Abstract
A Sea Beam survey of the Pacific-Cocos-Galapagos triple junction at 2°40′N on the East Pacific Rise (EPR) establishes that it is a ridge-ridge-ridge junction, with the EPR axis making a small but sharp bend where it is intersected by a slow-spreading (15 mm/yr) fast-propagating rift. At the tip of the narrow triangle of crust accreted at this slow-spreading axis is volcanic ridge built on EPR crust. Tholeiitic lavas erupted along the slow-spreading axis, here and at the rather similar Pacific-Nazca-Galapagos junction, differ in minor element and rare earth element geochemistry from lavas on adjacent segments of the EPR axis, being slightly enriched in incompatible elements.
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