A deep research drill hole at the summit of an active volcano, Kilauea, Hawaii

Charles J. Zablocki; Robert I. Tilling; D. W. Peterson; Robert L. Christiansen; George V. Keller; John C. Murray

doi:10.1029/gl001i007p00323

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A deep research drill hole at the summit of an active volcano, Kilauea, Hawaii

Charles J. Zablocki·Robert I. Tilling·D. W. Peterson·Robert L. Christiansen·George V. Keller·John C. Murray

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Abstract

Drilling and geophysical logging data for a 1,262 m‐deep bore hole in the area inferred to overlie the magma reservoir of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, support earlier interpretations based on surface geophysical surveys that a zone of brackish or saline water lies above the reservoir. Temperatures encountered within the hole are not sufficiently high to warrant commercial interest; the maximum temperature, 137°C, is at the hole bottom. However, the temperature gradient toward the bottom of the hole (approximately 160 m below sea level) increases sharply to about 370°C/km, perhaps partly reflecting the effect of decreased water circulation as suggested by the geophysical logging data. If this gradient persists or increases with depth, magmatic temperatures would be attained within 3 km from the hole bottom (i.e., approximately 4 km from ground surface)—a depth in accord with data from ground‐deformation and seismic studies.

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Geophysical Research Letters Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 19.272257982982804° to 19.663280219987662° latitude; -155.37139892578125° to -155.1228332519531° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Charles J. Zablocki, Robert I. Tilling, D. W. Peterson, Robert L. Christiansen, George V. Keller, John C. Murray. 2012-12-07. A deep research drill hole at the summit of an active volcano, Kilauea, Hawaii. https://doi.org/10.1029/gl001i007p00323

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