Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Justin Estep, Bobby Reece, Gail L. Christeson, Dominik A. Kardell, Richard L. Carlson
Summary: This study investigates the relationships between spreading rate, M value, and topographic roughness over 70 million years of crustal ages in a spreading segment in the South Atlantic Ocean. The findings reveal a positive correlation between spreading rate and M value, while M value and spreading rate are negatively correlated with the topographic roughness of the crust.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
R. Parnell-Turner, D. K. Smith, R. P. Dziak
Summary: This article presents a catalog of T-phase events in the equatorial Atlantic ocean, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and transform faults. By studying seismic activity, insights can be gained into the processes of crustal accretion and transform fault slip. It was observed that areas with asymmetric spreading have higher seismicity rates and the majority of hydrothermal vents occur in these areas. Additionally, aseismic patches were found on almost all equatorial Atlantic transform faults.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Article
Geology
J. M. Kendall, D. Schlaphorst, C. A. Rychert, N. Harmon, M. Agius, S. Tharimena
Summary: Parallel melt accumulation along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was found, and this may enhance the driving forces of the plates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Sauter, Gianreto Manatschal, Nick Kusznir, Charles Masquelet, Philippe Werner, Marc Ulrich, Paul Bellingham, Dieter Franke, Julia Autin
Summary: The source of massive magma production at volcanic rifted margins remains disputed. Accurate estimation of extruded and intruded melt products within rifted continental crust is still lacking using geophysical methods. This study investigates the magma budget along the South Atlantic margins, revealing that most of the southernmost Atlantic Ocean opened without anomalously hot mantle and high magma supply. Alternative explanations should be favored to explain the thick magmatic layer.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
H. H. Stubseid, A. Bjerga, H. Haflidason, L. E. R. Pedersen, R. B. Pedersen
Summary: This study utilizes sediment thickness and C-14 age data to determine the age of the ocean floor in the oblique ultraslow-spreading Mohns Ridge, revealing a systematic pattern of young volcanism outside axial volcanic ridges.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Oke Okwokwo, Neil C. Mitchell, Wen Shi, I. C. F. Stewart, A. Y. Izzeldin
Summary: This study derives crustal magnetization for a constant-thickness source layer within the uppermost basement by inverting aeromagnetic anomalies. The results show that the low amplitudes of off-axis magnetic anomalies are mainly due to the greater depth of basement, which is depressed by isostatic loading by evaporites. However, magnetizations are still significant even where the basement lies several kilometers under the evaporites, suggesting that magnetizations have not been greatly affected by alteration under the evaporites. Additionally, prominent magnetization peaks are found on both tectonic plates, coinciding with a basement low that marks the transition to continental crust closer to the coasts. There is also an abrupt change from low-frequency anomalies off-axis to high-frequency anomalies towards the present axis, potentially indicating the stage at which buried spreading centers became exposed.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Telmo Morato, Manuela Juliano, Christopher K. Pham, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Ines Martins, Ana Colaco
Summary: Deep-sea mining of seafloor massive sulphides (SMS) is considered a significant source of mineral resources. This study used modeling to simulate plume dispersion and assess potential impacts. The findings highlight the uncertainty and potential risks associated with deep-sea mining.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Guilherme W. S. de Melo, Neil C. Mitchell, Jiri Zahradnik, Fabio Dias, Aderson F. do Nascimento
Summary: This study investigates seismicity in the 4-5 degrees N Mid-Atlantic Ridge using data from seismometers, revealing shallow seismic activity occurring in swarms from 2012 to 2019, primarily involving multiple faults. By comparing with bathymetric data, two detachment fault surfaces were identified.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Colleen A. Dalton, Douglas S. Wilson, Timothy D. Herbert
