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Franklin Seamount
Name Alias(es):
Vent Sites:
Beaujolais
Chablis
Activity:
Maximum Temperature:
Max Temperature Category:
Latitude:
-9.9083
Longitude:
151.8300
Location on map:
Ocean:
Region:
National Jurisdiction:
Maximum or Single Reported Depth (mbsl):
2366
Minimum Depth (mbsl):
2143
Tectonic setting:
Full Spreading Rate (mm/a):
23.9
Host Rock:
MORB, andesite
Deposit Type:
LTH, barite, silica, fe-oxide deposit
Notes on Vent Field Description:
at western Woodlark Spreading Center, Segment 1B, western Woodlark Basin; first deep-sea vent field found by Australians; 250-m high basalt-basaltic andesite volcano; large deposits of Fe and Mn oxides, silica, and barite deposits on flank and in caldera of axial volcano in the western Woodlark Basin (up to 200 m explored dimensions), venting clear fluid, 20-30°, many inactive deposits; temperature reported as 30 C in Hannington et al. (2005), but 350 C reported by Gordeev et al. (1992); Nautilus Minerals has tenements in Woodlark Basin that appear to include this location, however the resolution of the map is too coarse to confirm (http://www.nautilusminerals.com/i/photos/Aug07-2009/PNG_TenementsAllWebsite20090630.jpg); still active in 2009 (C. Devey, pers. comm.)
Notes Relevant to Biology:
sparse faunal community, sponges
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
1990 submersible Mir
Discovery References (text):
[Lisitsyn et al. (1991) ACTIVE HYDROTHERMAL ACTIVITY AT FRANKLIN SEAMOUNT, WESTERN WOODLARK SEA (PAPUA NEW GUINEA). International Geology Review 33: 914 - 929
Binns et al., Econ. Geol., 88, 2122-2153, 1993, Hydrothermal oxide and gold-rich sulfate deposits of Franklin Seamount, western Woodlark Basin, Papua New Guinea].
Other References (text):
G. Wheller et al. (1992) The PACMANUS/PACLARK Program: Search for modern “Kuroko-Type” analogues in the SW Pacific. InterRidge News 1: 7-9.
RDF link: