USGS scientists led a box coring effort to the Samoa Basin, in order to characterize minerals and the surrounding abyssal sediments and fauna. Thirty-eight box cores were deployed between April 13, 2026 and April 28, 2026. Thirty-six box cores recovered some amount of sediment material, with 36 recovering sufficient material to determine nodule density, and 35 recovering sufficient material for subcores to be collected for further analysis.

 

USGS personnel directed the sampling locations and took custody of the box cores once recovered shipboard. USGS personnel then photographed and described the cores, subsampled, conducted analyses including wet weights and time sensitive measurements, and preserved subsamples and additional components for future work. This report is an expedition summary with preliminary datasets; remaining data releases and publications will be forthcoming.