Summary: The rate of ocean-crust production plays a crucial role in sea level, mantle heat loss, and climate. Different interpretations regarding incomplete seafloor preservation have led to different conclusions about the changes in production rates. Through a new global synthesis, this study reveals a lower global production rate in recent years, mainly due to slower seafloor spreading. The findings also highlight the influence of spreading-rate changes on fast and slow-spreading ridges. This dataset provides new insights into the forces driving plate motions and the impact of tectonic degassing on climate.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dhongil Lim, Jihun Kim, Jonguk Kim, Dongsung Kim, Dohyun Jeong, Haryun Kim, Zhaokai Xu
Summary: Sedimentary evidence from a well-dated sediment core from the Central Indian Ridge reveals enhanced volcanic activity during the last deglaciation period, possibly linked to sea-level variability. The study suggests that the increase in submarine and subaerial volcanic eruptions during the last deglaciation may have accelerated the rise of atmospheric CO2, reinforcing a positive feedback mechanism upon deglaciation.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
J. B. Russell, J. B. Gaherty, H. F. Mark, G. Hirth, L. N. Hansen, D. Lizarralde, J. A. Collins, R. L. Evans
Summary: Seismic anisotropy produced by aligned olivine in oceanic lithosphere provides insights into mid-ocean ridge dynamics. In this study, an in situ elastic tensor for oceanic lithosphere is estimated using observational data from the NoMelt experiment. The study compares the elastic model with petrofabric data to infer crystallographic orientations and strain accumulation in the lithosphere. The results reveal significant strain accumulation in the shallow mantle and provide evidence for a specific type of olivine lattice-preferred orientation.
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Geology
Fei Zhou, Jerome Dyment, Chunhui Tao, Tao Wu
Summary: This study reveals that magma supply plays a crucial role in shaping the characteristics and evolution of OCCs and detachment faults on the Southwest Indian Ridge. The decrease in extrusive basalt thickness, along with an increase in serpentinite outcrops and a flattening of DOMal OCC morphology, indicates regional variations in magma supply and its significant impact on geological features.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
S. Thoram, W. W. Sager, K. Gaastra, S. M. Tikoo, C. Carvallo, A. Avery, Arianna V. Del Gaudio, Y. Huang, K. Hoernle, T. W. Hoefig, R. Bhutani, D. M. Buchs, C. Class, Y. Dai, G. Dalla Valle, S. Fielding, S. Han, D. E. Heaton, S. Homrighausen, Y. Kubota, C. -f. Li, W. R. Nelson, E. Petrou, K. E. Potter, S. Pujatti, J. Scholpp, J. W. Shervais, M. Tshiningayamwe, X. J. Wang, M. Widdowson
Summary: Valdivia Bank (VB) is a Late Cretaceous oceanic plateau formed by seafloor spreading-type volcanism from the Tristan-Gough hotspot at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Magnetic data and inversion techniques were used to determine the crustal magnetization and reveal linear polarity zones, supporting the formation by seafloor spreading over approximately 4 million years. Paleomagnetism and biostratigraphy data from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 391 provide further evidence for this magnetic interpretation. The presence of deep rift valleys and the split of anomaly C33r into negative bands suggest a plate reorganization and the involvement of a westward ridge jump in the formation of VB.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Dennis Sanchez-Mora, John Jamieson, Mathilde Cannat, Javier Escartin, Thibaut Barreyre
Summary: In this study, we determined the age (>6,600 years) and mass (about 1.3 Mt) of metal-rich deposits formed at the Lucky Strike cluster of high-temperature seafloor hot springs located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We also calculated the average rate of formation (194 t/yr) of these deposits. Our findings show that the Lucky Strike vent field is younger than other vent fields along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but has similar formation rates, which are high compared to other geological processes producing metal-rich deposits.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
C. Peirce, M. J. Funnell, T. J. Reston, C. J. MacLeod
Summary: This study models the structure of multiple OCCs on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge using seismic tomography. The results suggest that the formation of OCCs may be influenced by the presence of magma and the characteristics of the crust. The study also investigates the drivers of hydrothermal circulation in different vent fields, revealing varying mechanisms in different regions.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Pierre Josso, Tim van Peer, Matthew S. A. Horstwood, Paul Lusty, Bramley Murton
Summary: Hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts are a valuable record of the isotopic composition of seawater affected by continental weathering processes. Studies have shown their response to changes in monsoonal rainfall over West Africa, offering a new approach for calibrating Fe-Mn crust records to astronomical solutions with improved temporal resolution.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Natascha Menezes Bergo, Amanda Goncalves Bendia, Juliana Correa Neiva Ferreira, Bramley J. Murton, Frederico Pereira Brandini, Vivian Helena Pellizari
Summary: Research on microbial communities in Fe-Mn substrates from the Rio Grande Rise revealed a typical deep-sea microbiome with no significant differences in microbial community diversity among substrates. Bacterial and archaeal groups associated with oxidation of nitrogen compounds and methane oxidation were detected in these substrates, indicating their potential ecological roles in the deep Atlantic Ocean.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Masako Tominaga, Maurice A. Tivey, William W. Sager
Summary: The study establishes a revised GPTS for the Middle to Late Jurassic, revealing the rapid onset of the Mesozoic Dipole Low from M42 through M39 and subsequent gradual recovery in field strength into the Cenozoic. Coherency between short-wavelength anomalies in the Japanese and Hawaiian lineation magnetic anomaly sequences implies a regionally coherent field during this period of rapid geomagnetic reversals. The identification of a zone of difficult-to-correlate anomalies in both sequences suggests the presence of a core similar to the JQZ crust bounded by M39-M41 isochrons.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Eleanor Lennon, Natasha D. Philips, Amy Garbett, Jens Carlsson, Jeanette E. L. Carlsson, Danielle Crowley, Maria Judge, Isobel Yeo, Patrick C. Collins
Summary: This study presents a range extension for the spiny tailed skate, Bathyraja spinicauda, with the discovery of an egg nursery atop a ridge on the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone. The species identification was based on egg morphology and mtCOI barcoding, and the egg nursery was recommended for classification as an essential fish habitat (EFH) after mapping and characterizing key environmental descriptors.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Pierre Josso, Paul Lusty, Simon Chenery, Bramley Murton
Summary: Oceanic hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts are important repositories for metals essential for decarbonisation, with phosphatisation not the primary driving mechanism for metal enrichment and depletion. Changing metal fluxes, rather than secondary mineralisation processes, control the primary metal content in Fe-Mn crust deposits.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jan J. Falkenberg, Manuel Keith, Karsten M. Haase, Wolfgang Bach, Reiner Klemd, Harald Strauss, Isobel A. Yeo, Kenneth H. Rubin, Bettina Storch, Melissa O. Anderson
Summary: Shallow submarine arc-related hydrothermal systems can host significant quantities of base, precious, and volatile elements. The enrichment of these elements may be a result of boiling-induced trace element fractionation, decoupled from magmatic volatiles. The study at Niua South fore-arc volcano in north Tonga provides insights into the processes contributing to the enrichment of base, precious, and volatile elements in such systems.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
C. W. Devey, J. Greinert, A. Boetius, N. Augustin, I Yeo
Summary: The previously assumed geologically inactive abyssal plains are found to possibly have volcanic and hydrothermal activities, challenging the hypothesis of volcanic activities only occurring at hotspots. Further research is needed to understand the geological activities in these regions.
Article
Geology
Gino De Gelder, Mai Linh Doan, Christian Beck, Julie Carlut, Chloe Seibert, Nathalie Feuillet, Gareth D. O. Carter, Sofia Pechlivanidou, Robert L. Gawthorpe
Summary: A major challenge in subaqueous palaeoseismology is to understand the relationship between earthquake/tsunami and sedimentary event deposits. Expedition 381 of the International Ocean Discovery Program provides important resources for better understanding the development of the Corinth Rift in Greece. High-resolution X-ray microtomography and other measurements were used to analyze drillcore samples, revealing the depositional mechanisms and evolution of sedimentary event deposits.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tao Wu, Maurice A. Tivey, Chunhui Tao, Jinhui Zhang, Fei Zhou, Yunlong Liu
Summary: Magmatic and tectonic processes play important roles in discontinuous crustal accretion and hydrothermal circulation. The study reports a multi-scale magnetic survey providing insights into the evolution of a detachment faulting system hosting hydrothermal activity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
C. Galley, P. Lelievre, A. Haroon, S. Graber, J. Jamieson, F. Szitkar, I Yeo, C. Farquharson, S. Petersen, R. Evans
Summary: Seafloor massive sulfide deposits are formed in remote environments, making it technically challenging and expensive to assess their size and composition through drilling. This study demonstrates the use of inverse modeling of geophysical data to enhance geological models and evaluate the resource potential of seafloor massive sulfide deposits. By utilizing magnetic and gravity data collected from the active mound at the Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse hydrothermal vent field, this study was able to determine the thickness and tonnage of the massive sulfide mound through geophysics-based, noninvasive approaches.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Matthieu Amor, Juan Wan, Ramon Egli, Julie Carlut, Christophe Gatel, Ingrid Marie Andersen, Etienne Snoeck, Arash Komeili
Summary: Magnetotactic bacteria produce magnetic nanoparticles that contribute to the magnetization of sediments and rocks. This study shows that the observed magnetofossil fingerprints are produced by a combination of single-stranded and multi-stranded chains, and that the anisotropy of the chains is the key factor for distinguishing magnetofossils from other natural magnetite particles. The characteristics of the magnetofossils depend on the proportion of magnetosomes and the relative abundances of single-stranded and multi-stranded chains. This research has important implications for paleoclimatology, paleontology, and phylogenetics, and provides reference data for distinguishing different MTB lineages and sources of magnetite particles.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
I. A. Yeo, I. M. McIntosh, S. E. Bryan, K. Tani, M. Dunbabin, D. Metz, P. C. Collins, K. Stone, M. S. Manu
Summary: Late'iki is a highly active volcano in the Tofua arc, with multiple eruptions in the past few decades. The most recent eruption in 2019 led to the formation of a temporary island, which was quickly eroded by waves. New observations show that the volcano summit is mainly composed of lava, with a thin layer of fragmented lava residue, possibly from hot rock-water interactions during the eruption.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Bailey Fluegel, Maurice Tivey, Joseph Biasi, William W. Chadwick, Scott L. Nooner
Summary: This study investigates temporal changes in the near-surface magnetic field of Axial Seamount and finds consistent patterns of yearly differences. The central region of the seamount has become more magnetic, suggesting cooling of the surficial lava flows since 2015.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natascha Menezes Bergo, Adriana Torres-Ballesteros, Camila Negrao Signori, Mariana Benites, Luigi Jovane, Bramley J. Murton, Ulisses Nunes da Rocha, Vivian Helena Pellizari
Summary: This study analyzed the composition and diversity of bacteria and archaea in deep-sea Fe-Mn crusts, nodules, and sediments from the Atlantic Ocean. The results showed that the microbiome of Fe-Mn deposits in the Atlantic seamounts had lower diversity and richness compared to the Pacific areas. Unique taxa and a higher abundance of potential metal-cycling bacteria were found in the crusts and nodules from Atlantic seamounts. The microbial beta-diversity was clearly grouped according to the microhabitats and geochemistry of the samples. These findings demonstrate the importance of microbial community analysis in environmental baseline studies for areas within the potential of deep-sea mining.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
M. A. Clare, I. A. Yeo, L. Bricheno, Y. Aksenov, J. Brown, I. D. Haigh, T. Wahl, J. Hunt, C. Sams, J. Chaytor, B. J. Bett, L. Carter
