3 weeks 1 day
To Boldly Go Where Three Other Expeditions Have Gone Before
Submitted by JR junior on Mon, 05/02/2011 - 15:21
The JOIDES Resolution is currently drilling in a hole that has already been drilled during three previous expeditions. The JR is not back again because we are running out of places to drill or because one of the scientists on the last expedition lost his keys in the hole, but because this expedition is breaking new ground (literally).
Most of the JR’s expeditions rarely drill holes deeper than 100 meters (about 328 feet). We have learned a great deal about the ocean floor and the Earth from the cores drilled from these holes. The ocean crust is much thicker than 100 meters, though. It averages about 7,000 meters (about 22,965 feet deep!). By drilling deeper, we can learn even more about the ocean crust. Because it was drilled three prior times, the Superfast hole is already over 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) deep, and by the end of this expedition, should be much deeper.
On this expedition, the JR will continue to bring up cores of rock never before seen by any human being (or any raccoon, for that matter). What will we learn from this expedition?
- What ocean crust is like when it was spread superfast.
- How much ocean crust is made by lava and how much is made by magma.
- What kind of rock types do you find as you drill closer to the Moho.
- How does the lower ocean crust heat up and cool down.
Superfast spreading? Moho? To find out what these and many other terms mean and why this expedition rules, stay tuned to the JR junior blog.