Material and mechanical properties of young basalt in drill cores from the oceanic island of Surtsey, Iceland

Drill core samples from Surtsey, an oceanic island formed by eruptions between 1963 and 1967, reveal significant variability in the material and mechanical properties of young basalt deposits. These properties vary across subaerial, submarine, and subseafloor environments, with connected porosity ranging from 42% to 21%, permeability spanning six orders of magnitude, and uniaxial compressive strength varying between 10–70 MPa. Synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction analyses combined with geochemical data show that the initial alteration of fresh glass and incipient consolidation of a fine-ash matrix play crucial roles in modifying these properties. The study highlights how diverse cementing microstructures influence the physical characteristics of pyroclastic deposits, providing critical reference parameters for geophysical studies and understanding the stability and survival of oceanic islands over time.

Jackson, M. D., Heap, M. J., Vola, G., Ardit, M., Rhodes, J. M., Peterson, J. G., Tamura, N., & Gudmundsson, M. T. (2024). Material and mechanical properties of young basalt in drill cores from the oceanic island of Surtsey, Iceland. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 136(9-10), 3527–3552. https://doi.org/10.1130/b37037.1