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Hydrothermal Venting and Mineralization in the Crater of Kick'em Jenny Submarine Volcano, Grenada (Lesser Antilles)
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
  • Steven Carey, University of Rhode Island
  • Rene Olsen, University of Rhode Island
  • Katherine L.C. Bell, Ocean Exploration Trust
  • Robert Ballard, University of Rhode Island
  • Frederic Dondin, University of the West Indies
  • Chris Roman, University of Rhode Island
  • Clara Smart, University of Rhode Island
  • Marvin Lilley, University of Washington
  • John Lupton, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
  • Brad Seibel, University of Rhode Island
  • Winton Cornell, University of Tulsa
  • Craig Moyer, Western Washington University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2016
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GC006060
Disciplines
Abstract

Kick'em Jenny is a frequently erupting, shallow submarine volcano located 7.5 km off the northern coast of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles subduction zone. Focused and diffuse hydrothermal venting is taking place mainly within a small (∼70 × 110 m) depression within the 300 m diameter crater of the volcano at depths of about 265 m. Much of the crater is blanketed with a layer of fine-grained tephra that has undergone hydrothermal alteration. Clear fluids and gas are being discharged near the center of the depression from mound-like vents at a maximum temperature of 180°C. The gas consists of 93–96% CO2 with trace amounts of methane and hydrogen. Gas flux measurements of individual bubble streams range from 10 to 100 kg of CO2 per day. Diffuse venting with temperatures 5–35°C above ambient occurs throughout the depression and over large areas of the main crater. These zones are colonized by reddish-yellow bacteria with the production of Fe-oxyhydroxides as surface coatings, fragile spires up to several meters in height, and elongated mounds up to tens of centimeters thick. A high-resolution photomosaic of the inner crater depression shows fluid flow patterns descending the sides of the depression toward the crater floor. We suggest that the negatively buoyant fluid flow is the result of phase separation of hydrothermal fluids at Kick'em Jenny generating a dense saline component that does not rise despite its elevated temperature.

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Citation / Publisher Attribution

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 17, issue 3, p. 1000-1019

©2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Citation Information
Steven Carey, Rene Olsen, Katherine L.C. Bell, Robert Ballard, et al.. "Hydrothermal Venting and Mineralization in the Crater of Kick'em Jenny Submarine Volcano, Grenada (Lesser Antilles)" Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems Vol. 17 Iss. 3 (2016) p. 1000 - 1019
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/brad-seibel/37/