Authors
KM Haase, Sven Petersen, A Koschinsky, R Seifert, Colin W Devey, Robin Keir, KS Lackschewitz, Bernd Melchert, Mirjam Perner, Oliver Schmale, Jörg Süling, N Dubilier, F Zielinski, Susanne Fretzdorff, D Garbe‐Schönberg, U Westernströer, CR German, TM Shank, D Yoerger, O Giere, J Kuever, H Marbler, J Mawick, C Mertens, U Stöber, M Walter, C Ostertag‐Henning, H Paulick, M Peters, H Strauss, S Sander, J Stecher, M Warmuth, S Weber
Publication date
2007/11
Journal
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Volume
8
Issue
11
Description
The effect of volcanic activity on submarine hydrothermal systems has been well documented along fast‐ and intermediate‐spreading centers but not from slow‐spreading ridges. Indeed, volcanic eruptions are expected to be rare on slow‐spreading axes. Here we report the presence of hydrothermal venting associated with extremely fresh lava flows at an elevated, apparently magmatically robust segment center on the slow‐spreading southern Mid‐Atlantic Ridge near 5°S. Three high‐temperature vent fields have been recognized so far over a strike length of less than 2 km with two fields venting phase‐separated, vapor‐type fluids. Exit temperatures at one of the fields reach up to 407°C, at conditions of the critical point of seawater, the highest temperatures ever recorded from the seafloor. Fluid and vent field characteristics show a large variability between the vent fields, a variation that is not expected within such …
Total citations
Scholar articles
KM Haase, S Petersen, A Koschinsky, R Seifert… - Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2007