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Drillers Break Into Magma Chamber
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by TFleming | December 17, 2008 at 11:13 am
497 views | 5 Recommendations | 5 comments
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Geologists and a team of drillers accidentally put a well right into a magma chamber on a Eastern section of Hawaii's big island. They were looking for a source of steam from underground water that could potentially power turbines on the surface. Instead they were faced with a unique situation, some even call it a " Geologists Dream", that would allow them to study directly how granites are made.
"This is unprecedented; this is the first time a magma has been found in its natural habitat," the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, professor told BBC News.
"Before, all we had to deal with were lava flows; but they are the end of a magma's life. They're lying there on the surface, they've de-gassed. It's not the natural habitat.
"It's the difference between looking at dinosaur bones in a museum and seeing a real, living dinosaur roaming out in the field."
Scientists were initally shocked by how shallow the magma pocket was sitting only 2.5 kms underground. They are not sure how large or old this pocket is but they are suggesting that it may date back to 1920 when there was activity in a near by volcanoe called Kilauea. At this point they are waiting for the magma to cool befor ethey can enter the well and us it as a labratory.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (5)
at 12:40 on December 17th, 2008
This is really exciting! I'm glad it didn't blow up in their faces or something...
at 13:11 on December 17th, 2008
Pretty cool viewing from the county viewing area...a bit like the fourth of july fireworks with lots of audience oohs and ahhs
mweston01 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 15:37 on December 17th, 2008
Volcanic gases rise from Kileauea Crater, Hawaii.
jade-rabbit has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:28 on December 17th, 2008
david_e_waldron has contributed a photo to this story.
at 23:55 on December 18th, 2008
Fascinating and unique opportunity to study this and yet letting it cool down would be more then advised.