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Magic Mountain
Name Alias(es):
southern Explorer Ridge, 49 45'N
MGDS_FeatureID lowest in hierarchy:
Vent Sites:
Majestic Chimney Field (Anhydrite 1-4, Magestic, Obelisk, Digit Field)
Merlin Chimney Field (Stump, Tubeworm, Beercan, Limpet, Anhydrite)
Mystic Chimney Field (Einstein, Eastern Island, Ridge Top)
Zoo Chimney Field (Zooarium, Dead Chimney, Recordbreaker, Zeus)
Activity:
Maximum Temperature:
311
Latitude:
49.7500
Longitude:
-130.2667
Location on map:
Ocean:
Region:
National Jurisdiction:
Maximum or Single Reported Depth (mbsl):
1850
Minimum Depth (mbsl):
1800
Tectonic setting:
Full Spreading Rate (mm/a):
56.3
Host Rock:
N + E-MORB
Deposit Type:
PMS, polymetallic massive sulfides
Notes on Vent Field Description:
large active sulfide deposits, metalliferous sediments, Fe oxide gossans, low-temperature Fe oxide and silica chimneys, and associated Fe-Mn crusts; high-temperature vents, high trace metal fluids with no H2S (250 m x 200 m approx. explored dimen); cruise with AUV ABE in 2002 located vents outside the axial rift graben adjacent to the graben's eastern bounding fault; AGOR 171 is mentioned as a separate, unconfirmed hydrothermal vent field 2km to west of Magic Mountain in Y. Beaudoin's thesis (https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/16006/1/MQ58812.pdf)
Notes Relevant to Biology:
Vestimentifera, gastropods, Alvinellidae, Ampharetidae, actinians; see Tunnicliffe et al. (1986)
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
1984 submersible Pisces IV
Discovery References (text):
Tunnicliffe et al., Deep Sea. Res. A, 33, 401-412, 1986, Hydrothermal vents of Explorer Ridge, northeast Pacific.
Other References (text):
Hannington et al., Mar. Geol., 101, 217-248, 1991, Comparative mineralogy and geochemistry of gold-bearing sulfide deposits on the mid-ocean ridges
Beaudoin, Y. (2001) Physiology, Geology and Geochemistry of the Southern Explorer Ridge Seafloor Hydrothermal Site Using an Integrated GIS Database and 3D Modeling. Master's Thesis, University of Toronto
Yoerger, D.R. et al. (2007) Mid-ocean ridge exploration with an autonomous underwater vehicle. Oceanography 20(4): 52-61.
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