For the past 2 weeks we have been drilling back and forth from basalt to rhyolite to seds .. Basalt was encountered @ 243.8 mbs .. February 11 - we hit a sand layer that was apparently overpressured or artesian as it pushed up into the drill rod when they pull up. Chris Delahunty says its similar to when DOSECC drilled sand off the New Jersey shore. Very slow progress. Finally got through it and was back into basalt .. February 16 - After 2 days of re-cementing the hole, we started making progress again at around 701.1 mbs .. Progress has been relatively slow compared to the same depth range at Kimama, but the core looks altered like it did at depth (1219.2-1524 mbs) at Kimama. These basalts underlie an outflow sheet of welded ash .. Flow tuff from the Twin Falls eruptive complex, so they must be at least 7 Ma in age .. February 18 - encountered a thick section of sediment below basalt. Lots of mudstone and some sands - interesting stuff .. February 20 - still slow going in a thick 30.5 m plus sediment layer that plugs up the core barrel. Spent the time reviewing previous core and found these spar calcite filled cavities around 315.5 m depth. Highly altered and mineralized basalt -- looks like basalt at 1524 m in Kimama drillhole .. February 22 - Back into Rhyolite!!! Breccia upper surface of welded ash flow tuff, strongly altered in places along fractures. With the onset of more competent rocks, drilling progress has increased significantly. Currently at 457.2 m depth.