JA Daily Science Report for Expedition 312, 09 December 2005

LOCATION: Site 1256

SCIENCE UPDATE: Cores 204R to 205R recovered 18 cm of moderately altered basalt from 1377.3 to 1386.9 mbsf representing an average recovery of 1.9% at 0.7 m/hr. A deplugger was dropped between Cores 204R and 205R to verify core barrel latching. Several of the pieces recovered in the last few cores lack wear marks from the bit. Thin section observations of rocks below ~Core 190R indicate high temperature recrystallization of primary clinopyroxene and plagioclase to aggregates of amphibole, plaioclase, and magnetite. This textural change in the rocks may be affecting recovery.