New Goal
They had lost the race to the moon, but his team had the chance to win a different kind of marathon.
It was one that would break not only world records, but scientific realities. However, their frantic dig beneath their feet would reveal something entirely unexpected – something that would have to be sealed away immediately.
Small But Important
To most people, a 9-inch-wide hole in the ground was nothing special, but to Dmitry Ivanova it was a thrilling glimpse into history.
It was a chance to find the miraculous or answer even a few of the many mysteries of the Earth – at least that’s how he felt about their special boreholes.
To The Mantle
Dmitry had called the Pechengsky District on the Russia’s Peninsula of Kola his home for decades.
He had moved there to be part of the scientific team that was trying to reach the Earth’s crust before anyone else. Being part of the upper echelon of researchers, there was a palatable air of determination to see it through.
Start Big, End Small
It wasn’t just their team that was special.
The project was taking an entirely different approach than other attempts around the world. Some used the ocean to circumvent some of the depth while others coupled their efforts with oil drilling. Kola, however, started with a pitch black, gaping cavity – one that gave their team their own set of infuriating problems.
Huge Setback
From the main cavity, they drilled smaller boreholes to try and get past 40,000 feet.
Dmitry thought they were making progress – they all thought that. But when the drill twisted and broke off in their deepest hole, he felt crushing, demoralizing failure. It meant there were two horrible realities to face.
Starting Over
First, they would have to start again through another one of the shorter boreholes.
Secondly, it was going to cost way more money ... and this would debilitate them for a couple years. It would take a toll on everyone involved. But Dmitry wouldn’t let them give up. He had to know what was waiting for them at the crust.
New World Record
It took years, and he watched his youthful face turned wrinkled with the unrelenting march of age and the unavoidable stress of the task.
Granted, they had already beat out the Oklahoma Lone Star Producing Company’s record, but he still felt like they were in a sprint for their lives. Everything rested on their current borehole “SG-3.”
Over 20 Years
The prediction was by 1993 they would reach the necessary depth.
Dmitry felt like a kid counting down to a long-awaited Christmas. They inched towards 49,000 feet. He sat glued to their screens and equipment, waiting for the moment they went from granite to basalt. But then something unexpected happened.
Wrong Readings
Their measurements from seismic waves must have been wrong.
So had his predictions about the environment at that depth. They burst pas the US record, but there was no basalt only granite. However, it was the number 356 that worried him the most. He had a feeling it would be the end of their entire project.
Burning Finale
The prediction was the temperature would be much lower, but new 80-degree difference demolished their entire array of equipment.
It was just too hot. There was nothing in the world at the time that would let them go further. He and his team go the dreaded phone call they had fought years to avoid.
End Of It All
The government was officially shutting them down ... and sealing the hole.
It was like being an explorer all your life then being told to turn your ship around and go home. There were at least a few things that made the realization more bearable.
Amazing Accomplishment
They had indeed accomplished not only their depth-goal, but they had done it before the Americans.
He had also learned the minerals had looked different because of the higher temperatures. Mother Nature had fooled them quite good. But that wasn’t all.
Ancient Fossils
Four miles down, they had discovered marine plant fossils that were in remarkable condition.
Considering how far under the earth they had been encased, it was a reasonable estimate they were over two billion years old. Then there was the discovery of water.
H2O Discovery
Pressure at that depth forced oxygen and hydrogen atoms out of the rock.
Because it couldn’t go anywhere, the small trickles of water had slowly amassed into impressive super clusters of water that could rival entire seas.
Next Generation
Dmitry packed up his things with a mixture of pride and sadness.
It had been a bittersweet endeavor. He had learned things and found a renewed wonder and humility for the planet. He hoped he would be able to see if their steps allowed others to go further. He still wanted to know what else was down there.