Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Active submarine eruption of boninite in the northeastern Lau Basin

Nature Geoscience volume 4, pages 799–806 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Subduction of oceanic crust and the formation of volcanic arcs above the subduction zone are important components in Earth’s geological and geochemical cycles. Subduction consumes and recycles material from the oceanic plates, releasing fluids and gases that enhance magmatic activity, feed hydrothermal systems, generate ore deposits and nurture chemosynthetic biological communities. Among the first lavas to erupt at the surface from a nascent subduction zone are a type classified as boninites. These lavas contain information about the early stages of subduction, yet because most subduction systems on Earth are old and well-established, boninite lavas have previously only been observed in the ancient geological record. Here we observe and sample an active boninite eruption occurring at 1,200 m depth at the West Mata submarine volcano in the northeast Lau Basin, southwest Pacific Ocean. We find that large volumes of H2O, CO2 and sulphur are emitted, which we suggest are derived from the subducting slab. These volatiles drive explosive eruptions that fragment rocks and generate abundant incandescent magma-skinned bubbles and pillow lavas. The eruption has been ongoing for at least 2.5 years and we conclude that this boninite eruption is a multi-year, low-mass-transfer-rate eruption. Thus the Lau Basin may provide an important site for the long-term study of submarine volcanic eruptions related to the early stages of subduction.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Location maps for West Mata Volcano.
Figure 2: Properties of hydrothermal plume samples collected above the West Mata eruption in November 2008.
Figure 3: Eruptive modes observed at West Mata.
Figure 4: Whole rock composition for samples from the West Mata eruption and regional data from the northern Lau Basin 50 and the Tonga Arc 10.
Figure 5: Sound frequency and intensity from a moored hydrophone deployed ∼48 km from West Mata at 23°17′ S×174°9′ W from 4 January to 9 May 2009.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bevis, M. et al. Geodetic observations of very rapid convergence and back-arc extension at the Tonga arc. Nature 374, 249–251 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Zellmer, K. & Taylor, B. A three-plate kinematic model for Lau Basin opening. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 2, 1020 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Embley, R. W. et al. Extensive and diverse submarine volcanism and hydrothermal activity in the NE Lau Basin. Eos Trans. AGU (Fall Meeting Supplement) 90, abstr. V51D-1719 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Keller, N. S. et al. Submarine back-arc lava with arc signature: Fonualei Spreading Center, northeast Lau Basin, Tonga. J. Geophys. Res. 113, B08S07 (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bloomer, S. H. et al. in Active Margins and Marginal Basins of the Western Pacific (eds Taylor, B. & Natland, J.) 1–30 (Geophysical Monograph, Vol. 88, American Geophysical Union, 1995).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Stern, R. J. & Bloomer, S. H. Subduction zone infancy: Examples from the Eocene Izu–Bonin–Mariana and Jurassic California arcs. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 104, 1621–1636 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Stern, R.J. Subduction zones. Rev. Geophys. 40, 1012 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Crawford, A. J., Falloon, T. J. & Green, D. H. in Boninites (ed. Crawford, A.) 1–49 (Unwin Hyman, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Taylor, R. N. et al. Mineralogy, chemistry, and genesis of the boninite series volcanics, Chichijima, Bonin Islands, Japan. J. Petrol. 35, 577–617 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cooper, L. B. et al. High-Ca boninites from the active Tonga Arc. J. Geophys. Res. 115, B10206 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Falloon, T. J. et al. Multiple mantle plume components involved in the petrogenesis of subduction-related lavas from the northern termination of the Tonga Arc and northern Lau Basin: Evidence from the geochemistry of arc and backarc submarine volcanics. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 8, Q09003 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. White, S. M., Crisp, J. A. & Spera, F. J. Long-term volumetric eruption rates and magma budgets. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 7, Q03010 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cowen, J. P., Baker, E. T. & Embley, R. W. in The Subseafloor Biosphere at Mid-Ocean Ridges (eds Wilcock, S., Delong, E., Kelley, D., Baross, J. & Cary, S.) 227–243 (American Geophysical Union, 2004).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  14. Sohn, R. A. et al. Explosive volcanism on the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean. Nature 453, 1236–1238 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Clague, D. A., Paduan, J. B. & Davis, A. S. Widespread strombolian eruptions of mid-ocean ridge basalt. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 180, 171–188 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kelley, D. S., Baross, J. A. & Delaney, J. R. Volcanoes, fluids, and life at mid-ocean ridge spreading centers. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 30, 385–491 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hedenquist, J. W. & Lowenstern, J. B. The role of magmas in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits. Nature 370, 519–527 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Millen, D. W. & Hamburger, M. W. Seismological evidence for tearing of the Pacific plate at the northern termination of the Tonga subduction zone. Geology 26, 659–662 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Shervais, J. W. Birth, death, and resurrection: The life cycle of suprasubduction zone ophiolites. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 2, 1010 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wiens, D. A, Kelley, K. A & Plank, T. Mantle temperature variations beneath back-arc spreading centers inferred from seismology, petrology, and bathymetry. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 248, 30–42 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Danyushevsky, L., Sobolev, A. & Falloon, T. North Tongan high-Ca boninite petrogenesis: The role of Samoan plume and subduction zone-transform fault transition. J. Geodyn. 20, 219–241 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kelley, D. S. et al. Enriched H2, CH4, and 3He concentrations in hydrothermal plumes associated with the 1996 Gorda Ridge eruptive event. Deep-Sea Res. II 45, 2665–2682 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Sansone, F. J. & Resing, J. A. Hydrography and geochemistry of sea surface hydrothermal plumes resulting from Hawaiian coastal volcanism. J. Geophys. Res. 100, 13555–13569 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Embley, R. W. et al. Long-term eruptive activity at a submarine arc volcano. Nature 441, 494–497 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Le-Bas, M. J. IUGS Reclassification of the high-Mg and picritic volcanic rocks. J. Petrol. 