Continental Drilling to Examine Igneous Processes

1
Continental Drilling to Examine Igneous Processes

• Science Objectives
• Collaborations

• Facilities and Equipment
• Inform Public of Advances

2
Igneous Processes Science Objectives

• Active volcanic systems
• Life cycles
• Eruptions Hazards, prediction, monitoring
• Volatiles Magmatic and Meteoric
• Hydrothermal systems
• Volcanic structures
• Stratovolcanoes
• Shield volcanoes Large and small
• Calderas Arc, rift, plumes
• Flood basalts and Rift basins
• Volcano-pluton connections

3
Igneous Processes Science Objectives

• Geochemical evolution of Earth -- LIPS and Arcs
• Evolution of mantle
• Lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, deep
  mantle
• Evolution of continental crust
• Geodynamic evolution of Earth
• Continental breakup
• Plume dynamics
• Evolution of magmatic arcs
• Climate implications of very large eruptions
  (LIPS)
• Geobiology
• Ecosystem response and evolutionary implications
• Identify igneous processes that generate
  biologically important energy sources and
  ecosystems they support
• Origin and early evolution of life
• Depth/temperature limits of biosphere

4
Igneous Processes Science ObjectivesPlume-Lithos
phere Interaction-Continents

• Geochemical and Geodynamic Evolution of the Earth
• How is Continental Lithosphere Created-Destroyed?
• Replacement of SubContinental Lithosphere Mantle
• Mafic magma addition to crust
• Internal differentiation of crust
• Removing melts from lower crust
• Cannibalization of hydrothermally altered
  rhyolite
• Potential for lateral flow/delamination of lower
  crust
• Uplift and subsidence histories
• Regional climate changes
• Learn characteristics of young provinces to
  identify old ones - LIPS thru Time

5
Why Drill?

• Well preserved stratigraphic record
• Unexposed rock record
• Continuous record
• Less weathering
• Many active process in magmatic systems cant be
  observed at surface
• Creates an observatory for later monitoring

6
Igneous Processes Collaborations

• Ocean Drilling in tandem with continental
  provinces
• Other programs Margins, Earthscope, Deep Time,
  Climate

• Biologic systems
• Deep autotrophic systems
• Engineering
• Development of tools
• Industry
• Geothermal
• Mineral Energy Resources
• Carbon sequestration

7
Igneous Processes Practical Implications

• Geothermal energy
• Carbon sequestration in basaltic sequences
• Ore deposits
• Hydrothermal, magmatic
• Hazards
• Eruption, collapse, debris flows,
  hydromagmatic/hydrothermal explosions
• Definition of eruption history

8
Igneous Processes Facilities and Equipment

• Equipment and personnel
• DOSECC and ICDP
• Variety Drilling Rigs
• Core storage
• Curation
• Long term
• Data management
• Need New Model for Funding Sustained Drilling
  Efforts - like ocean science model

• Biological tools
• Tracers, sub-coring
• Fluid-sampling systems
• Drilling in active systems
• High temperatures
• Is hybrid coring system adequate?
• Logging and monitoring tools have T limitations
  (lt200C)

9
Science Objectives Outreach Education

• Need to Educate Public about Why this is
  Important
• Need to harness publics existing interest in
  volcanoes (e.g., super eruptions)
• Need to emphasize the role of Discovery in
  Science if we knew what we were doing it
  wouldnt be research