Kasuga-3 Vent
Latitude: 21.4οN Longitude: 143.633οE Depth: 1120 m bsl
Kasuga 3 is a slightly oblate east-west elongated conical seamount (McMurtry et al., 1993), located in the rear arc of the Northern Seamount Province of the Mariana system. It shows both low and high temperature hydrothermal venting (McMurtry et al., 1993). 9οC temperature fluid venting was found at the base of a mound of lava rubble (McMurtry et al., 1993). However later studies did not see evidence for hydrothermal activity at Kasuga-3 as stated by Resing et al., (2009). There is no information about biological communities at Kasuga-3.
Table 1: Operations history for Kasuga 3 vent
| Ship/ Platform | Operation | Year | References |
|
TN-153 R/V T. G. Thompson |
EM 300 multibeam; CTD tow-yo |
2003 February – March | Submarine Ring of Fire 2003 |
Table 2: Vent activity and host rocks
| Activity and host rocks | References | |
| Activity | Active No activity at present |
McMurtry et al., 1993, InterRidge Vents Database
Embley et al., 2004; Resing et al., 2009 |
| Host Rocks |
Calc-alkaline (medium-high K-basalts and absarokites) and subordinate andesites and dacites |
Stern et al., 1993 |
Table 3: Vent fluid characteristics
| Vent Fluids | References | |
| Temperature (οC) | 9oC | McMurtry et al., 1993 |
| pH at 27οC | 7.41 | McMurtry et al., 1993 |
| Composition |
No optical or chemical plume anomalies were detected. No H2S odor Si concentration is 3 times the ambient seawater, CH4 is twice the ambient seawater. Rb+, Ba2+, Ca2+ Sr2+, Fe, Mn are enriched while Mg2+ depleted relative to ambient seawater. |
Baker et al 2008 McMurtry et al., 1993 |
Biology: None known
Images: None known
Video Links: None known
References:
- Baker, E. T., Embley, R. W., Walker, S. L., Resing, J. A., Lupton, J. E., Nakamura, K., de Ronde, C. E. J., Massoth, G. J., 2008. Hydrothermal activity and volcano distribution along the Mariana arc: Journal of Geophysical Research 113 (B8), 1-16.
- Embley, R. W., Baker, E. T., Chadwick, W. W. JR., Lupton, J. E., Resing, J. A., Massoth, G. J., Nakamura, K., 2004. Explorations of Mariana Arc. Eos 85 (4), 37-44.
- McMurtry, G. M., Sedwick, P. N., Fryer, P., VonderHaar, D. L., Yeh, H. W., 1993. Unusual geochemistry of hydrothermal vents on submarine arc volcanoes Kasuga Seamounts, Northern Mariana Arc. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 114, 517-528.
- Resing, J. A., Baker, E. T., Lupton, J. E., Walker, S. L., Butterfield, D. A., Massoth, G. J., Nakamura, K., 2009. Chemistry of hydrothermal plumes above submarine volcanoes of the Mariana Arc. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 10 (2), 1-23.
- Stern, R. J., Jackson, M. C., Fryer, P., Ito, E., 1993. O, Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic composition of the Kasuga Cross-Chain in the Mariana Arc: A new perspective on the K-h relationship. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 119, 459-475.
Website References:
- InterRidge Vents Database Ver. 3.3; http://ventsdata.interridge.org/ventfield/kasuga-3-seamount (accessed 11/25/2015)
Cruise Reports:
- NOAA Ocean Explorer: Submarine Ring of Fire 2003, http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03fire/logs/summary/marianas cruisereport.pdf (accessed 11/25/2015)