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Kavachi submarine volcano
Activity:
Latitude:
-8.9833
Longitude:
157.9667
Location on map:
Ocean:
Region:
National Jurisdiction:
Maximum or Single Reported Depth (mbsl):
500
Minimum Depth (mbsl):
200
Tectonic setting:
Volcano Number (if applicable):
Host Rock:
NotProvided
Deposit Type:
NotProvided
Notes on Vent Field Description:
New Georgia Group, Solomons; volcanically active, frequent submarine and subaerial eruptions; McConachy (2002): "witness spectacular Surtseyan eruptions of molten lava from a shallow summit just below sea level in May 2000"; Baker et al. (2002): "Only 2 of 22 water samples (at 14 and 237 m depth) showed evidence of hydrothermal and magmatic enrichment. These samples were elevated in δ3He, Fe, and Mn (one sample only), but not in CO2. We infer that the volcano flanks were essentially impermeable to fluid emissions and that the observed particle halo was created by magma shattering and resuspension."; SOLAVENTS 2002 cruise report states that methane indicates hydrothermal sources on flanks; may have been confirmed hydrothermally active in 2015 (Phillips et al. 2015)
Notes Relevant to Biology:
Phillips et al. (2015): "Populations of gelatinous animals, small fish, and sharks were observed inside the active crater"
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
2000 plume only
Discovery References (text):
(plume only) Baker et al. (2002) Observations and sampling of an ongoing subsurface eruption of Kavachi volcano, Solomon Islands, May 2000, Geology, 30 (11), 975-978.
Other References (text):
McConachy (2002) Submarine Hydrothermal Processes in Volcanic Arcs, Back Arcs and Continental Shelf Settings in the SW Pacific (http://smedg.org.au/McCJune02.pdf)
SOLAVENTS 2002 cruise report (http://www.marine.csiro.au/datacentre/process/data_files/cruise_docs/fr200203sum.pdf)
Phillips, B., et al. (2015) Exploring the “Sharkcano”: Biogeochemical observations of the Kavachi submarine volcano (Solomon Islands) using simple, cost-effective methods. Abstract submitted to AGU Fall Meeting 2015.
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