Project Mohole

Project Mohole was an ambitious attempt to drill through the Earth's crust into the Mohorovičić discontinuity. It was led by the American Miscellaneous Society with funding from the National Science Foundation. Only the first phase was executed in spring 1961. Off the coast of Guadalupe, Mexico , a hole was drilled 183 m (601 ft) below the sea floor in 3,500 m (11,700 ft) of water. This was unprecedented: not in the hole's depth but because of the depth of the ocean.

This drilling technique required cutting-edge technology to keep the barge correctly positioned over the shaft. Project Mohole used a converted Navy barge called CUSS I launched in 1956. The core sample proved quite valuable, showing Miocene-era sediment with the lowest 13 m (44 ft) comprised of basalt.

Project Mohole was dissolved in 1966 due to poor management and cost overruns.

See also

• Ocean Drilling Program
• Deep Sea Drilling Program
• Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

External links

• NSF Ocean Drilling Program