Chapter 402: Soil with distinct layers

Looking at the text on the helmet AR display, Andrew quickly reached out and operated the drilling machine.

The next moment, driven by the motor, the drilling rod gradually withdrew from the ground composed of thick gravel.

With the cooperation of the two, the drilling rod was laid on the yellow sand.

Then, Andrew carefully pressed a button.

The sample in the drilling rod poured out from it, forming a one-meter-long, layered "color ribbon" on the ground.

It was exactly the same as Andrew's speculation.

The first 60cm of the sample was composed of countless fine sand and gravel and a little soil.

Under the action of 1.9g gravity, a large amount of sand and gravel combined with scarce soil and fit together tightly.

The color of the sand and gravel, from light to dark, gradually transitioned from yellow to reddish brown.

The reddish brown part was naturally the hematite they found earlier.

However, strangely, the reddish brown only occupied a part of the area.

As the depth increased, the color of the sand and gravel returned to its original yellow.

After discovering this phenomenon, Hong Fan quickly squatted down, took out the measuring tool from the backpack behind him, and made a simple measurement.

Judging by the naked eye, the yellow area is composed of ordinary sand and gravel, mainly distributed at 0-11cm and 44-61cm underground.

The reddish-brown area contains a large amount of hematite, mainly distributed at 11-44cm underground.

Moreover, within this range, the content of hematite will gradually increase with the increase of depth.

Once it exceeds 44cm, the content of hematite will drop sharply and disappear quickly within 2cm, leaving only ordinary sand and gravel.

After exceeding 61cm, there is no soil and fine sand and gravel in the drilling rod, only yellow hard stone.

The depth continues to increase.

More than 80cm.

Some silver-white substances with metallic luster appeared in the stone.

As the depth increases, the content of silver-white substances increases significantly.

After a simple test, Hong Fan determined the composition of the silver-white substance.

Iron element.

Without any hesitation, Hong Fan directly sent all the collected information to [Earth].

"Prepare to use a two-meter drilling rod."

Hong Fan greeted Andrew, then reached out and grabbed the drilling rod on the ground, ready to start assembling.

Suddenly, a slight electric current sound came from the communication equipment.

"Hello, hello? Can you hear me?"

"Hong Fan, can you hear me?"

It was Fang Xu's voice.

A trace of surprise flashed in Hong Fan's eyes, and he stopped the work in his hands and quickly switched the communication channel.

"Academician Fang, I can hear you."

"Hong Fan, we have already seen the uploaded drilling results. Now..." Fang Xu paused, "Let Academician Feng Yuanliang tell you."

"Comrade Hong Fan, hello, I am Feng Yuanliang." A strange voice came from the communication channel, "The main research direction is cosmic mineral resources."

Hong Fan was stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly greeted him in a respectful tone: "Hello, Academician Feng."

Feng Yuanliang said directly: "At the critical moment, I will not say polite words."

"Next, you need to change the area to conduct drilling and sampling again."

"The drilling depth is still one meter."

Hong Fan nodded, without asking any more questions, directly grabbed the drilling rod on the ground, waved to Andrew, and walked towards the next sampling point.

...

[Earth], in the biological laboratory.

"Next, we need to recompile the relevant genes of Magna."

Lv Yongchang's voice was a little tired: "This aspect of the work is relatively simple, but a little tedious."

"Academicians with experience in the development of longevity enzymes, please signal, and this task will be handed over to you."

"I need to take a short break."

Mao Zhengzhi nodded gently to show his understanding: "Professor, I will call you after I finish this work."

Lv Yongchang briefly explained the precautions in gene compilation and prepared to turn around and leave.

"Professor Lu!" Suddenly, a burst of excited cheers came from a distance. A researcher ran to Lu Yongchang with a red face and said hurriedly, "Professor, it's successful! We succeeded!"

"What?" Lu Yongchang had not recovered from his work for a while, and asked in a daze, "What's successful?"

"We successfully implanted the first gene in E. coli!"

The researcher explained excitedly: "According to the data of Proxima civilization, the main function of this gene is to strengthen Magna's heart muscle."

The fatigue in Lu Yongchang's eyes disappeared instantly. He stretched out his hand and rubbed his stiff face vigorously, and asked with spirit: "Have you detected the production of corresponding hormones?"

The researchers nodded repeatedly: "It has been found."

"But it has not been purified yet, and no biological experiments have been conducted, so it is not clear whether its function meets our needs."

Lu Yongchang turned his head to look at Mao Zhengzhi and winked at him.

Then, he raised his hand and waved to Mao Zhengzhi: "Let's go and take a look."

"If possible, let's do the first set of experiments now."

Mao Zhengzhi heard this and smiled bitterly: "Professor..."

"Didn't you say you wanted to rest?"

Lv Yongchang shrugged: "Rest?"

"Isn't this a rest?"

Mao Zhengzhi: "..."

...

Dawn Star.

The distance between sampling point No. 2 and sampling point No. 1 is fifty meters.

With their first drilling experience, Andrew and Hong Fan became more and more proficient in their operations.

With the cooperation of the two, the second tube of samples soon appeared in front of everyone.

Looking at the sample that was almost the same as the first tube, Feng Yuanliang's excited voice came from the communication device: "Hong Fan, measure the corresponding data!"

Hong Fan quickly squatted down, took out the tools and started measuring.

"The yellow areas are 0-9cm and 3 respectively."

"Red zone."

While measuring, he reported one piece of data on the public communication channel: "57-79cm, most of them are ordinary rocks. After 79cm, the content of elemental iron increases rapidly."

There was silence in the communication channel for a moment.

"call……"

Feng Yuanliang took a few deep breaths, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "The number of samples is currently insufficient, so continue to explore at different points."

"Next, we need to observe the sampling results of other ore prospectors."

"You can just upload the relevant data directly."

Hong Fan nodded, subconsciously stood up and put his hand on the rock wall beside him.

Su Su Su Su...

A fine puff of dust fell from the rock wall.

This scene was completely recorded by the camera Hong Fan carried.