Blog research Cruise 2 – James Cook 138

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The research vessel RRS James Cook departed from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, England to attempt one of its most ambitious expeditions in its ten year history.  This expedition (JC138) will use new electromagnetic systems developed under Blue Mining partners GEOMAR and the University of Southampton to create a 3D image of the sub-surface structure.

 

 

  • 2016.08.17 – …the final Blog-post from the RRS James Cook

    We are finally on our way home. It’s a nine-day haul back to Falmouth, Cornwall, and the team is in good spirits.

    We have electrified the seafloor from every angle using our geophysical instruments, made some amazing dives with our little robotic sub HyBIS, and collected sediment cores from patches of thick metalliferous mud (Read more…)

  • 2016.08.10 – Loss of the OBEM at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge…

    Our past few days have been a mixture of great excitement, hope and loss. As the British saying goes, “worse things happen at sea”, and there is no doubt that we are definitely at sea. In fact, some of us are well into their 3rd month on Blue Mining ‘cruises’, at 26°N Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Read more…

  • 2016.08.04 – HyBIS

    The past two weeks have seen some excellent dives by the ROV HyBIS, assessing exploration targets identified by the previous Blue Mining cruise M127. HyBIS was able to sample across several mounds that proved to be eSMS deposits not previously known. Read more…

  • 2016.08.01 – The Sputnik

    We’ve now just passed the middle of the JC138 cruise (#Bluemining) with a total of 14 days left out of our 31 science days! We’ve managed to get data from a range of the equipment on board. Read more…

  • 2016.07.20 – Using the gravity cores

    We are now well into the Blue Mining cruise JC138 ‪#Bluemining‬‬‬‬‪ and we are all very busy. The HyBIS ROV managed to explore our first target site, a 200m diameter 50m high mound of sulphide ore. The hydrothermal activity is long dead and the mound is covered in white chalky grey sediment. Read more…

  • 2016.07.13 – Arrival at the TAG-area

    Five days after we left dry land we have arrived at the TAG area! 26° North on the mid-Atlantic ridge, the ocean is calm and the weather is blue skies and sunshine, a perfect start… Read more…

  • 2016.07.10 – Finding space in the on board lab

    After leaving Ponta Delgada, Azores, the Blue Mining team on cruise JC138 (#Bluemining) is now at full compliment. With the new arrivals comes a grab for every available Lab space. Did we bring too much gear? Certainly we have a lot of instruments and a very busy schedule. Read more…

  • 2016.07.07 – Arrival at Ponta Delgada

    We have developed robotic machines and new technologies to discover and drill beneath the seafloor for these mineral deposits. These machines include an electromagnetic imaging system called DASI which transmits high electrical currents though the seafloor. Read more…

     

  • 2016.07.03 – On our way to the Azores

    Onboard our research vessel RRS James Cook on our way to the Azores to pick-up the rest of our Blue Mining science team and technical crew.

    We are now in the Western European Basin and have taken the opportunity to stop for 24 hours to test our Deep Active Source Instrument (DASI) and Vulcan electromagnetic survey system…..Read more…

  • 2016.06.27 – Start of Research Cruise 2

    The research vessel RRS James Cook departs from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, England to attempt one of its most ambitious expeditions in its ten year history. Heading for the TAG area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (26°N), the EU-funded Blue Mining project (#BlueMining) will attempt image and drill the sub-surface of extinct hydrothermal massive sulphide deposits. Read more…