41, 1467–1470 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Kusakabe, M. et al. Sulfur isotopic effects in the disproportionation reaction of sulfur dioxide in hydrothermal fluids: Implications for the δ34S variations of dissolved bisulfate and elemental sulfur from active crater lakes. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 97, 287–307 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Resing, J. A. et al. Venting of acid-sulfate fluids in a high-sulfidation setting at NW Rota-1 submarine volcano on the Mariana Arc. Econ. Geol. 102, 1047–1061 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Butterfield, D.A. et al. High SO2 flux, sulfur accumulation and gas fractionation at an erupting submarine volcano. Geology 39, 803–806 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Symonds, R. B. et al. Volcanic gas studies: Methods, research, and applications. Volatiles Magmas, Rev. Mineral. 30, 1–66 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wallace, P. J. Volatiles in subduction zone magmas: Concentrations and fluxes based on melt inclusion and volcanic gas data. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 140, 217–240 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Lupton, J. E. et al. Helium, carbon, and helium isotopes in the Northern Lau Basin. EOS Trans. AGU 90 (52), abstr. V51D-1718 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lupton, J. E. et al. Helium isotope variations in seafloor basalts from the Northwest Lau Backarc Basin: Mapping the influence of the Samoan hotspot. Geophys. Res. Lett. 36, 1–5 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Lupton, J. et al. Submarine venting of liquid carbon dioxide on a Mariana Arc volcano. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 7, Q08007 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Tsunogai, U. et al. Peculiar features of Suiyo Seamount hydrothermal fluids, Izu-Bonin Arc: Differences from subaerial volcanism. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 126, 289–301 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Sano, Y. & Marty, B. Origin of carbon in fumarolic gas from island arcs. Chem. Geol. 119, 265–274 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Macpherson, C. G., Hilton, D. R. & Hammerschmidt, K. No slab-derived CO2 in Mariana Trough back-arc basalts: Implications for carbon subduction and for temporary storage of CO2 beneath slow spreading ridges. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 11, Q11007 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Head, J. W. & Wilson, L. Deep submarine pyroclastic eruptions: Theory and predicted landforms and deposits. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 121, 155–193 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Blundy, J. et al. A case for CO2-rich arc magmas. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 290, 289–301 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Moore, G., Vennemann, T. & Carmichael, I. An empirical model for the solubility of H2O in magmas to 3 kb. Am. Mineral. 83, 36–42 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Heliker, B. C. & Mattox, T. N. in The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō-Kūpaianaha Eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i: The First 20 Years, US Geological Survey Professional Paper 1676 (eds Heliker, C., Swanson, D. A. & Takahashi, T. J.) 1–28 (US Geological Survey, 2003).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Talandier, J. & Okal, E. A. Seismic detection of underwater volcanism: The example of French Polynesia. Pure Appl. Geophys. 125, 919–950 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Embley, R. et al. 1998 eruption of axial volcano: Multibeam anomalies and sea-floor observations. Geophys. Res. Lett. 26, 3425–3428 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Fox, C. G., Chadwick, W. W. & Embley, R. W. Direct observation of a submarine volcanic eruption from a sea-floor instrument caught in a lava flow. Nature 412, 727–729 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Rubin, K., Macdougall, J. & Perfit, M. 210Po–210Pb dating of recent volcanic eruptions on the sea floor. Nature 368, 841–844 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Sinton, J., Grönvold, K. & Sæmundsson, K. Postglacial eruptive history of the Western Volcanic Zone, Iceland. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 6, Q12009 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Michael, P. J. & Cornell, W. C. Influence of spreading rate and magma supply on crystallization and assimilation beneath mid-ocean ridges: Evidence from chlorine and major element chemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts. J. Geophys. Res. 103, 18325–18356 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Teagle, D. A. H. et al. Proc. IODP 309/312 1–70 (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, 2006).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Huber, J. A. et al. Isolated communities of Epsilonproteobacteria in hydrothermal vent fluids of the Mariana Arc seamounts. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 73, 538–549 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Huber, J. A., Butterfield, D. A. & Baross, J. A. Bacterial diversity in a subseafloor habitat following a deep-sea volcanic eruption. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 43, 393–409 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Falloon, T. J. et al. Boninites and adakites from the northern termination of the Tonga trench: Implications for adakite petrogenesis. J. Petrol. 49, 697–715 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Support from Ridge 2000 and the Margins programs helped in both mounting the expedition and in the selection of cruise participants. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation Marine Geology and Geophysics program (OCE-0929881 to K.H.R., OCE-0929411 to J.A.H., OCE-0930025 and OCE-0934660 to J.A.R., OCE-0934278 to D.A.C., OCE-0934651 to T.M.S. and NOAA-OE to R.W.E.), the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the NOAA VENTS Program, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation (AUV operations). Scheduling flexibility on the parts of the R/V T. G. Thompson and the National Deep Submergence Facility was essential for this project take place. Thanks to W. Lange and M. Morin at the Advanced Imaging and Visualization Laboratory at WHOI for video and still imagery. Thanks to Captain Al McClenahan and the crew of the T. G. Thompson, expedition leader Tito Collasius and the Jason team, and to Eric Hellbrand for assistance with the electron microprobe analysis. We thank R. J. Arculus and J. L. Charlou for reviewing this manuscript. This is PMEL Publication #3644, JISAO publication # 1838, and SOEST pub #8372.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Nicole S. Keller

