Submarine fissure eruptions and hydrothermal vents on the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge: Preliminary observations from the submersible Alvin

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1986 Submarine fissure eruptions and hydrothermal vents on the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge: Preliminary observations from the submersible Alvin: U.S. Geological Survey Juan de Fuca Study Group* U.S. Geological Survey Juan de Fuca Study Group* U.S. Geological Survey Juan de Fuca Study Group* Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information U.S. Geological Survey Juan de Fuca Study Group* Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1986) 14 (10): 823–827. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<823:SFEAHV>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation U.S. Geological Survey Juan de Fuca Study Group*; Submarine fissure eruptions and hydrothermal vents on the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge: Preliminary observations from the submersible Alvin: U.S. Geological Survey Juan de Fuca Study Group*. Geology 1986;; 14 (10): 823–827. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<823:SFEAHV>2.0.CO;2 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 The submersible Alvin was used to investigate three active hydrothermal discharge sites along the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge in September 1984. The hydrothermal zones occur within a 10- to 30-m-deep, 30- to 50-m-wide cleft marking the center of the axial valley. This cleft is the eruptive locus for the axial valley. The hydrothermal vents coincide with the main eruptive vents along the cleft. Each hydrothermal zone has multiple discharge sites extending as much as 500 m along the cleft. Sulfide deposits occur as clusters (15–100 m2 area) of small chimneys (≤2 m high) and as individual and clustered fields of large, branched chimneys (≤10 m high). Recovered sulfide samples are predominantly the tops of chimneys and spires and typically contain more than 80% sphalerite and wurtzite with minor pyrrhotite, pyrite, marcasite, isocubanite, chalcopyrite, anhydrite, and amorphous silica. The associated hydrothermal fluids have the highest chlorinity of any reported to date. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.