[S-CG46] Hard-Rock Drilling Science: From Continental to Deep Sea Drilling, and Oman Project

[SCG46-04] IODP drilling at the Godzilla Megamullion under the 2050 Science Framework

*Yasuhiko Ohara^1,2,3, Katsuyoshi Michibayashi³, Henry JB Dick⁴, Jonathan E Snow⁵, Yumiko Harigane⁶, Alessio Sanfilippo⁷ (1.Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department of Japan, 2.Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology , 3.Nagoya University, 4.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 5.Louisiana State University, 6.Geological Survey of Japan, 7.University of Pavia)

Keywords:Godzilla Megamullion, IODP, 2050 Science Framework

The Godzilla Megamullion is the largest oceanic core complex on Earth, located in an extinct spreading center of the Parece Vela Basin in the Philippine Sea, where substantial exposed lower crust and mantle is exposed in an area of 125 km × 55 km. The Godzilla Megamullion is unique in its gigantic size as well as its development in a backarc basin, a rare tectonic window to study backarc basin lithosphere.

Being with the presence of rich datasets of site survey and published scientific work, the IODP proposal to drill the Godzilla Megamullion (IODP 941-Full2) has received a high evaluation under the current IODP Science Plan 2013-2023. However, it is now clear that drilling the Godzilla Megamullion will not be possible by the end of the current IODP scheme (i.e., September 30, 2024), since it is decided that the D/V JOIDES Resolution will stay in the Atlantic Ocean until the end of the current IODP scheme, and any drilling in the Pacific Ocean is to be done under the succeeding new IODP scheme.

In this contribution, we will summarize the current status of the proposal, and discuss how we modify it to meet the strategic objectives as well as flagship initiatives of the new IODP science plan, 2050 Science Framework: Exploring Earth by Scientific Ocean Drilling.