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Geology and chemistry of hydrothermal deposits from active submarine volcano Loihi, Hawaii

Nature volume 298, pages 234–239 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

High-resolution bathymetric surveys, bottom photography and sample analyses show that Loihi Seamount at the southernmost extent of the Hawaiian ‘hotspot’ is an active, young submarine volcano that is probably the site of an emerging Hawaiian island. Hydrothermal deposits sampled from the active summit rift system were probably formed by precipitation from cooling vent fluids or during cooling and oxidation of high-temperature polymetallic sulphide assemblages. No exotic benthic fauna were found to be associated with the presently active hydrothermal vents mapped.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Ocean Survey–NOAA, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA

    Alexander Malahoff

  2. Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822, USA

    Gary M. McMurtry & Hsueh-Wen Yeh

  3. Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822, USA

    John C. Wiltshire

Authors
  1. Alexander Malahoff
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  2. Gary M. McMurtry
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  3. John C. Wiltshire
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  4. Hsueh-Wen Yeh
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Malahoff, A., McMurtry, G., Wiltshire, J. et al. Geology and chemistry of hydrothermal deposits from active submarine volcano Loihi, Hawaii. Nature 298, 234–239 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298234a0

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