WHAT KINDS OF
TESTS WILL YOU RUN ON THE ROCK AND LAVA SAMPLES YOU COLLECT?
Asked by Jo Lines
Answered by R. J. Stern - Chief Scientist - COOK07MV
The lavas we collect are being given a first 'hand specimen' examination aboard ship and, on this basis, slabs of representative samples will be carried back to Oregon State University and The University of Texas at Dallas for further studies. These samples will first be studied with a microscope to determine the mineral constituents and the suitability of these samples for further studies.
A subset will be further studies using the electron microprobe which can determine the composition of minerals and glass. These lavas will also be pulverized to powder and analyzed for abundances of diagnostic elements and isotopic compositions.
This information will allow us to interpret how these melts formed and evolved, and what role the subducted crust and sediments played in forming these melts.
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