Time-lapse characterization of hydrothermal seawater and microbial interactions with basaltic tephra at Surtsey Volcano
A new International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) project will drill through the 50-year oldedifice of Surtsey Volcano, the youngest of the Vestmannaeyjar Islands along the south coast of Iceland,to perform interdisciplinary time-lapse investigations of hydrothermal and microbial interactions...
Published in: | Scientific Drilling |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus GmbH
2015
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-20-51-2015 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/105877 |
Summary: | A new International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) project will drill through the 50-year oldedifice of Surtsey Volcano, the youngest of the Vestmannaeyjar Islands along the south coast of Iceland,to perform interdisciplinary time-lapse investigations of hydrothermal and microbial interactions with basaltictephra. The volcano, created in 19631967 by submarine and subaerial basaltic eruptions, was first drilled in1979. In October 2014, a workshop funded by the ICDP convened 24 scientists from 10 countries for 3 and ahalf days on Heimaey Island to develop scientific objectives, site the drill holes, and organize logistical support.Representatives of the Surtsey Research Society and Environment Agency of Iceland also participated. Scientificthemes focus on further determinations of the structure and eruptive processes of the type locality of Surtseyanvolcanism, descriptions of changes in fluid geochemistry and microbial colonization of the subterrestrial depositssince drilling 35 years ago, and monitoring the evolution of hydrothermal and biological processes within thetephra deposits far into the future through the installation of a Surtsey subsurface observatory. The tephra depositsprovide a geologic analog for developing specialty concretes with pyroclastic rock and evaluating their long-termperformance under diverse hydrothermal conditions. Abstracts of research projects are posted at http://surtsey.icdp-online.org. |
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