Science & Technology

Team to drill down to the Earth's mantle

By T.K. Randall
October 3, 2012 ·  30 comments

Image Credit: CC 3.0 JAMSTEC The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program is set to delve deeper in to our planet's interior than ever before as researchers seek to answer long standing questions about the Earth and what lies within it. The mission would begin with the Japanese deep-sea drilling vessel, Chikyu, which would start drilling at the bottom of the ocean floor where the crust is at its thinnest.

Project co-leader Damon Teagle described the project as "the most challenging endeavor in the history of Earth science." If the plan goes ahead then drilling could begin before the end of the decade, however due to the limited lifespan of the drill bits it could take several years to actually reach the mantle.

Source: Business Insider | Comments (30)

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