Priority: 1
Position: 47°53.25´N; 128°38.90´W
Water Depth: 2637 m
Sediment Thickness: 95 m
Total Penetration: 145 mbsf
Seismic Coverage: Line 95-15, SP 750 (Fig. 4, Appendix 1A)
Objectives: The Hydrothermal Transition site comprises a suite of four holes spanning a transition from open to sediment-sealed hydrothermal circulation. Holes are sited from 200 m to 20 km away from the nearest basement outcrop. Heat flow across the transect increases from about 15% to more than 80% of expected lithospheric values; upper basement temperatures increase from a few degrees to more than 40°C; hydrothermal fluid composition changes from normal to altered seawater; upper crustal seismic velocities increase from approximately 3.5 to more than 5.5 km/s. This site will intersect basement where seafloor heat flow is about 80% of the total expected from conductive lithospheric cooling and seismic velocity has increased to more than 5 km/s. Basement temperature is expected to be about 40°C. Together with Site HT-3A, this CORK site will permit determination of the lateral pressure gradient away from the region of outcropping basement.
Drilling Program: RCB only (two trips, both through reentry cone), with approximately 40 m of basement penetration. Casing will be set after initial RCB drilling reaches first competent basement.
Logging and Downhole: Approximately four temperature probe trips, packer/flowmeter testing, CORK installation
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Turbidite sediments; mostly altered basalt