Drilling active hydrothermal systems is vital to understanding the genesis of massive sulfide deposits and associated ores in ancient marine sequences. This knowledge is necessary to create a new science base for mineral exploration on the continents. These types of deposits probably formed at convergent continental margins, rather than at mid-ocean ridges. Many represent multi-billion dollar resources. ODP will drill below both focused and diffuse outflow zones, into a likely seawater inflow, and will also drill a reference hole.
Plans call for one hole to be CORKed as a geochemical observatory.
The leg also requires microbiologists to study the deep biosphere.