Deep-Sea Sampling of Consolidated Material by Submersible

The five major types of deep-sea consolidated material-basalt, indurated sediments, ferromanganese crusts, polymetallic sulphides and phosphorites-cannot presently be adequately sailed by a submersible. The sampling techniques usually used on research submersibles are ramming, grabbing, or clubbing. Conceptual designs of five hydraulically driven samplers, two saws, two hydraulic rams and a rotary chisel are discussed. Such tools would allow moderately-sized samples of hard substrate to be taken, These samples would permit engineering tests, geochemical studies, stratigraphic and paleoceanographic investigations presently inhibited by inadequate sampling capability.