The crew getting ready to launch the first dredge
Today we started to map the Gololobov Bank; which rises to just 174 m below sea level at it’s shallowest point. It was discovered by the Russian fisheries research vessel "Chatyr-Dag" in 1981 and is named after the Russian hydrobiologist and explorer of the Indian ocean, Dr. Ya. K. Gololobov (1909-1980) . The Bank is part of the Mitin Ridge which is an example of a transverse ridge which runs parallel to the Discovery Transform Fault. Excitingly we discovered detachment faults on top of Gololobov Bank in the multi beam data and, as I write this update, we are dredging the side of the Bank. Soon we will have our first rocks on board; but what kind of rocks?? I’m predicting gabbro.
Intense concentration in the control room during the first dredge.