    Present address: Present address: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, NOAA-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and The University of Washington, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA

    Joseph A. Resing, David A. Butterfield & Nathaniel J. Buck

  2. SOEST, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA

    Kenneth H. Rubin & James P. Cowen

  3. NOAA-PMEL, 2115 SE OSU Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365, USA

    Robert W. Embley & John E. Lupton

  4. NOAA-PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA

    Edward T. Baker & Sharon L. Walker

  5. CIMRS-Oregon State University, NOAA-PMEL, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2115 SE OSU Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365, USA

    Robert P. Dziak & Susan G. Merle

  6. Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich, Clausiusstrasse 25, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland

    Tamara Baumberger

  7. School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-7940, USA

    Marvin D. Lilley

  8. Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA

    Julie A. Huber

  9. Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1049, USA

    Timothy M. Shank

  10. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, California 95039, USA

    David A. Clague, David W. Caress & Hans Thomas

  11. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02536, USA

    Nicole S. Keller & Adam Soule

  12. Department of Geosciences, The University of Tulsa, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104, USA

    Peter J. Michael

  13. Institute of Environmental Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA

    Richard Davis

  14. Biology Department, Portland State University, 1719 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA

    Anna-Louise Reysenbach

Authors
  1. Joseph A. Resing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth H. Rubin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert W. Embley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John E. Lupton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Edward T. Baker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Robert P. Dziak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Tamara Baumberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Marvin D. Lilley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Julie A. Huber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Timothy M. Shank
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. David A. Butterfield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. David A. Clague
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Nicole S. Keller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Susan G. Merle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Nathaniel J. Buck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Peter J. Michael
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Adam Soule
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. David W. Caress
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Sharon L. Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. Richard Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. James P. Cowen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. Anna-Louise Reysenbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. Hans Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

J.A.R. was the Chief Scientist and lead author. K.H.R. described and curated the rock samples, analysed whole rock compositions and ages, and conducted the thin section analyses. R.W.E. was the co-chief scientist, collected and interpreted seafloor acoustic data, and made geological interpretations. J.E.L. was responsible for Helium analysis. E.T.B. conducted hydrographic operations. R.P.D. collected and interpreted moored acoustic data. T.B. conducted Hydrogen analysis. M.D.L. was responsible for gas geochemistry of fluids. J.A.H. made microbiological measurements of fluids. T.M.S. characterized shrimp populations. D.A.B. collected and analysed fluids directly above the eruptive vents. D.A.C. made volcanological observations and participated in the AUV mapping effort. N.S.K. and A.S. conducted H2O, CO2 and some Cl, F and S analysis of the lavas. S.G.M. collected multibeam data and produced the maps used here. N.J.B. conducted chemical analyses on the hydrocast samples. P.J.M. conducted major element and Cl, F and S analysis of the glass samples. D.W.C. processed multibeam data from the AUV. S.L.W. processed hydrographic data. R.E.D. analysed microbial mats. J.P.C. conducted DOC analyses. A-L.R. made microbial measurements of fluids. H.T. conducted AUV operations. Most of the authors participated at sea in the research expedition.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Joseph A. Resing or Nicole S. Keller.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Information (PDF 1089 kb)

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Information (XLSX 20 kb)

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Movies (WMV 18685 kb)

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Movies (WMV 22122 kb)

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Movies (WMV 25583 kb)

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Movies (WMV 19333 kb)

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Movies (WMV 23685 kb)

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Movies (WMV 24950 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Resing, J., Rubin, K., Embley, R. et al. Active submarine eruption of boninite in the northeastern Lau Basin. Nature Geosci 4, 799–806 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1275

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1275

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing Anthropocene

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Anthropocene newsletter — what matters in anthropocene research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Anthropocene