Massive seafloor mounds depict potential for seafloor mineral deposits in the Great South Basin (GSB) offshore New Zealand.

ABSTRACT: Seafloor mounds are enigmatic features along many continental margins and are often interpreted as gas hydrate pingoes, seep deposits, mud volcanoes, or hydrothermal mounds. When such mounds occur in basins with past volcanic activities, they have the potential to host seafloor metalliferous deposits, which is generally overlooked. Using geophysical datasets, we document the fluid plumbing systems that promoted the formation of seafloor mounds in the Great South Basin (GSB), offshore New Zealand. We also investigate these mounds as potential seafloor metalliferous deposits. Our results reveal 9 seafloor mounds (~ 137 m high) above gigantic (~ 5.4 km high) fluid escape pipes that are associated with deeper crystalline rocks. The structural make-up of the mounds, their geospatial relationshi

SUBMITTER: Olakunle OK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8080569 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature