We aimed to understand how serpentinization affects habitability within the subsurface, by establishing a subsurface “observatory” in an actively serpentinizing body, and conducting an initial suite of integrated characterization.  Specific sub-objectives were to:

1. Establish a suite of dedicated boreholes in an actively serpentinizing body, and instrument those boreholes to allow for frequent monitoring of the parameters affecting habitability.
2. Characterize the mineralogy and geochemistry accompanying active serpentinization in situ, with particular emphasis on constraining the processes that may impact habitability most directly (e.g., provision of geochemical energy sources, alteration of fluid chemistry in ways supportive or detrimental to life).
3. Evaluate how the geochemical environment may support (or not) photosynthesis-independent subsurface life, placing particular emphasis on energy availability, challenges posed by highly alkaline or otherwise toxic conditions, and availability of carbon and micronutrients.
4. Characterize, at a basic level, any microbial communities that may be present in the cored materials, in the associated groundwater, or that may develop within the borehole during the monitoring period.