UNESCO World Heritage site Surtsey Island is a new landmass
created by volcanic activity. The
isolated island is located off the south coast of Iceland and has been
carefully protected as a globally-recognized environment ideal for
investigating processes of rift zone volcanism, hydrothermal alteration and
biological colonization of basaltic tephra, and development of industrial
resources using palagonitic tuff as a prototype for sustainable, high
performance concretes.
In 2016, DOSECC was the core drilling company retained as part
of the SUSTAIN drilling program (Surtsey Underwater volcanic System for
Thermophiles, Alteration processes and INnovative concretes) to drill two cored
holes while protecting the sensitive wildlife and vegetative habitats of the
Surtsey Natural Reserve. A clean, 200-meter-deep vertical hole with anodized
aluminum casing was used to explore pore water chemistry, microbiota-water-
rock interactions, and seawater compositional modifications over time.
After drilling is complete, a Surtsey Subsurface Observatory
will be installed in this hole for long term monitoring and in situ
experiments. A 300-meter- long angle hole with steel casing inclined west
toward the eastern volcanic vent axis will intersect dike intrusions, provide
additional information on deep stratigraphy and structure, and investigate
higher temperature zones of the hydrothermal system. Read more about this project at http://dosecc.com/
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