistry Lab (concentration of anions, cations, trace elements in interstitial water, carbonate contents in powdered samples, etc.) and/or X-ray Diffraction Room (mineral composition, major elements, etc.).

The lowest deck is the Lab Management Deck. Here are are spaces for data analysis, report writing, and meetings. Work spaces, a library, and a Data Integration Center, provided with a large desk for paper printouts, a conference room, a lounge for science party, and the co-Chief Office can all be found here.