Exploring Geological Activity Associated with Off-Axis Melt Sills near the East Pacific Rise

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Two Alvin dives on the flank of the East Pacific Rise near 9°50'N will investigate the seafloor overlying the two largest crustal magma lenses detected by 3D multichannel seismic studies. At a distance of 5-7 km from the spreading axis, the results will document any recent faulting, flow, hydrothermal and associated biological activity across each hill. Changes as plate age increases, or along the faults bounding each hill will also be determined at each site. This information will be used to evaluate the role of off-axis magma in powering volcanic and hydrothermal activity. Post-cruise analysis will reconstruct the tectonic and volcanic history of the site using visual estimates of relative lava age and geologic contacts, radiometric dating of lava and sediment analysis for microbial activity.