Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-villars
Résumé : Seismic, Seabeam, magnetic and gravimetrie surveys in the southern part of the N-Fiji basin were conducted during the SEAPSO LEG III Cruise. The active spreading axis was recognized between 17°30'S and 21°S. It consists of a continuous N-S Ridge cross-cut by transverse directions oriented N25 and N45. North of 17°30'S, the spreading System is more complex due to the existence of a possible triple junction located around 15° S. The eastern part of the N-Fiji basin, west of Viti Levu is mostly characterized by alternating highs and deeps (<4,000 m). This area must be regarded no more as a spreading center, but as complex boundary suffering transverse tectonics.
La mission SEAPSO III a permis de localiser une zone d'accrétion active, d'orientation méridienne et pratiquement continue entre 17°30'S et 21° S. Des accidents transverses, qui encadrent ou recoupent cette dorsale, s'orientent autour de deux directions principales N25 et N45. Au Nord de 17 30'S le système d'accrétion, beaucoup plus complexe, annonce la triple jonction reconnue aux alentours de 15" S. La partie orientale du bassin Nord-Fidjien (à l'Ouest de l'île de Viti Levu) est caractérisée par l'alternance de zones hautes et de dépressions dont certaines dépassent 4000 m de profondeur. Il s'agit d'une zone complexe de déformations liées à des accidents cisaillants transverses.
Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences Serie II (1251-8069) (Gauthier-villars), 1986-06 , Vol. 303 , N. 1 , P. 93-98

Droits : Académie des Sciences
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00184/29492/27835.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00184/29492/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : We report on a multidisciplinary study of cold seeps explored in the Central Nile deep-sea fan of the Egyptian margin. Our approach combines in situ seafloor observation, geophysics, sedimentological data, measurement of bottom-water methane anomalies, pore-water and sediment geochemistry, and Th-230/U dating of authigenic carbonates. Two areas were investigated, which correspond to different sedimentary provinces. The lower slope, at similar to 2100 m water depth, indicates deformation of sediments by gravitational processes, exhibiting slope-parallel elongated ridges and seafloor depressions. In contrast, the middle slope, at similar to 1650 m water depth, exhibits a series of debris-flow deposits not remobilized by post-depositional gravity processes. Significant differences exist between fluid-escape structures from the two studied areas. At the lower slope, methane anomalies were detected in bottom-waters above the depressions, whereas the adjacent ridges show a frequent coverage of fractured carbonate pavements associated with chemosynthetic vent communities. Carbonate U/Th age dates (similar to 8 kyr BP), pore-water sulphate and solid phase sediment data suggest that seepage activity at those carbonate ridges has decreased over the recent past. In contrast, large (similar to 1 km(2)) carbonate-paved areas were discovered in the middle slope, with U/Th isotope evidence for ongoing carbonate precipitation during the Late Holocene (since similar to 5 kyr BP at least). Our results suggest that fluid venting is closely related to sediment deformation in the Central Nile margin. It is proposed that slope instability leads to focused fluid flow in the lower slope and exposure of 'fossil' carbonate ridges, whereas pervasive diffuse flow prevails at the unfailed middle slope.
Marine Geology (0025-3227) (Elsevier), 2009-06 , Vol. 261 , N. 1-4 , P. 92-104

Droits : 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6586.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.margeo.2008.10.008
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6586/

Éditeur(s) : American Geophysical Union
Résumé : We present new high-resolution bathymetry and backscatter data acquired in 2006 with the ROV Victor 6000 over the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. As long-term monitoring of the Lucky Strike area (MoMAR project) is being implemented, these new high-resolution data offer an unprecedented view of the distribution of hydrothermal edifices, eruptive facies, and small-scale tectonic features in the Lucky Strike vent field. We show that vents located in the NW and NE correspond with wide expanses of lumpy seafloor which we interpret as primarily made of broken chimneys and sulfide edifices. They are found above scarps with relief > 50 m or on associated mass wasting deposits. By contrast, the SE and SW vents correspond with small expanses of lumpy seafloor and are located near smaller scarps which we interpret as more recent faults. Hydrothermal edifices in the SW venting area appear very recent, postdating the emplacement and faulting of the most recent lava. We propose that this difference in the age of hydrothermal edifices does not mean that hydrothermal venting itself is more recent in the southern part of the Lucky Strike field because preexisting sulfide deposits there may have been buried by recent volcanic deposits. Instead, the older edifices in the northern part of the hydrothermal field may have been allowed more time to grow because they are set above the level of recent lava flows. The formation of a lava lake is the most recent eruptive event detected at Lucky Strike. Lava drainback is evidenced by benches and lava pillars, suggesting a close connection with an underlying magma reservoir, which probably corresponds to the melt body imaged by Singh et al. (2006). We have found no evidence that this lake was active for months to decades, as lava lakes at terrestrial volcanoes. It may instead have formed as a lava pond, with successive lava flows covering the eruptive vents, as proposed for similar features at the EPR. The horizontal surface of the lake is deformed only near its southwestern shore, along a NNE-trending set of faults and fissures, which appear to control the distribution of hydrothermal chimneys.
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (1525-2027) (American Geophysical Union), 2009-02 , Vol. 10 , N. 2 , P. 1-18

