Expedition Information
Theme
Chicxulub Impact Crater
Proposal #548-Full3(PDF)
Proposal #548-Add4(PDF)
Scientific Prospectus>>To be published
Expedition Schedule
Offshore phase: April-May 2016 (TBC)
Onshore Science Party (OSP): Summer/Fall 2016 (TBC)@Bremen
※OSP participation needed (some people need to participate in Offshore phase)
Drilling Vessel
Mission Specific Platform
Ports
TBC
Drilling sites
Scientific Objectives
IODP Expedition 364, based on IODP Proposal 548-Full3 and Addendum 548-Add4, will address several questions related to large impact crater formation on Earth and other planets, and the effects of large impacts on the Earth’s environment and ecology. The expedition target is the unique Chicxulub impact crater, Mexico, which is the only known terrestrial impact structure that has been directly linked to a mass extinction event (the K-Pg mass extinction). Of the three largest impact structures on Earth it is the best-preserved, and is the only terrestrial crater with a global ejecta layer. Additionally, it is the only known terrestrial impact structure with an unequivocal topographic “peak ring.”
This expedition aims to drill and core into the Chicxulub impact structure to recover cores from, and above, the peak ring. In doing so, the expedition aims to address several questions, including: 1) what rocks comprise a topographic peak ring and how are peak rings formed; 2) how are rocks weakened during large impacts to allow them to collapse and form relatively wide, flat craters; 3) what caused the environmental changes that led to a mass extinction and what insights arise from biologic recovery in the Paleogene; and 4) what effect does a large impact have on the deep subsurface biosphere and can impacts generate habitats for chemosynthetic life?
The expedition will drill and core a single 1500 m deep borehole at site about 30km northwest of Progreso, Mexico, on the Yucatan shelf, Gulf of Mexico.
Drilling Sites
Primary Site: Chicx-03A.
Objectives:
- Constrain the formational processes and lithology of peak ring;
- Investigate the deep biosphere;
- Investigate post-impact recovery;
- Sample the PETM.
Alternate Sites: .Chicx-02A and Chicx-04A.
Co-chiefs
Joanna Morgan and Sean Gulick
Science Party from J-DESC
TBD
Selection process by IO and Co-chiefs
Call for Application
Requested Science Field
- paleontology
- sedimentology
- microbiology
- organic geochemistry
- inorganic geochemistry
- structural geology
- impact petrology
- metamorphic petrology
- paleomagnetics
- physical properties
- geophysics
- petrophysics/downhole logging
- other related field
Deadline
Closed
Notes
Carricurum vitae written in English should be attached to your application. If you are students, recommendation letter from your supervisor is necessary. On board supervisor is also required for master students.