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Acoustic stratigraphy and hydrothermal activity within Epi Submarine Caldera, Vanuatu, New Hebrides Arc

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Abstract

Geological and geophysical surveys of active submarine volcanoes offshore and southeast of Epi Island, Vanuatu, New Hebrides Arc, have delineated details of the structure and acoustic stratigraphy of three volcanic cones. These submarine cones, named Epia, Epib, and Epic, are aligned east-west and spaced 3.5 km apart on the rim of a submerged caldera. At least three acoustic sequences, of presumed Quaternary age, can be identified on single-channel seismic-reflection profiles. Rocks dredged from these cones include basalt, dacite, and cognate gabbroic inclusions with magmatic affinities similar to those of the Karua (an active submarine volcano off the southeastern tip of Epi) lavas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, 94025, Menlo Park, CA, USA

    H. Gary Greene

  2. Bureau of Mineral Resources, G.P.O. Box 378, 2601, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia

    Neville F. Exon

Authors
  1. H. Gary Greene
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  2. Neville F. Exon
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Greene, H.G., Exon, N.F. Acoustic stratigraphy and hydrothermal activity within Epi Submarine Caldera, Vanuatu, New Hebrides Arc. Geo-Marine Letters 8, 121–129 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02326088

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02326088

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