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Scientists on the US vessel JOIDES Resolution have drilled around 1.2 Kms meters below the Atlantis Massif, surpassing the previous drilling depth of 201 meters.
- Mantle consisting of silicate rock makes up over 80% of Earth's volume is the mid layer of the earth (Refer infographic).
- Mantle rocks are usually inaccessible, except in areas of seafloor spreading, where Earth's tectonic plates slowly move apart. For example, the Atlantis Massif.
- Atlantis Massif is an underwater mountain near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Key highlights
- Programme: Drilling was done under International Ocean Discovery Program (India is a funding partner).
- Location: The drilling was done on the southern side of the Atlantis Massif, near the Lost City Hydrothermal Field.
- Sample recovered: The new rock sample contains over 70% rock.
- Significance:
- Samples helps us understand
- upper mantle's composition
- chemical reactions between these rock and seawater over a range of temperatures
- These processes might have played a role in the origin of life on Earth billions of years ago.
- Also, previous drilling was not deep enough to look for organisms such as heat-loving bacteria that might dwell farther down.
- Samples helps us understand
