posted on 2023-05-21, 12:29authored byJackson, MD, Gudmundsson, MT, Weisenberger, TB, Michael Rhodes, J, Stefansson, A, Kleine, BI, Lippert, PC, Marquardt, JM, Reynolds, HI, Kuck, J, Marteinsson, VT, Vannier, P, Bach, W, Barich, A, Bergsten, P, Bryce, JG, Cappelletti, P, Couper, S, Fahnestock, MF, Gorny, CF, Grimaldi, C, Groh, M, Gudmundsson, A, Gunnlaugsson, AT, Hamlin, C, Hognadottir, T, Jonasson, K, Jonsson, SS, Jorgensen, SL, Klonowski, AM, Marshall, B, Massey, E, Jocelyn McPhieJocelyn McPhie, Moore, JG, O'lafsson, ES, Onstad, SL, Perez, V, Prause, S, Snorrason, SP, Turke, A, White, JDL, Zimanowski, B
The 2017 Surtsey Underwater volcanic System for Thermophiles, Alteration processes and INnovative concretes (SUSTAIN) drilling project at Surtsey volcano, sponsored in part by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), provides precise observations of the hydrothermal, geochemical, geomagnetic, and microbiological changes that have occurred in basaltic tephra and minor intrusions since explosive and effusive eruptions produced the oceanic island in 1963-1967. Two vertically cored boreholes, to 152 and 192 m below the surface, were drilled using filtered, UV-sterilized seawater circulating fluid to minimize microbial contamination. These cores parallel a 181 m core drilled in 1979. Introductory investigations indicate changes in material properties and whole-rock compositions over the past 38 years. A Surtsey subsurface observatory installed to 181 m in one vertical borehole holds incubation experiments that monitor in situ mineralogical and microbial alteration processes at 25-124 Celsius degree. A third cored borehole, inclined 55degree in a 264degree azimuthal direction to 354 m measured depth, provides further insights into eruption processes, including the presence of a diatreme that extends at least 100 m into the seafloor beneath the Surtur crater. The SUSTAIN project provides the first time-lapse drilling record into a very young oceanic basaltic volcano over a range of temperatures, 25-141 Celsius degree from 1979 to 2017, and subaerial and submarine hydrothermal fluid compositions. Rigorous procedures undertaken during the drilling operation protected the sensitive environment of the Surtsey Natural Preserve.
History
Publication title
Scientific Drilling
Volume
25
Pagination
35-46
ISSN
1816-8957
Department/School
School of Natural Sciences
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Place of publication
Germany
Rights statement
Copyright 2019 The Authors Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/