IODP Expedition 392
Agulhas Plateau Cretaceous Climate
Daily Science Report for 6 April 2022
Location: Cape Town Harbor, Anchorage #2
Science Update: We continued our anchorage in Cape Town Harbor. The pilot is expected to board between 1000 and 1100 h on 7 April and COVID Mitigation Protocols Established for Safe JR Operations (COPE) will resume at that time. Following a short transit to the berth and COVID-19 testing dockside, the science party will disembark at 1500 h.
The science party continued to finalize expedition reports and laboratory groups presented Site U1582 summaries.
Daily Science Report for 5 April 2022
Location:
- Underway to Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Town Harbor, Anchorage #2
Science Update: We completed 126 nmi of our sea passage to Cape Town, South Africa, and received clearance from the harbor to come into anchorage at 1730 h. The vessel arrived at Cape Town Harbor, Anchorage #2 at 2120 h and dropped anchor. The pilot is expected onboard at 0730 h on 7 April to move the vessel to a berth.
The science party continued to finalize expedition reports. Potential hosts gave presentations on potential second postcruise meeting locations and laboratory groups presented Site U1582 summaries.
Daily Science Report for 4 April 2022
Location: Underway to Cape Town, South Africa
Science Update: We continued our sea passage to Cape Town, South Africa, completing 192 nmi of the 414 nmi voyage. The speed of the vessel was reduced to 5–6 kt to allow time for clearance to be approved to take up position at Cape Town Anchorage #2.
The science party continued to finalize expedition reports.
Daily Science Report for 3 April 2022
Location:
- Hole U1582B (37°1.5003′S, 24°59.7114′E; water depth 3429.4 mbsl; proposed Site AP-07A)
- Underway for waiting on weather (midnight position 36°16.06′S, 22°49.37′E)
Science Update: Core U1582B-5R advanced from 51.1 to 55.6 mbsf and recovered 2.3 m (50%). With bad weather approaching, this was the final core of Hole U1582B. Pipe was tripped back to the vessel and the bit cleared the rig floor at 1250 h, ending Hold U1582B. The vessel switched to Cruise mode at 1236 h and the thrusters were raised and secure by 1249 h. We then began our sea passage to Cape Town, South Africa at 1250 h. By the end of the day 114 nmi of the 414 nmi voyage had been completed. The estimated arrival at Cape Town Anchorage #2 is 5 April.
Core U1582B-5R is composed primarily of plagioclase phyric basaltic pillow lava, most of which is highly altered. There is an interval of light greenish-gray limestone and a volcaniclastic interval in Section 5R-1.
Daily Science Report for 2 April 2022
Location: Hole U1582B (37°1.5003′S, 24°59.7114′E; water depth 3429.4 mbsl; proposed Site AP-07A)
Science Update: We continued to drill ahead with the center bit until a hard contact was encountered at 36.3 mbsf. The center bit was retrieved and coring began at approximately 0530 h. Cores U1582B-2R to 4R advanced from 36.3 to 51.1 mbsf and recovered 7.8 m (53%).
Cores U1582B-2R to 4R are composed primarily of plagioclase phyric basaltic pillow lava, some of which is highly altered. Several intervals of pale yellow and light greenish-gray limestone are present, and there is a small volcaniclastic interval in Section 4R-2. The cores are Coniacian in age.
Daily Science Report for 1 April 2022
Location:
- Underway for waiting on weather (midnight position 36°57.507′S, 22°13.437′E)
- Hole U1582B (37°1.5001′S, 24°59.7113′E; water depth 3429.4 mbsl; proposed Site AP-07A)
Science Update: We continued to transit back to Site U1582, arriving at 1230 h. The thrusters were lowered and the vessel switched to DP mode at 1245 h, ending our wait on weather. The vessel was offset 10 m to the east of Hole U1582A and a new C-7 bit and BHA were made up. Pipe was tripped to the seafloor and Hole U1582B was spudded at 2315 h. We began drilling without recovery over the interval of Hole U1581A, reaching 18.4 mbsf before the end of the day. The science party continued to work on reports and prepare for the end of the expedition.