213 N almost complete lack of understanding of the formation of WwW atolls before the Pacific tests were initiated, - There was an that the geologists in the group were convinced, and in-sorme aw discussion as to how the atolls were formed, of the lectures on the HAVEN that were held under Dr. Warren's I recall or thick, wow Supervision, they told us that the coral was about 180 feet This was so because during the formtion of the coral can only grow in the upper layers of water. 10 would just be a little cap. i as to the possibility of blowing this cap off the top of the 12 mountain that the coral waa superimposed upon, atolls the water had receded to about that level and so the So there And there Gere many discussions ’ These discussion went round and round, Dr, Warren, 14 _ you recall, during the voyage of the HAVEN out. to the test 15 ground and we listened very intimately and in subsequent 16 expeditions out there it was possible to drill in the atolis 17 to see how thick the coral might be. 18 particularily, the drilling was geared to go down as much’as 19 possibly 1000 feet into the base. 20 assembled group would go out to drill we would asx them how 21 they were coming. 22 be striking base rock the next day," In the 1947 expedition, But each morning when the "When you're down to 100 feet you ought to 23 "Yes," 24 "Then we'll be able to tell how old it is. You'll 25 be able to tell how old it is because geology is an exact 26 science," 27 28 FREMONT-SMITH: life of facts are getting shorter and shorter, 29 DONALDSON: 30 FPREMONT-~SMITH: 31 32 33 You remember I mentioned the half- Yes, I'm glad to have it illustrated, Go to it! DONALDSCN: The next day they may be down 200 feet, 350 feet, 400 feet, 500 feet, 900 feet and they ve TesGPaE feite DOBIUCLA /