skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Relationships between lava types, seafloor morphology, and the occurrence of hydrothermal venting in the ASHES vent field of Axial Volcano. [Axial Seamount Hydrothermal Emission Study]

Abstract

Deep-towed and submersible photographic surveys within the caldera of Axial Volcano have been integrated with high-resolution bathmetry to produce a geological map of the most active vent field in the caldera. Locations for over 2,000 photographs in and near the vent field were determined using a seafloor transponder network. Then each photograph was described utilizing a classification system which provides detailed information concerning lava type, hydrothermal activity, sediment cover, geological structure, and biology. Resulting data were entered into a digital data base, and computer-generated maps were created that portray spatial relationships between selected geological variables. In general, the entire ASHES field is characterized by pervasive low-temperature venting. The most vigorous venting is concentrated in an approximately 80 m {times} 80 m area where there are several high-temperature vents including some which are producing high-temperature vapor-phase fluids derived from a boiling hydrothermal system. Lava types within the ASHES vent field are grouped into three distinct morphologies: (1) smooth (flat-surfaced, ropy, and whorled) sheet flows, (2) lobate flows, and (3) jumbled-sheet flows. The most intense hydrothermal venting is concentrated in the smooth sheet flows and the lobate flows. The location of the ASHES field is mainly attributable to faulting which defines themore » southwest caldera wall, but the concentration of intense venting appears to be related also to the spatial distribution of lava types in the vent field and their contrasting permeabilities. Other structural trends of faults and fissures within the field also influence the location of individual events.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. NOAA, Newport, OR (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5108926
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 95:B8; Journal ID: ISSN 0148-0227
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; 58 GEOSCIENCES; CALDERAS; HYDROLOGY; MAPPING; PACIFIC OCEAN; BATHYMETRY; BIOLOGY; GEOLOGIC FAULTS; GEOLOGIC FISSURES; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS; LAVA; MAPS; MORPHOLOGY; PERMEABILITY; PHOTOGRAPHY; SEA-FLOOR SPREADING; SEDIMENTS; VENTS; VOLCANOES; ENERGY SYSTEMS; GEOLOGIC FRACTURES; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS; SEAS; SURFACE WATERS; 150200* - Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems; 580000 - Geosciences

Citation Formats

Hammond, S R. Relationships between lava types, seafloor morphology, and the occurrence of hydrothermal venting in the ASHES vent field of Axial Volcano. [Axial Seamount Hydrothermal Emission Study]. United States: N. p., 1990. Web.
Hammond, S R. Relationships between lava types, seafloor morphology, and the occurrence of hydrothermal venting in the ASHES vent field of Axial Volcano. [Axial Seamount Hydrothermal Emission Study]. United States.
Hammond, S R. 1990. "Relationships between lava types, seafloor morphology, and the occurrence of hydrothermal venting in the ASHES vent field of Axial Volcano. [Axial Seamount Hydrothermal Emission Study]". United States.
@article{osti_5108926,
title = {Relationships between lava types, seafloor morphology, and the occurrence of hydrothermal venting in the ASHES vent field of Axial Volcano. [Axial Seamount Hydrothermal Emission Study]},
author = {Hammond, S R},
abstractNote = {Deep-towed and submersible photographic surveys within the caldera of Axial Volcano have been integrated with high-resolution bathmetry to produce a geological map of the most active vent field in the caldera. Locations for over 2,000 photographs in and near the vent field were determined using a seafloor transponder network. Then each photograph was described utilizing a classification system which provides detailed information concerning lava type, hydrothermal activity, sediment cover, geological structure, and biology. Resulting data were entered into a digital data base, and computer-generated maps were created that portray spatial relationships between selected geological variables. In general, the entire ASHES field is characterized by pervasive low-temperature venting. The most vigorous venting is concentrated in an approximately 80 m {times} 80 m area where there are several high-temperature vents including some which are producing high-temperature vapor-phase fluids derived from a boiling hydrothermal system. Lava types within the ASHES vent field are grouped into three distinct morphologies: (1) smooth (flat-surfaced, ropy, and whorled) sheet flows, (2) lobate flows, and (3) jumbled-sheet flows. The most intense hydrothermal venting is concentrated in the smooth sheet flows and the lobate flows. The location of the ASHES field is mainly attributable to faulting which defines the southwest caldera wall, but the concentration of intense venting appears to be related also to the spatial distribution of lava types in the vent field and their contrasting permeabilities. Other structural trends of faults and fissures within the field also influence the location of individual events.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5108926}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)},
issn = {0148-0227},
number = ,
volume = 95:B8,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 10 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Fri Aug 10 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}