Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity

Abstract Eruptive timing in mid‐ocean ridge systems is relatively poorly constrained, despite being an important variable in our understanding of many mid‐ocean ridge processes, including volcanic construction; magma recharge, flux, and storage; and the stability of hydrothermal systems and biologic...

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Main Authors: Julie A. Bowles, Alice Colman, J. Timothy McClinton, John M. Sinton, Scott M. White, Kenna H. Rubin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-06-01
Series:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005315
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author Julie A. Bowles
Alice Colman
J. Timothy McClinton
John M. Sinton
Scott M. White
Kenna H. Rubin
author_facet Julie A. Bowles
Alice Colman
J. Timothy McClinton
John M. Sinton
Scott M. White
Kenna H. Rubin
author_sort Julie A. Bowles
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Eruptive timing in mid‐ocean ridge systems is relatively poorly constrained, despite being an important variable in our understanding of many mid‐ocean ridge processes, including volcanic construction; magma recharge, flux, and storage; and the stability of hydrothermal systems and biological communities. Only a handful of absolute eruption chronologies exist, yet they are essential in understanding how eruptive timing varies with important controlling variables. To construct an eruptive history at one location on the Galapagos Spreading Center, we present age determinations derived from geomagnetic paleointensity. To aid interpretation of the paleointensity data, we also present results from on‐bottom magnetic anomaly measurements and forward modeling of topographic‐induced magnetic anomalies. Anomalies may lead to a 1–2 µT bias in flow‐mean paleointensities, which does not significantly affect the overall interpretation. Paleointensity results for the three youngest sampled units are indistinguishable, consistent with the flows being emplaced in relatively rapid succession. Comparisons with models of geomagnetic field behavior suggest these flows were erupted sometime in the past 100–200 years. The fourth sampled unit has a significantly higher paleointensity, consistent with an age of roughly 400 years. The possible bias in paleointensity data allows for ages as young as ∼50 years for the youngest three flows and 200–400 years for the oldest flow. This age distribution demonstrates an episodicity in the emplacement of the largest flows at this location, with a 200–300 year period of relative quiescence between emplacement of the oldest unit and the three youngest units.
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spelling doaj-art-d0d7f3cbba274c738de3d44af4ffb0902025-08-20T03:26:49ZengWileyGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems1525-20272014-06-011562211222410.1002/2014GC005315Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensityJulie A. Bowles0Alice Colman1J. Timothy McClinton2John M. Sinton3Scott M. White4Kenna H. Rubin5Department of GeosciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MilwaukeeMilwaukee Wisconsin USADepartment of Geology and GeophysicsUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu Hawaii USADepartment of Earth and Ocean SciencesUniversity of South CarolinaColumbia South Carolina USADepartment of Geology and GeophysicsUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu Hawaii USADepartment of Earth and Ocean SciencesUniversity of South CarolinaColumbia South Carolina USADepartment of Geology and GeophysicsUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu Hawaii USAAbstract Eruptive timing in mid‐ocean ridge systems is relatively poorly constrained, despite being an important variable in our understanding of many mid‐ocean ridge processes, including volcanic construction; magma recharge, flux, and storage; and the stability of hydrothermal systems and biological communities. Only a handful of absolute eruption chronologies exist, yet they are essential in understanding how eruptive timing varies with important controlling variables. To construct an eruptive history at one location on the Galapagos Spreading Center, we present age determinations derived from geomagnetic paleointensity. To aid interpretation of the paleointensity data, we also present results from on‐bottom magnetic anomaly measurements and forward modeling of topographic‐induced magnetic anomalies. Anomalies may lead to a 1–2 µT bias in flow‐mean paleointensities, which does not significantly affect the overall interpretation. Paleointensity results for the three youngest sampled units are indistinguishable, consistent with the flows being emplaced in relatively rapid succession. Comparisons with models of geomagnetic field behavior suggest these flows were erupted sometime in the past 100–200 years. The fourth sampled unit has a significantly higher paleointensity, consistent with an age of roughly 400 years. The possible bias in paleointensity data allows for ages as young as ∼50 years for the youngest three flows and 200–400 years for the oldest flow. This age distribution demonstrates an episodicity in the emplacement of the largest flows at this location, with a 200–300 year period of relative quiescence between emplacement of the oldest unit and the three youngest units.https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005315Galapagos Spreading Centermid‐ocean ridgessubmarine volcanismgeomagnetic paleointensity
spellingShingle Julie A. Bowles
Alice Colman
J. Timothy McClinton
John M. Sinton
Scott M. White
Kenna H. Rubin
Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Galapagos Spreading Center
mid‐ocean ridges
submarine volcanism
geomagnetic paleointensity
title Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity
title_full Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity
title_fullStr Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity
title_full_unstemmed Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity
title_short Eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°W on the hot spot‐influenced Galapagos Spreading Center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity
title_sort eruptive timing and 200 year episodicity at 92°w on the hot spot influenced galapagos spreading center derived from geomagnetic paleointensity
topic Galapagos Spreading Center
mid‐ocean ridges
submarine volcanism
geomagnetic paleointensity
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005315
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