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Atlantis Massif

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Atlantis Massif wwwlostcitywashingtonedugraphicsimagesAtlant

The Atlantis Massif is a prominent undersea massif in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a dome-shaped region approximately 10 miles (16 km) across and rising about 14,000 feet (4,267 m) from the sea floor. It is located at approximately 30°8'N latitude 42°8'W longitude; just east of the intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with the Atlantis Transform Fault. The highest point of the massif is around 700 metres (2,297 ft) beneath the surface.

Atlantis Massif IODPUSIO Expeditions Atlantis Massif Oceanic Core Complex

It is believed that the massif was formed underneath the nearby Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but pulled underneath the ridge during the movement of the plates, about 1.5 to 2 million years ago. Geologic studies of the massif have indicated that it is not composed of the black basalt typical of the ocean floor, but rather of dense green peridotite usually found in the mantle. The central dome is corrugated and striated in a way that is representative of an exposed ultramafic oceanic core complex.

Atlantis Massif Lost City Expedition The Rocks That Make up the Atlantis Massif

An expedition to the area in 1996 made an important advance in the study of the ocean floor. It found that a steeply sloping detachment fault is associated with the oceanic core complex structure. The dome was caused by mantle material being extruded to the surface. Another expedition discovered the Lost City hydrothermal field near the summit of the ridge in 2000.

Atlantis Massif Expedition 357 Atlantis Massif Serpentinization and Life ECORD

Another expedition in 2016 targeted this massif, drilling cores (IODP 357 expedition).

Atlantis Massif Atlantis Massif Nautilus Live

Atlantis Massif Gosciences Montpellier Drilling the Atlantis massif MAR 30N

Atlantis Massif Expedition to Undersea Mountain Yields New Information About Sub

References

Atlantis Massif Wikipedia