Summary: A global network of subsea telecommunications cables, which are crucial for global digital data transfer and financial trading, is vulnerable to damage by various natural hazards. However, the impacts of future climate change on these cables and their shore-based infrastructure have not been evaluated on a global scale. This study fills this knowledge gap by synthesizing existing evidence to assess the potential impacts of climate change on subsea cables. The study finds that climate change will likely result in changes to ocean conditions globally, but the impacts will vary geographically and not all areas will be affected in the same manner.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Lingyu Zhang, Kristoffer Szilas
Summary: This study presents new petrological and geochemical data for the Narssaq Ultramafic Body (NUB) in the Itsaq Gneiss Complex of SW Greenland. The results indicate that the ultramafic rocks of NUB are not mantle residues, but instead represent crustal cumulates derived from high-Mg magmas.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Rong Xu, Sarah Lambart, Oliver Nebel, Ming Li, Zhongjie Bai, Junbo Zhang, Ganglan Zhang, Jianfeng Gao, Hong Zhong, Yongsheng Liu
Summary: This study investigated the iron isotope compositions of Cenozoic basalts in Southeast China, finding significant variations related to different types of basalts and their respective sources.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
C. J. Ebinger, Miriam C. Reiss, Ian Bastow, Mary M. Karanja
Summary: The East African rift system is formed above mantle upwellings and the formation of rifts is related to lithospheric thinning and magmatic activity. The amount of splitting varies spatially and the fast axes are predominantly parallel to the orientation of the rifts. Thick lithospheric modules have less splitting and different orientations, which may indicate mantle plume flow. Splitting rotates and increases in strength as it enters the rift zones, suggesting that the anisotropy is mainly present at shallow depths.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Correction
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Ekaterina Rojas-Kolomiets, Owen Jensen, Michael Bizimis, Gene Yogodzinski, Lukas Ackerman
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Robert W. Nicklas, Igor S. Puchtel, Ethan F. Baxter
Summary: Oxygen fugacity is a fundamental parameter for understanding redox processes in igneous systems. This study compares the Fe-XANES oxybarometry method with the V-in-olivine method for evaluating fO(2) in MORB lavas. The results show that the V-in-olivine method is not applicable to samples with low MgO content, and that the majority of Archean komatiite sources have lower fO(2) than modern MORB.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Chunfei Chen, Stephen F. Foley, Sebastian Tappe, Huange Ren, Lanping Feng, Yongsheng Liu
Summary: The volatile components CO2 and H2O play a major role in mantle melting and heterogeneity. In this study, Ca isotopes were used to trace the lithological heterogeneity in alkaline magmatic rocks. The results revealed the presence of K-richterite and carbonate components as the source of alkaline magmas with low delta 44/40Ca values. These findings highlight the importance of Ca isotopes as a robust tracer of lithological variation caused by volatiles in the Earth's upper mantle.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Timothee Jautzy, Gilles Rixhon, Regis Braucher, Romain Delunel, Pierre G. Valla, Laurent Schmitt, Aster Team
Summary: Although the current approach to estimate catchment-wide denudation rates using only 10Be concentrations has made significant progress in geomorphology, this study argues for the inclusion of 26Al measurements and testing of steady-state assumptions in slow eroding, formerly glaciated landscapes. The study conducted measurements of both 10Be and 26Al in stream sediments from the Vosges Massif in France and found that elevation, slope, channel steepness, and precipitation were the primary factors controlling denudation rates. The study also revealed a significant relationship between the extent of past glaciation and the cosmogenic (un-)steadiness in the stream sediments.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Erik van der Wiel, Douwe J. J. van Hinsbergen, Cedric Thieulot, Wim Spakman
Summary: Numerical models of Earth's mantle dynamics can predict the vigour and mixing of mantle flow, and the average slab sinking rates are an unexplored parameter that can provide intrinsic information on these characteristics. Through numerical experiments, it has been found that slab sinking rates are strongly correlated with mantle convection and mixing, and may explain geochemical observations from hotspot volcanoes.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2024)