Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/Z000378/1
International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 396 Moratorium Award
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr R Williams, University of Hull, Geology
- Grant held at:
- University of Hull, Geology
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Carbon Capture & Storage
- Palaeoenvironments
- Tectonic Processes
- Volcanic Processes
- Abstract:
- International Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 396 targeted the continental margin off the coast of Norway. This margin, between the Atlantic Ocean and the European Continent, formed during continental break up and the formation of the Atlantic Ocean in the early Cenozoic. The margin is made up of a series of basaltic lava flows, dipping seaward from the continent margin. Expedition 396 drilled through these sequences collecting rock samples intended to understand how volcanic rifted margins form, their role in rapid global warming and how these rock sequences could be used today as sites of carbon capture and storage. This project proposes to undertake two research projects using samples and data collected during Expedition 396. 1 - Petro-Physical Volcanology of Basaltic Lavas. Basaltic volcanic successions are increasingly prospective targets for permanent geological CO2 sequestration, including in the near-offshore. Norway is already a leader in geological CO2 storage and has the potential to develop vast new storage volumes in the Voring Margin that was one of the sites visited in IODP Expedition 396. A secondary research theme of the expedition is to assess the geological conditions, including the nature of the potential host lithologies. This is achieved by combining shipboard lithological logging, detailed volcanological and textural analysis of cores (this work), and modelling of petrophysical borehole data, to produce a multi-scalar petrophysical reservoir model. This project will complete detailed lithological and textural analysis of 6 sub-samples of core collected from a range of lithofacies within a single pile of basaltic lavas at Site U1571A. The range of lithofacies encompasses the full spread of vesicularity and mineral infilling encountered in the succession, and represents the full-range of physical properties expected within any single lava unit. Each core has been X-ray scanned at high resolution and digitally reconstructed by computed tomography (CT). Image analysis of digital 3D reconstructions and petrographic analyses of corresponding traditional thin sections, define several textural and petrophysical parameters: vesicle size distributions, vesicle shape factors, total porosity, pore connectivity, permeability, etc. Analysis also identifies and characterises microfractures within cores that are otherwise undocumented. Combined analysis of vesicles and microfractures at these small scales constrains the range of porosities and permeabilities in each lithofacies and calibrates the necessarily coarser resolution borehole scans that image whole successions. 2. - Physical Volcanology of Crystal-Rich Dacitic Hyaloclastite. Unexpectedly, an unusual dacite interval was cored at Site U1570. It occurs as a ~10 m-thick sequence of of course-grained, glassy tephra between much thicker sequences of very fine-grained, Eocene marine sedimentary rocks. The dacite is notable for containing an abundant assemblage of atypical crystals: cordierite, garnet, graphite, and addition to more typical plagioclase and hornblende. Where sampled, the margins of the dacite are peperitic and textural observations suggest that the larger, crystal-rich clasts are hyaloclastite. These glassy clasts are separated from one another by a matrix of fine ash. Furthermore, cordierite and garnet crystals are weakly disaggregated but maintain their overall morphology and fine ash has infiltrated into the crystals. The presence of intergranular and intracrystalline ash, and the partial disaggregation but not total destruction of crystals likely indicates in situ (i.e. syn- or post-emplacement) explosivity and fragmentation. This project will use petrographic thin sections and CT reconstructions of core X-ray scans to analyse the distribution of glass and tephra, and the disaggregation of crystals, to determine emplacement conditions and palaeo-seafloor depth to aid paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/Z000378/1
- Grant Stage:
- Awaiting Authorisation
- Scheme:
- Directed (RP) - NR1
- Grant Status:
- Approved
- Programme:
- UK IODP Phase4
This grant award has a total value of £12,297
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DI - Staff | DA - Estate Costs | DA - Other Directly Allocated | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £3,623 | £503 | £4,644 | £1,223 | £73 | £2,230 |
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