Drilling is proceeding at two sites: BARB1 - Komatiites and basalts of the Tjakastad region and site BARB2 - Buck Reef Chert Site BARB1 Komatiites and basalts of the Tjakastad region. BARB1-1, the first hole, was initially drilled to a depth of 122.37m through the tumulus unit and overlying komatiite flows and hyaloclastites and terminating in a dolerite dyke. After preliminary logging the core was shipped to Wits University in Johannesburg. BARB1-2 was drilled from 19th July to 11th August to a final depth of 431.47m. The core intersected a series of komatiite flows, some with olivine spinifex, overlain by komatiitic basalts and terminating in a hyaloclastite unit. The komatiitic basalts were pillowed or massive, and some thick units are differentiated into pyroxene spinifex upper portions and lower pyroxene or olivine cumulates. Interstitial zones between pillows are filled with calcite and some minor sulfides. The original plan at hole BARB1-2 was to drill to 600m, but due to the metamorphosed nature of the extracted material, more specifically a probable lack of fresh olivine and other magmatic mineral, we decided to terminate at 431.47m. The rig was moved back to BARB1-1 with the objective of intersecting at depth a thick komatiite flow that contains fresh olivine at the surface. We anticipate to deepen this hole to a final depth of approximately 318m Surveying to determine the exact alignment and dip of hole BARB1-2 was completed on Thursday. The core from hole BARB1-2 was transported back to Johannesburg. Site BARB2- Buck Reef Chert. On Monday 8th August the rig was in position on a platform that was made for us specifically for this purpose into the hillside by a civil contractor who works for York Timbers. Axel and I walked along the hillside above the drill section together with PhD and undergraduate students from Berlin and Johannesburg to inspect what we expect to intersect at depth. Drilling could not start until Tuesday when the casing was inserted due to problems in setting up the water supply (snow, freezing conditions and solid water). Contractors were busy at the beginning of the week laying a pipeline from a spring, several hundred metres away at the base of Buck Ridge, up to the drill site with four petrol pumps conected in series along the pipeline. A sump was dug and operations were temporarily delayed due to technical problems and a leaking water container. The first core from hole BARB 2.1 was extracted on Wednesday and by Friday drilling had reached approximately 45m into the ultramafic intrusion at the top of the section. Initial logging shows this intrusion to be internally homogeneous and heavily serpentinized. On Friday morning we had a visit from Dr Shoichi Kiyokawa of Kyushu University Japan along with his PhD student. We visited the drilling site and walked the section in outcrop up the hill. We expect to intersect the first chert in this hole at the beginning of next week. Internet access is not possible in the mountains at this site and has delayed reporting our progress until now. (Progress Report: 8-13 August Paul Mason, Utrecht University and the drilling team of the Barberton ICDP project.)