SUSTAIN drilling at Surtsey volcano, Iceland, tracks hydrothermal and microbiological interactions in basalt 50 years after eruption

The SUSTAIN drilling project at Surtsey, Iceland, provides unprecedented insights into the hydrothermal and microbiological changes occurring in basaltic tephra and minor intrusions over 50 years post-eruption. By analyzing two vertical boreholes (152 m and 192 m deep) and an inclined borehole (354 m measured depth), researchers tracked mineralogical, geochemical, and microbiological alterations from 1979 to 2017, revealing temperature-dependent processes ranging from 25–141 °C. The study also identified a diatreme extending at least 100 m beneath the Surtur crater, enhancing understanding of eruption dynamics. Rigorous drilling protocols ensured minimal environmental impact on this UNESCO-listed site.

Jackson, M. D., Gudmundsson, M. T., Weisenberger, T. B., Rhodes, J. M., Stefánsson, A., Kleine, B. I., Lippert, P. C., Marquardt, J. M., Reynolds, H. I., Kück, J., Marteinsson, V. T., Vannier, P., Bach, W., Barich, A., Bergsten, P., Bryce, J. G., Cappelletti, P., Couper, S., Fahnestock, M. F., et al. (2019). SUSTAIN drilling at Surtsey volcano, Iceland, tracks hydrothermal and microbiological interactions in basalt 50 years after eruption. Scientific Drilling, 25, 35–46. https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-25-35-2019