• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.49-61
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• 2020

We analyzed the morphological characteristics of OCC (Ocean Core Complexes) in the middle part of the Central Indian Ridge (MCIR) using high-resolution geophysical data recorded on the Deep-Tow SideScan Sonar IMI-30 system. In terms of slope-gradient variations calculated from the high-resolution bathymetry data, the normal faults formed by seafloor spreading were associated generally with slopes > 30° and resulted in high backscatter intensities, which reflect more topographic effects than acoustic medium variation. However, the areas associated with gentle slopes < 10° tend to show the backscatter intensities reflecting the acoustic characteristic of the medium. We show that the detachment faults exposing the OCCs were initiated with high-angle normal faults (58°) exhibiting outward and inward dips of a breakaway zone. In order to examine the spatial distribution of OCC structures, we characterized the transition from magmatic-dominant seafloor with abyssal hills to tectonic-dominant seafloor with OCC using the down-slope direction variation. The slope direction of the seafloor generally tends to be perpendicular to the ridge azimuth in the magmatic-dominant zone, whereas it becomes parallel to the given ridge azimuth near the OCC structures. Therefore, this spatial change of seafloor slope directions indicates that the formation of OCC structures is causally associated with the tectonic-dominant spreading rather than magmatic extension. These results also suggest that the topographical characteristics of seafloor spreading and OCC structures can be distinguished using high-resolution geophysical data. Thus, we propose that the high-resolution bathymetry and backscatter intensity data can help select potential areas of exploitation of hydrothermal deposits in MCIR effectively.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.73-81
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• 2005

K-Ar ages have been determined for the submarine basalts dredged from the P2 and P3 segments of the Phoenix Ridge, Drake Passage, Antarctica, for better understanding on the extinction of seafloor spreading. At the P3 segment, the K-Ar ages of the rifted ridge basalts are 3.5-6.4 Ma, and those for the axial seamount basalts are 1.5-3.1 Ma. The K-Ar ages for the basalts at the rifted ridge and axial central high in the P2 segment are 2.1 and 1.4-1.9 Ma, respectively. We suggest that the extinction of seafloor spreading at the P3 and P2 segments occurred at 3.3 and 2.0 Ma, respectively, on the basis of ridge structure and formation time of basalts. This result favors a stepwise extinction model rather than a simultaneous one on the extinction of the Phoenix Ridge.

• Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
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• 한국광물학회.한국암석학회 2005년도 공동학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.92-96
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• 2005

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.179-187
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• 2002

The Ayu Trough, located in the southern end of the Philippine Sea, represents a divergent boundary between the Philippine Sea and the Caroline Plates. A detailed geophysical survey was carried out in the Ayu Trough by R/V Onnuri. Topographically, the Ayu Trough resembles an slow spreading ridge. The trough can be divided into three sections: the south $(0^{\circ}-1^{\circ}30'N),\;middle\;(1^{\circ}30'-4^{\circ}N)$, and north $(4^{\circ}-6^{\circ}30'N)$. The seafloor in the middle section is characterized by features asymmetric with respect to the axis. These features were probably produced by NW-SE and NNW-SSE extensions and seem to support the argument that the opening of the Ayu Trough occurred in an oblique fashion. Farther south, a long transform fault but with a short offset defines the boundary between middle and southern sections. The axial depth increases a stepwise to the south of $1^{\circ}30'N$. A clear difference can be seen between the southern and middle sections with the latter exhibiting much higher mantle Bouguer anomaly values in the axial region. The anomaly indicates that the axial crust perhaps experienced a much higher degree of extension in the middle than in the southern section. The analyses of magnetic field data reveal that the region beyond 100km exhibits considerable variations, whereas the magnetic anomalies within 100km from the trough axis are very much subdued. This observation suggests that the opening of the Ayu Trough involved an initial stage of rifting of existing volcanic arcs, followed by production of new seafloor.

• 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국지구과학회 2005년도 추계학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.136-141
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• 2005

The K Ar ages, whole rock geochemistry and Sr Nd Pb isotopes have been determined for the submarine basalts dredged from the P2 and P3 segments of the Antarctic-Phoenix Ridge (APR), Drake Passage, Antarctica, for better understanding on temporal variation of magma chemistry in association with extinction of seafloor spreading. The fossilized APR is distant from the known hot spots, and consists of older N-MORB prior to extinction of spreading and younger E-MORB after extinction. The older N-MORB (3.5-6.4 Ma) occur in the southeast flank of the P3 segment (PR3) and the younger E-MORB (1.4-3.1 Ma) comprise a huge seamount at the P3 segment (SPR) and a big volcanic edifice at the P2 segment (PR2). The N-type PR3 basalts have higher Mg#, K/Ba, and CaO/Al2O3 and lower Zr/Y, Sr, and Na8.0 with slight enrichment in incompatible elements and almost flat REE patterns. The E-type SPR and PR2 basalts are highly enriched in incompatible elements and LREE. The extinction of spreading occurring at 3.3 Ma seems to have led to a temporal magma oversupply with E-MORB signatures. Geochemical signatures such as Ba/TiO2, Ba/La, and Sm/La suggest heterogeneity of upper mantle and formation of E-MORB by higher contribution of enriched materials to mantle melting, compared to N-MORB environment. E-MORB magmas beneath the APR seem to have been produced by low melting degree (up to 1% or more) at deeper low-temperature regime, where metasomatized veins consisting of pyroxenites have preferentially participated in the melting. The occurrence of E-MORB at the APR is a good example to better understand what kinds of magmatism would occur in association with extinction of spreading.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.167-176
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• 2008

