IODP Expedition 364: Chicxulub Impact Crater

A Joint IODP-ICDP Mission Specific Platform Expedition

Organised by the

ECORD Science Operator (ESO)

       Applications are invited from scientists in countries participating in IODP to join the Science Party for IODP Expedition 364: Chicxulub Impact Crater. Any scientists from IODP countries who feel that their expertise is relevant to the objectives of the proposal may apply.

        The proposal upon which this expedition is based was submitted as IODP Proposal #548 ‘Chicxulub: Drilling the K-Pg Impact Crater’. The full proposal, as well as up-to-date expedition information, can be found on the Expedition 364 webpage http://www.eso.ecord.org/expeditions/364/364.php. This expedition is being jointly implemented by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP).

        The Co-chief Scientists for this Expedition are Prof. Joanna Morgan, Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, UK, and Prof. Sean Gulick, Institute for Geophysics, the University of Texas at Austin, USA.

        Background and objectives:

        IODP Expedition 364 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.

        Timing:

        It is anticipated that the offshore phase of the expedition will last up to 70 days in the period April to June 2016 (exact duration and dates to be confirmed), with only a subset of the Science Party participating. Offshore activities will focus on core recovery, curation, sampling for ephemeral properties including microbiological sampling, and downhole logging. The cores will not be split at sea.  Please see http://www.eso.ecord.org/expeditions/msp.php.

        Subsequently, an Onshore Science Party (OSP) will be held at the MARUM, University of Bremen, in Summer/Fall 2016 (exact dates to be confirmed), where the cores will be split. The OSP is expected to be up to 4 weeks long, the exact length dependent on core recovery. All members of the Science Party must attend for the whole duration of the Onshore Science Party. Please see http://www.eso.ecord.org/expeditions/osp.php.

        Successful applicants will be invited either as an offshore-onshore participant, or as an onshore-only participant.

        Expertise sought:

        While other expertise may be considered, specialists in the following fields are required: paleontology, sedimentology, microbiology, organic geochemistry, inorganic geochemistry, structural geology, impact petrology, metamorphic petrology, paleomagnetics, physical properties, geophysics and petrophysics/downhole logging.

        Information webinar

        To learn more about the scientific objectives of this expedition, life at sea, and how to apply to sail, please join us for a web-based seminar on Tuesday 21^st April 2015 at 2pm BST (9pm Beijing Time).

To participate in the webinar, you will need access to the internet with a computer equipped with a microphone and speaker. To register, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IODP364.

   How to apply:

         China-based scientists should apply through the IODP-China Office, applications need submit application form, English CV as well as post-cruise research proposal no later than Tuesday 12nd May 2015.

         For further details, please contact:

        Shouting Tuo, Science Coordinator, the IODP-China Office

        Tel.: +86-21-65982198, Fax: +86-21-65988808

        Email: iodp_china@tongji.edu.cn