Project Details
Projekt
SEIZE - SEismic imaging of the Ivrea ZonE
Applicants
Dr. Klaus Bauer; Dr. Christian Haberland; Professorin Dr. Charlotte Krawczyk; Dr. Trond Ryberg; Professor Dr. Michael Weber
Subject Area
Palaeontology
Geophysics
Geophysics
Term
since 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 437719147
SEIZE is the active seismics part of the ICDP-proposal DIVE (Drilling the IvreaVerbano ZonE) submitted to ICDP in January 2018; led by Othmar Müntener, U. of Lausanne, Switzerland (Co-PIs: Mattia Pistone – Lausanne, Luca Ziberna – Bayreuth, György Hetényi – Lausanne, Alberto Zanetti – Pavia). The Ivrea-Verbano Zone (IVZ) in the Italian Alps is one of the most complete and studied, time integrated archetype of continental crust–upper mantle section on Earth. Moreover, it provides the best natural laboratory to significantly advance our understanding of the continental lower crust and crust–mantle transition zone by a combination of geoscientific approaches and scientific drilling. At a workshop in May 2017 an international team of 31 investigators proposed a comprehensive Drilling program in the Ivrea Verbano ZonE (DIVE). Drilling two, 1km deep holes, and a 4-km deep hole in the IVZ will provide an unrivalled opportunity to link geophysical and geological data via core observations, downhole logging, microbiological sampling, hydrological studies, and various geophysical-geological surveys around the borehole area. The IVZ is unique in that several geophysical observables indicate near sub-surface (as shallow as 3 km) presence of high density, high seismic velocity rocks, commonly known as the “Bird’s Head”. Recent discoveries illustrate that the IVZ is a precious archive of trans-crustal continental magmatism documenting lower crustal processes of magma emplacement, crystallisation and crustal assimilation, and of the development of near surface magmatism including evidence for protracted super-eruptions during the Permian. Drilling will address long-standing questions on the nature of the continental lower crust and the crust–mantle transition, potential connections to the geophysical Ivrea body, the construction and organisation of a deep crustal magmatic systems, and a complete characterisation of physical and chemical rock properties and fabrics, the relation of permeability to weathering, alteration and fluid characterisation. Together with studies on the extent and diversity of the subsurface biosphere, these studies will contribute to advance our understanding of microbial ecosystems and its limits in various crystalline bedrocks. With SEIZE we aim within DIVE at delineating depth, extent and shape of the IVZ and the so-called “Bird’s-Head” at the Balmuccia site in Val Sesia, Italy. DIVE was rejected by ICDP on 13th June 2018 with the following request before resubmission: “ICDP would like to see for the Balmuccia site a section with good seismic data plus superimposed geological model(s) and tentative drill path”. SEIZE is addressing this request.
DFG Programme
Infrastructure Priority Programmes
International Connection
Switzerland
Cooperation Partners
Professor György Heteny; Professor Dr. Othmar Müntener