Lau basin of the south Pacific, as an active back arc basin, is promising area bearing seafloor massive hydrothermal deposit that is located in a subduction zone between the Pacific ocean plate and Indo-Australian continental plate. We performed multi-beam bathymetry survey in the Lau basin using EM120, to find out high hydrothermal activity Bone. Fonualei Rift and Spreading Center (FRSC) and Mangatolou Triple Junction (MTJ) area were selected for precise site survey through seafloor morphology investigation. The result of surface and deep-tow magnetometer survey showed that Central Anomaly Magnetization High (CAMH) recorded which is associated with active ridge in FRSC-2 and revealed very low magnetic anomalies that can be connected to past or present high hydrothermal activity in MTJ-1 seamount area. Moreover, the physical and chemical tracers of hydrothermal vent flume, i.e., transmission, hydrogen ion concentration (pH), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), methane (CH4) by use of CTD system, showed significant anomalies in those areas. From positive vent flume results, we could conclude that these areas were or are experiencing very active volcanic activities. The acquired chimney and hydrothermal altered bed rock samples gave us confidence of the existence of massive hydrothermal deposit. Even though not to use visual exploration equipment such as ROV, DTSSS, etc., traditional marine geophysical investigation approach might be a truly cost-effective tool for exploring seafloor hydrothermal massive deposit.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.145-156
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• 2012

Seafloor hydrothermal system occurs along the volcanic mid-ocean ridge, back-arc spreading center, and other submarine volcanic regions. The hydrothermal system is one of the fundamental processes controlling the transfer of energy and matter between crust/mantle and ocean; it forms hydrothermal vents where various deepsea biological communities are inhabited and precipitates metal sulfide deposits. Hydrothermal systems at convergence plate boundaries show diverse geochemical properties due to recycle of subducted material compared to simple systems at mid-ocean ridges. Sulfur isotopes can be used to evaluate such diversity in generation and evolution of hydrothermal system. In this paper, we review the sulfur isotope composition and geochemistry of hydrothermal precipitates sampled from several hydrothermal vents in the divergent plate boundaries in the western Pacific region. Both sulfide and sulfate minerals of the hydrothermal vents in the arc and backarc tectonic settings commonly show low sulfur isotope compositions, which can be attributed to input of magmatic $SO_2$ gas. Diversity in geochemistry of hydrothermal system suggests an active role of magma in the formation of seafloor hydrothermal system.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.643-654
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• 2023

The West Philippine Basin, an oceanic basin half the size of the Philippine Sea Plate, lies in the western part of the plate and south of the Korean Peninsula on the Eurasian Plate. It subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Islands bordering the Ryukyu Trench and the Philippine Trench with 25-50% of this basin already consumed. However, the history of the opening of the basin's southern region has been a topic of debate. The non-transform discontinuity formed during the seafloor spreading is similar to the transform fault boundaries normally perpendicular to mid-ocean ridge axes; however, it was created irregularly due to ridge propagations caused by variations of mantle convection attributable to magma supply changes. By analyzing high-resolution multi-beam echo-sounding data, we confirmed that the non-transform discontinuity due to the propagating rift evolved in the entire basin and that the abyssal hill strike direction changed from E-W to NNW-SSE from the fossil spreading center. In the early stage of basin extension, the Amami-Sankaku Basin was rotated 90 degrees clockwise from its current orientation, and it bordered the Palau Basin along the Mindanao Fracture Zone. The Amami-Sankaku Basin separated from the Palau Basin while the spreading of the West Philippine Basin began with a counter-clockwise rotation. This indicates that the non-transform discontinuities formed by a sudden change in magma supply due to the drift of the Philippine Sea Plate and simultaneously with the rapid changes in the spreading direction from ENE-WSW to N-S. The Palau Basin was considered to be the sub-south of the West Philippine Basin, but recent studies have shown that it extends into an independent system. Evidence from sediment layers and crustal thickness hints at the possibility of its existence before the West Philippine Basin opened, although its evolution continues to be debated. We performed a combined analysis using high-resolution multi-beam bathymetry and satellite gravity data to uncover new insights into the evolution of the West Philippine Basin. This information illuminates the complex plate interactions and provides a crucial contribution toward understanding the opening history of the basin and the Philippine Sea Plate.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.107-118
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• 2003

The axial seamount basalts in the P3 segment of the Phoenix Ridge were obtained from dredging and the K-Ar age determination and whole-rock geochemical analyses have been done for understanding their origin. The K-Ar ages for PRS basalts sampled from 1,000m below sea level are 2.6-2.2 Ma and those for PR3 basalts from 800m are 1.6-1.5 Ma. The younger ages towards the crest of the seamount indicate that this submarine volcano has been grown by central eruptions. The youngest age of about 1.5 Ma for PR3 basalts corresponds to the final eruption period of this volcano. The seamount basalts contain small amounts of normative quartz and olivine. They have transitional geochemical nature between alkaline- and subalkaline-series basalts. Trace and rare earth elements compositions of the seamount basalts are very similar to those of ocean island basalts (OIB), and indicate that this seamount has been formed by a hotspot activity, not in association with a seafloor spreading. The melting degree from the source has decreased with time, and finally the volcanic activity has stopped when the basaltic magma reached mild alkaline composition.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.409-416
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• 2006

Reflection seismic survey has been conducted using R/V Yuzmogeologia of Russia on the area of between northern part of Powell basin and South Scotia Ridge. 48-channel seismic data have been processed using Promax system. Hesperides and Eastern Deep located in the central part of the South Scotia Ridge show similar geological structure comprising two distinct sedimentary layers. The lower layer filled with fault breccia is considered to be formed with the expansion of the deeps. The upper layer is filled with pelagic sediments which implies this layer is formed after the spreading of the deeps has stopped. The south branch of the South Scotia Ridge is characterized by bigger width than the north branch. Topographical depression shown in the south branch is formed by many faults accompanied with the seafloor expansion of Powell basin.