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Punta Mita, Bahia de Banderas

Name Alias(es): 
Vent Sites: 
Fisura de Las Coronas
Vent A
Maximum Temperature: 
85
Latitude: 
20.7700
Longitude: 
-105.5200
Location on map: 
Ocean: 
National Jurisdiction: 
Maximum or Single Reported Depth (mbsl): 
10
Minimum Depth (mbsl): 
Tectonic setting: 
Full Spreading Rate (mm/a): 
Volcano Number (if applicable): 
Host Rock: 
NotProvided
Deposit Type: 
NotProvided
Notes on Vent Field Description: 
Hydrothermal fluids are discharged at a temperature of 85 C. Preliminary data on the structures, pH, and seismic activity in the study zone were reported by Núñez-Cornú et al. (2000); not related to active volcanism; "continental margins actively affected by extension tectonic processes" (Canet and Prol-Ledesma 2007)
Notes Relevant to Biology: 
characterized by the presence of algal-mats that cover small mounds (up to 2.5 m in diameter and 0.75 m in height) around the submarine hot springs
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first): 
1997 photo/video most likely by SCUBA
Discovery References (text): 
Núñez-Cornú et al. (2000) Near shore submarine hydrothermal activity in Bahia Banderas, western Mexico. Geofisica Internacional 39: 171-178
Prol-Ledesma, R. et al. (2000) Mineralogy of a shallow hydrothermal submarine center near Punta Mita (western Mexico). Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2000, Kyushu-Tohoku, Japan: 1599-1604.
Other References (text): 
Alfonso, P. et al. (2005) Isotopic evidence for biogenic precipitation as a principal mineralization process in coastal gasohydrothermal vents, Punta Mita, Mexico. Chemical Geology 224: 113-121
Canet and Prol-Ledesma (2007) Mineralizing processes at shallow submarine hydrothermal vents: Examples from México. Geological Society of America Special Paper 422: 359–376, doi: 10.1130/2007.2422(13).