Weather: Calm - Flat Calm
Location: Nun Rock
Food: Gammon + Bread Pudding for desert!!!
BGS CHRISTMAS - ROCKING AROUND THE NUN BANK!!!
Hello!!
A big shout out to the more observant readers of my blog - well spotted it wasn't that obvious - was it? Anyway, today finds us at Nun Rock - which is a rock formation only a few meters below the surface.
We have been deploying the rock drill for a good 24hrs now and the results have been very very good. The rock cores brought back by the drill have been fabulous and it has been performing magnificently - they’ve even named it Johnny after an English rugby star (ehh?? Who's that then) who bounced back after injury - I think they've jinxed it. Anyway, my duties for the last 24hrs have been ensuring that the rig is tracked on the seabed using the USBL as well as a hundred or so minor jobs. Starting to feel a bit tired now and I think I'm coming down with the flu!!! Booo!!! Anyway here are some images from the last 36hrs
SIGN THE GUESTBOOK IF YOU HAVN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob and Julia Examining the first real good rock core
Beautiful Core!!
Malachite in one of the cores
| Malachite is a carbonate mineral, copper(II) carbonate hydroxide Cu2CO3(OH)2. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. Individual crystals are rare, but do occur as slender to acicular prisms. Pseudomorphs after more tabular or blocky azurite crystals also occur.
Malachite often results from weathering of copper ores and is often found together with azurite (Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2), goethite, and calcite. Except for the vibrant green colour, the properties of malachite are very similar to those of azurite and aggregates of the two minerals together are frequently found, although malachite is more common than azurite. Typically associated with copper deposits associated with limestones, the source of the carbonate.
The stone's name derives (via Latin and French) from Greek molochitis, "mallow-green stone", from molochē, variant of malachē, "mallow". Malachite was used as a mineral pigment in green paints from antiquity until about 1800. The pigment is moderately lightfast, very sensitive to acids and varying in colour. The natural form was being replaced by its synthetic form, verditer amongst other synthetic greens. It is also used for decorative purposes, such as in the Malachite Room in the Hermitage which features a huge malachite vase. "The Tazza", one of the largest pieces of malachite in North America and a gift from Tsar Nicholas II, stands as the focal point in the center of the room of Linda Hall Library.
Large quantities of malachite have been mined in the Urals. It is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Tsumeb, Namibia; Ural mountains, Russia; Mexico; Broken Hill, New South Wales; England; Lyon; and in the Southwestern United States especially in Arizona at Bisbee and Morenci.
In Israel, malachite is extensively mined at Timna, often called King Solomon's Mines. Archeological evidence indicates that the mineral has been mined and smelted at the site for over 3,000 years. Most of Timna's current production is also smelted, but the finest pieces are worked into silver jewelry.
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Julia gets a close look at one of the rocks
Bob is all smiles as he examines the core
Julia and Bob start a full examination and write up of the core
Bob shows one of the cores
Julia cleans the core whilst bob arranges the fragments at the end of the core
Julia photographs the core to document every inch if it
MORE SHOTS OF THE CORES
RANDOM PICS
Dan goes mad!!!!
Big bird does an impression of Dan
SOMEONE AT BGS HAS A LOT OF WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM - VIBRO CORE SAMPLES IN THE COLD ROOM!!!!! |
