The Ancient Supervolcano Buried Under Eastern England: What the Science Says
Scientists have confirmed the presence of a supervolcano beneath eastern England, centred under The Wash and stretching into Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The discovery rewrites parts of the region’s geological history and opens new questions about deep geothermal energy.
How a 40-Year Suspicion Became a Confirmed Discovery
Geologists had suspected a large volcanic system in the area for decades. Granite found under Spalding hinted at a buried magma chamber, but proof remained out of reach. The breakthrough came from rock samples drilled decades ago at North Creake in Norfolk and Claxby in Lincolnshire. Using modern equipment, researchers at the British Geological Survey (BGS) reanalysed tiny zircon crystals—each smaller than a human hair. By measuring the decay of uranium to lead in those crystals, they pinned the eruption date to 454.4 million years ago. The age matched volcanic ash layers known as the Kinnekulle tephra in Norway, studied by the University of Oslo, confirming the English rocks came from the same cataclysmic event.
What Makes It a Supervolcano
The volcano measured at least 65 kilometres across. The eruption ejected hundreds of cubic kilometres of crust into the stratosphere. For comparison, an event of that scale is thousands of times more powerful than Mount Etna’s typical activity. The term supervolcano applies to any eruption that deposits more than 1,000 cubic kilometres of material (a magnitude 8 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index). This one qualifies easily.
Why the Discovery Matters
First, the find reshapes understanding of England’s deep geological past. Dr Tim Pharaoh of the BGS told the BBC the discovery “changes our understanding of England's deep geological past.” The area was part of a microcontinent called Avalonia, which drifted near the South Pole at the time. The eruption would have affected global climate.
Second, the buried granite body that once fed the volcano could offer a practical resource. Pharaoh noted to local media that similar granite formations in the Netherlands are already tapped for geothermal energy to heat greenhouses. The BGS hopes to drill a deep borehole in the future to test that potential in eastern England.
There is no risk of a repeat. Once a supervolcano’s magma chamber solidifies and the volcano goes extinct—as this one did millions of years ago—it does not reactivate. “Once it's gone extinct, that's it,” Pharaoh said.
The discovery came from collaboration between the BGS and the University of Oslo. The Times and the Eastern Daily Press also reported on the findings. The work demonstrates how old borehole samples can yield new insights when re-examined with advanced technology.