Droits : 2009 American Geophysical Union
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6161.pdf
DOI:10.1029/2008GC002171
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6161/

Éditeur(s) : Amer Geophysical Union
Résumé : Recent ROV dives and high-resolution bathymetric data acquired over the Ashadze fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (13 degrees N) allow us to derive constraints on the regional and local geological setting of ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal fields. The active vent fields of Ashadze hydrothermal fields are located in the western axial valley wall, downslope from the termination of a prominent corrugated surface and in a transitional domain with respect to ridge segmentation. The study of the shipboard and ROV bathymetry shows that decameter (100 m by 60 m) to kilometer-scaled rockslides shape the axial valley wall slopes in this region. The Ashadze 1 vent field occurs on a coherent granular landslide rock mass that is elongated in an E-W direction. The Ashadze 1 vent field comprises hundreds of active and inactive sulfide chimneys. The Ashadze 2 vent field is located in a NNE-trending linear depression which separates outcrops of gabbros and serpentinized peridotites. Active black smokers in the Ashadze 2 field are located on ultramafic substratum in a 40-m diameter crater, 5-m deep. This crater recalls similar structures described at some vents of the Logatchev hydrothermal field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge 15 degrees N). We discuss the mode of formation for these craters, as well as that for a breadcrust-like array of radial fissures identified at Ashadze 1. We propose that hydrothermalism at Ashadze can be an explosive phenomena associated with geyser-like explosions. Our study also constrains the geological and geophysical context of the ultramafic-hosted Ashadze hydrothermal system that may use the oceanic detachment fault as a preferred permeability conduit.
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (1525-2027) (Amer Geophysical Union), 2012-11 , Vol. 13 , N. 1 , P. Q0AG14

Droits : 2012. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00111/22223/19895.pdf
DOI:10.1029/2012GC004433
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00111/22223/

Éditeur(s) : Ieee
Résumé : This paper describes the new survey module (called "Module de Mesures en Route"), of the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Victor 6000 and presents the first results obtained during two scientific cruises held during the summer of 2006 (Viking and Momareto).
Oceans 2007 - Europe, Vols 1-3 (Ieee), 2007 , P. 133-138

Droits : 2007 IEEE
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/publication-3596.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3596/

Éditeur(s) : Geological Soc Amer, Inc
Résumé : Pockmarks are seafloor depressions commonly associated with fluid escape from the seabed and are believed to contribute noticeably to the transfer of methane into the ocean and ultimately into the atmosphere. They occur in many different areas and geological contexts, and vary greatly in size and shape. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of pockmark growth are still largely unclear. Still, seabed methane emissions contribute to the global carbon budget, and understanding such processes is critical to constrain future quantifications of seabed methane release at local and global scales. The giant Regab pockmark (9 degrees 42.6' E, 5 degrees 47.8' S), located at 3160 m water depth near the Congo deep-sea channel (offshore southwestern Africa), was investigated with state-of-the-art mapping devices mounted on IFREMER's (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Victor 6000. ROV-borne micro-bathymetry and backscatter data of the entire structure, a high-resolution photo-mosaic covering 105,000 m(2) of the most active area, sidescan mapping of gas emissions, and maps of faunal distribution as well as of carbonate crust occurrence are combined to provide an unprecedented detailed view of a giant pockmark. All data sets suggest that the pockmark is composed of two very distinctive zones in terms of seepage intensity. We postulate that these zones are the surface expression of two fluid flow regimes in the subsurface: focused flow through a fractured medium and diffuse flow through a porous medium. We conclude that the growth of giant pockmarks is controlled by self-sealing processes and lateral spreading of rising fluids. In particular, partial redirection of fluids through fractures in the sediments can drive the pockmark growth in preferential directions.
Geology (0091-7613) (Geological Soc Amer, Inc), 2014-01 , Vol. 42 , N. 1 , P. 63-66

Droits : 2013 Geological Society of America
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00186/29731/28293.pdf
DOI:10.1130/G34801.1
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00186/29731/