Submarine Drilling, Brothers Volcano: How & Why

Submarine Drilling, Brothers Volcano: how & why - and then a bit about the Pink & White Terraces.

Guest speaker at Rotorua U3A’s forum on Wednesday June 19th will be Dr Cornel de Ronde, New Zealand’s world-leading expert on undersea volcanic activity and mineral deposition and currently a principal scientist and research geologist with GNS Science.

We’ll hear him talk about his recent exploration of the Brothers Volcano in the Kermadec volcanic ridge.

Roughly the size of Ruapehu, the Brothers Volcano is located some 400km north-east of White Island and more than 1km below the surface where it is spewing large amounts of volcanic gases and superheated sea water into the ocean, building hundreds of spectacular black smoker chimneys rich in gold, copper and zinc and creating extreme environments where unusual life forms thrive.

Dr de Ronde was co-chief scientist on the US deep-sea drilling research ship the JOIDES Resolution which in May/June last year drilled a series of holes into the volcano to discover among other things how mineral deposits such as copper and gold are formed.

After this presentation Cornel will answer questions regarding his involvement in the search to locate the Pink & White terraces – as highlighted in the Beneath New Zealand documentary, screening Prime, 8.30pm, Sunday June 9, 130 years since the eruption of Mt Tarawera.

Doors open at 9.30am when light refreshments are served. Visitors welcome: gold coin koha please.