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NWLSC, Central Caldera

Name Alias(es): 
Northwest Lau Spreading Center
northern caldera, NWLSC
MGDS_FeatureID lowest in hierarchy: 
Activity: 
Latitude: 
-15.8000
Longitude: 
-177.2666
Location on map: 
Ocean: 
Region: 
National Jurisdiction: 
Maximum or Single Reported Depth (mbsl): 
2200
Tectonic setting: 
Full Spreading Rate (mm/a): 
75.4
Volcano Number (if applicable): 
Host Rock: 
NotProvided
Deposit Type: 
NotProvided
Notes on Vent Field Description: 
NWLSC surveyed on cruise SS07-2008 NoLauVE cruise, cruise report (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/datacentre/process/data_files/cruise_docs/SS200807sum.pdf): "The Northwest Lau Spreading Centre (NWLSC) forms an asymmetric, inflated ridge terminated by right-lateral transcurrent faulting at both northern and southern terminations, with two large calderas... astride the Ridge. The northern caldera is hydrothermally active.", "hydrocast (NLH-28)... encountered a major structured transmission anomaly extending over ~300m depth range between 1790 and 2190m"; Lupton et al. (2012): "Four hydrocasts within Central Caldera exhibited strong signals in both %T and excess 3He", "we conclude that there is likely high temperature venting somewhere within the Central Caldera"
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first): 
2008 plume and dredge only
Discovery References (text): 
Arculus et al. (2008) cruise report (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/datacentre/process/data_files/cruise_docs/SS200807sum.pdf).
Lupton, J. E., R. J. Arculus, J. Resing, G. J. Massoth, R. R. Greene, L. J. Evans, and N. Buck (2012), Hydrothermal activity in the Northwest Lau Backarc Basin: Evidence from water column measurements, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 13, Q0AF04, doi:10.1029/2011GC003891.
Other References (text): 
Lupton et al. (2009) Hydrothermal systems and recent eruptive activity in the northern Lau Basin, South Pacific Ocean. Abstract Goldschmidt Conference 2009.