Operational report for the 2017 Surtsey Underwater volcanic System for Thermophiles, Alteration processes and INnovative concretes (SUSTAIN) drilling project at Surtsey Volcano, Iceland

A groundbreaking drilling project at Surtsey, Iceland, revealed unprecedented insights into the volcano's subsurface structure and thermal dynamics. The 2017 SUSTAIN project successfully drilled three boreholes, including a deep angled hole reaching 354 meters (~290 m vertical depth), traversing the volcano's conduit and intrusions. This provided the first detailed vertical profile of a young volcanic system, offering critical data on thermophiles, alteration processes, and innovative concrete applications in extreme environments. The project utilized advanced drilling techniques, including seawater-based drilling fluids and wireline logging, to maintain sterility and gather high-quality core samples. Over 650 meters of core were analyzed, contributing to our understanding of volcanic systems and their potential for geothermal energy and construction materials.

Weisenberger, T. B., Gudmundsson, M. T., Jackson, M. D., Gorny, C. F., Türke, A., Kleine, B. I., Marshall, B., Jørgensen, S. L., Marteinsson, V. T., Stefánsson, A., White, J. D. L., Barich, A., Bergsten, P., Bryce, J., Couper, S., Fahnestock, F., Franzson, H., Grimaldi, C., Groh, M., … Snorrason, S. P. (2019). Operational report for the 2017 Surtsey Underwater volcanic System for Thermophiles, Alteration processes and INnovative concretes (SUSTAIN) drilling project at Surtsey Volcano, Iceland. GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.2312/ICDP.5059.001