The new and improved box dredge did find and collect many fossilized corals! Laura and Rhian (with lots of help from the marine technicians) were excited to have made the box dredge work so well for collecting fossil corals.
The fossilized corals were a great reason for a hug between Laura and Rhian.
Photo By: Dann Blackwood
These fossilized corals were darker in color.
The fossilized corals had to be all laid out to dry.
The success of the new box dredge motivated Laura and Rhian to attempt 2 more dredges a little further along the Shackleton Fracture Zone. After that, it was decided to begin our transit to a couple of small seamounts about 20 hours to our northwest.
We are now into the single digits until getting back to port in Punta Arenas, Chile. I am really missing my loving family and friends in Austin, TX and my wonderful students, so I am looking forward to seeing them soon.