Abstract

At convergent margins, where tectonic plates collide, oceanic plates subduct beneath continental plates, carrying carbon and other volatiles into Earth's deep interior. This process is balanced by volcanic outgassing. By sampling deeply-sourced seeps and fumaroles along a convergent margin, scientists can study how volatiles interact with deep subsurface microbial communities. The Andean Convergent Margin, with its distinct volcanic zones, provides an ideal natural laboratory for studying these processes. A scientific expedition along a segment of the Andean Convergent Margin in northern Chile's Central Volcanic Zone aimed to understand these interactions. Samples were collected from 38 sites, representing various seep types in different geologic contexts. This report outlines the field protocols and describes the sites and samples collected.