Final operations at Cluster 6

Before leaving Cluster 6 for Cluster 5, a last Nautile dive and a dredge were made.

The aim of Stéphanie’s dive was to return to the little-active hydrothermal site (4°C) discovered during the second Nautile dive to better identify it, define its extent and take more samples.

Fluid samples were made with the PIF sampler, titanium bottles were filled and rocks were also collected. Measurements with the manganese and sulphide analyzer were also carried out. A large amount of clam shells, mussels and some dead gastropods are present on the site. Their presence indicates that at the time the site was active a large mollusc colony had developed.

The Pourquoi Pas ? is now heading towards Cluster 5, where we will make a one-day stop with two CTD deployments and a dredge.