Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer images a steep slope during Dive 06 of the 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration expedition. Over the course of the dive, geological features observed included foliated mudstone scarps, heavily eroded mudstone fragments, and many areas with mudstone rock fall. Some areas on the rock interface contained vertical fractures, likely due to the strong tilt of the steep slope.
Mudstone
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration. Download larger version (jpg, 445 KB).

Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer images a steep slope during Dive 06 of the 2023 Shakedown + EXPRESS West Coast Exploration expedition. Over the course of the dive, geological features observed included foliated mudstone scarps, heavily eroded mudstone fragments, and many areas with mudstone rock fall. Some areas on the rock interface contained vertical fractures, likely due to the strong tilt of the steep slope.