Standard Operating Procedure - Core Description
January 2018
The Core Description technician shares his/her duties between the Core Lab and Core Description. For details on the Core Lab duties, refer to the Core Lab SOP.
I. PRE EXPEDITION
- See General JRSO Shipboard Technical Staff SOP.
- New hires should be trained to use the software packages used in the core description work flow: DESClogik, LIME, Sample Master, Strater (eventually), LORE, LIVE, ImageCapture, SPOT, SEMUploader, and Thin Section Report Writer and Builder, and Value List Builder Excel Macro. The DESClogik training modules found in the "All things DESClogik" folder on IODP share server cover the majority of this information.
- New hires should also see the list of links to core description google sites at the end of this SOP. These sites contain workflows, value lists, component definitions, and many more, useful bits of information.
- Your main task will be generating expedition specific templates in DESClogik and training the science party on all the relevant software. DESClogik templates are usually as follows: A macroscopic template for core description, a microscopic template for smear slide (SS) and thin section (TS) descriptions, and paleontology specific templates for each discipline, e.g. plantonik forams.
II. PORT CALL - Start of an Expedition
- Work on expedition specific introduction presentation for the science party; coordinate with VCD introduction together with publication specialist.
- Read the prospectus and talk with the EPM about likely lithological materials expected. Use this formation information to select and export an Excel copy of one or two example templates from previous expeditions, with value lists, the . The description team can review and edit once you introduce DESClogik. Make sure the staff scientists has enough time set aside for core description training. It will take the science description team at least few days to get you a working document.
- Try to arrange DESClogik training after SampleMaster training.
- Check with PP technician if the VCD print on the SHIL works as intended.
- Check the SEM/sputterer/uploader and their supplies. Run test samples and take images.
- Obtain visual confirmation of the Smear Slide Atlas reference slides location (2 sets) from the off going description technician. These need to be kept in Description Computer's desk drawer, in the logging office.
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- Present DESClogik to the on-coming micropaleontologists, sedimentologists, petrologists, and structural geologists regarding data entry, uploading, retrieving and in the context of the VCDs, together with publication specialist. Present the work flow process. Explain any best practices and workarounds DESClogik may require. See V:\IODP_Share\ALL things DESClogik\Technician Guides and Quick Starts for cheat sheets.
- Ask the curator to set-up user accounts (individual accounts) and privileges, they may need to work with the developers. Make sure they work before your lab introduction and have the description team log into every account during and or after intro.
- To aid in communication, ask the MCs (IT people) to setup email distribution groups for the various teams according to their disciplines. Typically, there will be groups like paleontology, sedimentology, or structure on most sediment cruises. You may break up groups as you see fit by using the shipboard participant lists on the ship website. Include the Publication Specialist and yourself in these e-mail groups.
- Prepare core lab according to Core Lab SOP. This includes bringing out hand lenses, diluted HCl, aluminum core scrapers, clipboards, goniometers etc… Also, check to see that the description table lifts work properly.
- Run SEM and sputterer with test sample if you have not already.
- Hands-on training in Core description workflow hands-on training , including the SHIL and SHMSL, and SEM training for science party.
- Develop new templates for core describers. As applicable, use an analogous template from a previous expedition as the basis for a new template. Scientists may have suggestions for an appropriate similar expedition. This process should be a continuation of your port call activities. Have the scientists code their edits in green, yellow and red on the Excel sheets you give.
- Create an expedition specific template in LIVE that displays core images, lithology, and SHMSL data. Encourage its use for checking for gaps and overlaps.
- Implement changes requested by core describers and paleontologists into templates (incl. value list changes in Google docs, and template reconfigurations, etc.). If time permits, have description team practice describing play core together, and entering data into their DESClogik template under expedition TEST samples.
- Modify an existing smear slide log sheet/microscopic smear slide template to match each other as per scientist wishes. The microscopic template should match the SS Log fairly well. This template should be developed simultaneously, if time permits, with the macroscopic template. However, if you are pressed for time you can proritize the macroscopic template first, since samples are almost always logged on paper.
IV. DURING CORING OPERATIONS
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