This proposal is a continuation of studies of rock samples from the Galapagos and Axial Seamount hydrothermal areas. They wish to integrate petrologic and geochemical studies of fresh glasses, hydrothermally altered lavas and mineralized samples recovered by dredge, ALVIN and Pisces IV with fine scale field studies including Sea Beam, deep-tow photography, magnetic and resistivity measurements. The PI will act as project coordinator, will collaborate on all phases of the work, and will perform many of the geochemical analyses on the samples. Isotopic studies will be carried out by co-investigators. The PI will also participate on an ALVIN dive to the Southern Juan de Fuca if it is funded by NOAA. It is hoped that the data from a dead hydrothermal system (Galapagos) and a very young one (Axial Seamount) will further constrain the models developed by the PI that the ore deposits are associated with hydrothermal systems that are driven by heat from small, highly fractionated magma bodies at depths of < 2 km beneath the seafloor.
