9531888 Poreda This is a multiprong analyical investigation of the origin of the Easter-Sala y Gomez seamount and island chain in the southeast Pacific Ocean. At present there are four models for the origin of the chain: simple hotspot chain, leaky fracture zone, hot line delineating the limbs of two ascending convection cells, and plume-ridge interaction. The principal investigators have collected rocks containing fresh glass during two cruises to the chain. In this project they will obtain radiometric dates on the samples and determine the chemical and isotopic composition of the samples ***