MARSSAM has a wax-tipped rock corer (aka wax corer), donated by MBARI, that can be used to obtain volcanic glass samples from fresh lava substrate. The corer uses gravity to smash into fresh lava flows, wherein the cups — filled with wax — retain shards of glass and rock debris. A small hole is placed in the wax to retain any thin layers of overlying sediment as well. The method results in rapid sampling of the seafloor, often a factor of three times faster than dredging.

We also support the operation of the WHOI-MISO rock corer. The corer is similar to the MBARI model but has a slightly smaller deck print.

Along with the rock corer we provide consumables (e.g. wax) and some processing equipment (e.g. crockpot to heat wax).

The MBARI corer is currently at sea and images will be uploaded shortly.