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Manifestations of hydrothermal discharge from young abyssal hills on the fast-spreading East Pacific Rise flank

2005; Geological Society of America; Volume: 33; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/g21058.1

1943-2682

Rachel M. Haymon, Ken C. Macdonald, S. B. Benjamin, Christopher J. Ehrhardt,

Geological and Geochemical Analysis

Research Article| February 01, 2005 Manifestations of hydrothermal discharge from young abyssal hills on the fast-spreading East Pacific Rise flank Rachel M. Haymon; Rachel M. Haymon 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ken C. Macdonald; Ken C. Macdonald 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sara B. Benjamin; Sara B. Benjamin 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christopher J. Ehrhardt Christopher J. Ehrhardt 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Rachel M. Haymon 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Ken C. Macdonald 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Sara B. Benjamin 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Christopher J. Ehrhardt 1Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 16 Aug 2004 Revision Received: 22 Oct 2004 Accepted: 22 Oct 2004 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2005) 33 (2): 153–156. https://doi.org/10.1130/G21058.1 Article history Received: 16 Aug 2004 Revision Received: 22 Oct 2004 Accepted: 22 Oct 2004 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Rachel M. Haymon, Ken C. Macdonald, Sara B. Benjamin, Christopher J. Ehrhardt; Manifestations of hydrothermal discharge from young abyssal hills on the fast-spreading East Pacific Rise flank. Geology 2005;; 33 (2): 153–156. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G21058.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Spectacular black smokers along the mid-ocean-ridge crest represent a small fraction of total hydrothermal heat loss from ocean lithosphere. Previous models of measured heat flow suggest that 40%–50% of oceanic hydrothermal heat and fluid flux is from young seafloor (0.1–5 Ma) on mid-ocean-ridge flanks. Despite evidence that ridge-flank hydrothermal flux affects crustal properties, ocean chemistry, and the deep-sea biosphere, few ridge-flank vent sites have been discovered. We describe the first known seafloor expressions of hydrothermal discharge from tectonically formed abyssal hills flanking a fast-spreading ridge. Seafloor manifestations of fluid venting from two young East Pacific Rise abyssal hills (0.1 Ma at 10°20′N, 103°33.2′W; 0.5 Ma at 9°27′N, 104°32.3′W) include fault-scarp hydrothermal mineralization and macrofauna; fault-scarp flocculations containing hyperthermophilic microbes; and hilltop sediment mounds and craters possibly created by fluid expulsion. These visible features can be exploited for hydrothermal exploration of the vast abyssal hill terrain flanking the mid-ocean ridge and for access to the subseafloor biosphere. Petrologic evidence suggests that abyssal hills undergo repeated episodes of transitory fluid discharge, possibly linked to seismic events, and that fluid exit temperatures can be briefly high enough to transport copper (≥250 °C). You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.