The Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) project proposes to drill into the magma front in the Krafla Caldera in Northern Iceland. Through previous drillings (e.g., IDDP-1) it is known that rhyolitic magma of about 900 °C exists at only 2.1 – 2.5 km depth. Within the project it is intended to sample the magma-rock interface, which is characterized by high-enthalpy aqueous fluids, a transition from brittle to ductile rock, a solidus with first appearance of interstitial silicate melt, and bodies of accumulated silicate magma. If achievable, the drill-hole will maintain open for as long as is possible to undertake a suite of geophysical observations. Characterizations of the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the interval between the Krafla hydrothermal system and Krafla magma are planned and will allow the mechanisms and fluxes of mass and heat to be modelled and tested in-situ. This has direct consequences for the industrial use of near magma geothermal heat and will provide significant improvements in volcano monitoring.

Keywords: Europe, Iceland, Drilling Technology, Geothermal Energy, Magma, Volcano Hazards