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Abstract

Volcanoes fascinate both scientists and the general public alike. Their hazard risk, their capability to provide unique samples from depth, and their geothermal potential renders them important targets for scientific drilling. To date, a total of seven ICDP volcano drilling projects have been in operation or completed, while several others are in planning. Here we report on the Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project HSDP (USA), the Unzen Scientific Drilling Project USDP (Japan) and the Campi Flegrei Deep Drilling Project CFDDP (Italy). The primary objective of the HSDP was to improve our knowledge of the processes within mantle plumes feeding hotspot volcanoes such as Hawaii or Yellowstone. Noble gas isotope studies on olivine from drill core samples revealed important information on the evolution of the Hawaii plume in time and space. USDP has addressed fundamental scientific questions on the structure and growth history of the Unzen volcano and aimed to clarify the eruption mechanism. Online gas monitoring during drilling into the magma conduit has demonstrated that degassing and fluid circulation in the magma conduit are major factors governing the eruptions of Unzen. The substructure of the Campi Flegrei caldera is the target of CFDDP. This project aims to better understand volcanism associated with large calderas and to study the interaction between magmatic and geothermal systems as well as the role of fluids in the generation of seismic unrest, ground uplift and eruptions.