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The University of Southampton
Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton

Research project: Ridge flank hydrothermal circulation: Juan de Fuca Ridge Flank

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The circulation of seawater through Mid Ocean Ridge Flanks accounts for more than two thirds of the global hydrothermal heat flux and is driven by the cooling of the oceanic lithosphere (e.g. Stein & Stein 1994, Elderfield & Schultz 1996) (Figure 1). This fluid flux is of a similar magnitude to the global riverine flux into the ocean, and modifies the composition of ocean crust and the oceans.

Figure 2: A. tectonic setting of the eastern Juan de Fuca Ridge Flank. B. Location of ODP and IODP drill sites.
Tectonic setting and location

Case Study: Juan de Fuca Ridge Flank

  • A natural observatory into fluid-rock interactions within the oceanic crust.
  • Covered by anomalously thick sequences of Pleistocene sediments, resulting in a young hydrologically and thermally 'sealed' oceanic crust.
  • Three stage ocean drilling campaign: ODP Leg 168 and IODP Expeditions 301 and 327, recovering 0.7 to 3.6 Ma hydrothermally altered basaltic crust (Figure 2).

Methods and Techniques

We characterize the petrology of hydrothermal alteration to determine the relative timings of alteration events (Figure 3). The geochemistry and iron oxidation state of basalt samples is measured to quantify the total hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust.

Figure 3: Alteration and vein halo relationships in IODP sample Exp 327 U1362A 16R-3 82-90cm
Alteration vein halo

Publication

UKIODP Newsletter Vol 35

Key Contacts

Prof. Damon Teagle (Principal Investigator)

Dr. Michelle Harris (Postdoctoral Research Assistant)

Ms Jennifer Rutter (Postgraduate Research Student)

PhDs and Other Opportunities

Visit GSNOCS

Associated research themes

Formation and Evolution of the Ocean Crust

Hydrothermal Processes and Mineral Deposits

Volcanic Processes

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