Submersible Exploration of Guaymas Basin: A Preliminary Report of the Gulf of California 1977 Operations of DSV-4 Seacliff.
Abstract
A diving program with DSV-4 Seacliff examined the submarine geology of Guaymas Basin, a young and growing basin in the Gulf of California. Four dives in the axial rift valleys allowed observation of fresh normal fault scarps that were oriented parallel and orthogonal to the direction of relative plate motion; established that the major peaks within the axial rift valleys were sedimentary horsts and discovered and sampled extensive sinter terrraces of talc and metal sulfides, built around hydrothermal vents. Two dives across the southeast transform fault found no fresh fault scarps on sediment slopes that were efficiently tilled by a very dense benthic fauna, but encountered extensive ledges of clastic rocks that are believed to be outcrops of old 'protogulf' sediments. Two dives on the insular slope of Isla Tortuga photographed and sampled flow fronts of fresh pillow basalt that mark submarine flank eruptions. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 20, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA070066
Entities
People
- Peter Lonsdale
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography