Elsevier

Marine Geology

Volume 54, Issues 1–2, December 1983, Pages 53-90
Marine Geology

Research paper
Volcanic development of small oceanic central volcanoes on the flanks of the East Pacific Rise inferred from narrow-beam echo-sounder surveys

https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-3227(83)90008-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Narrow-beam bathymetric surveys of about 30 volcanoes on young crust of the Cocos plate were collected in order to help determine the origin and evolution of oceanic central volcanoes. The volcanoes are located on ocean crust 1.5–7.5 m.y. in age and range in size from <1 to ∼600 km3. These volcanoes differ greatly in shape, development of linear features, small scale morphologic characteristics and crater development. We conclude that these large differences in morphologic characteristics are due to the complex interaction of many factors in their development such as: conduit geometry, magma ascent rates, eruption rate history, tectonic activity, crater formation and filling and others. Elongation directions of individual volcanoes and clear linear bathymetric features near these volcanoes are among the lines of evidence that strongly suggest these volcanoes originate and evolve on and near oceanic fracture zones. Their origin and morphologic evolution is thus closely tied to the tectonic processes and thermal regimes at fractures. We speculate that these volcanoes on fast-spreading lithosphere are generated by episodic pulses of melt production beneath ridge crests in the vicinity of fracture zones. Petrologic evidence shows that these volcanoes cannot be fed from sub-axial magma chambers beneath the East Pacific Rise. Instead, they tap the same mantle source as the ridge crest at mantle depth.

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