Design of Devices to Measure Thickness and to Acquire Engineering Test Samples of Cobalt Crust

A high priority need exists to obtain accurate continuous thickness measurements of cobalt-rich manganese crusts as well as actual samples of crust and substrate large enough to be useful for the measurement of geotechnical properties. To support this work, conceptual designs for two sampling devices have been developed: 1. Manganese Crust Continuous Thickness Survey System - measures crust thickness on a continuous basis along track lines along with associated microtopography. 2. Crust Substrate Large Scale Corer - acquires a large (.25m²) undisturbed sample of crust and substrate. Development and use of these devices should provide data of sufficient quality and quantity to provide a much better understanding of crust deposits.