Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geology and Geophysics of Gorda Ridge

  • Conference paper
Gorda Ridge

Abstract

Gorda Ridge is a relatively short (300 km) segment of volcanic ocean ridge that extends from the Mendocino Fracture Zone (40° 20′ N) to the Blanco Fracture Zone (43° 00′ N) off the coast of Oregon and California. The whole length of the ridge is within 200 nautical miles of the United States and therefore falls within the recently proclaimed U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The recent discovery of hydrothermal sulfides at several locations along the ridge may provide impetus for further exploration. This chapter presents the geologic and geophysical background of Gorda Ridge and the surrounding area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abbott DH, Morton JL, Holmes ML (1986) Heat flow measurements on a hydrothermally-active, slow spreading ridge: The Escanaba Trough. Geophys Res Lett 13: 678–680.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atwater TM, Mudie JD (1968) Block faulting on the Gorda Rise. Science 159: 729–731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atwater T, Mudie JD (1973) Detailed near-bottom geophysical study of the Gorda Rise. Geophys Res 78: 8665–8686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker ET, Massoth GJ, Collier RW, et al. (1987) Evidence for high-temperature hydrothermal venting on the Gorda Ridge, northeast Pacific Ocean. Deep-Sea Res 34: 1461–1476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bibee D (1983) OBS and sonobuoy study of faulting and hydrothermal activity on Gorda Ridge at 42°. Tech Report, Oregon State University, p 14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonatti E (1978) Vertical tectonism in oceanic fracture zones. Earth Planetary Sci Lett 37: 369–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolt BA, Lomnitz C, McKevilly TV (1968) Seismological evidence on the tectonics of central and northern California and the Mendocino Escarpment. Seismol Soc Am Bull 58: 1725–1767.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns RE (1970) Heat-flow operations at holes 35.0 and 35.1. In: McManus et al. (eds) Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Vol 5. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, pp 551–554.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clague DA, Friesen W, Quinterno P, et al. (1984) Preliminary geological, geophysical and biological data from Gorda Ridge. USGS Open File Report 84:364, p 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clague DA, Holmes ML (1987) Geology, petrology, and mineral potential of Gorda Ridge. In: Scholl et al. (eds) Geology and Resource Potential of the Continental Margin of Western North America and Adjacent Ocean Basins: Beaufort Sea to Baja California. Circum Pacific Council Energy Mineral Resources, Earth Sci Ser 6: 563–580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier RW, Holbrook SH, Robbins JM (1986) Studies of trace metals and active hydrothermal venting on Gorda Ridge. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open-File Report 0–86–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss JB, Dymond J, Gordon LI, et al. (1979) Submarine thermal springs on the Galapagos Rift. Science 203: 1073–1083.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis AS, Clague DA (1987) Geochemistry, mineralogy, and petrogenesis of basalt from Gorda Ridge. J Geophys Res 92: 10,467–10,483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis AS, Clague DA (1988) Petrology of gabbroic xenoliths from the northern Gorda Ridge. EOS, Trans Am Geophys Union 69: 1493.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCharon AV (1988) Structure and tectonics of Cascadia segment, central Blanco Transform Fault Zone. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, p 73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaney JR, Johnson HP, Karsten JL (1981) The Juan de Fuca Ridge—hot spot—propagating rift system: New tectonic, geochemical and magnetic data. J Geophys Res 86: 11747–11750.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dehlinger P, Couch RW, McManus DA, Gemperle M (1971) Northeast Pacific structure. In: AE Maxwell (ed) The Sea, Vol 4, Pt 2. New York: John Wiley, pp 133–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Embley RA, Kulm LD, Massoth G, Abbott D, Holmes M (1987) Morphology, structure and resource potential of the Blanco Transform Fault Zone. In: Scholl et al. (eds) Geological Resource Potential of Western North America and Adjacent Ocean Basins: Beaufort Sea to Baja California. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir Series pp 549–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel AEJ, Engel CG (1964) Basalts dredged from the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Science 140: 1321–1324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster TD (1962) Heat-flow measurements in the northeast Pacific and in the Bering Sea. J Geophys Res 67: 2991–2993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griggs GB, Kulm LD (1970) Physiography of Cascadia deep-sea channel. Northwest Sci 44: 82–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart R, Pyle D, Robbins J (1986) Hydrothermal sulfides, breccias, and greenstones from the Gorda depression. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-file Report 0–86–16, p 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrichs DF (1970) More bathymetrie evidence for block faulting on the Gorda Rise. Marine Res 28: 330–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard KJ (1989) Hydrothermal vents of Gorda Ridge, NE Pacific: Mineralogy and chemistry of sulfide chimneys, precipitates and alteration products. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, p 245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard KJ, Fisk MR (1988) Hydrothermal alumina-rich clays and boehmite on Gorda Ridge. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 52: 2269–2279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson SH, Jones PR (1978) Microearthquakes located on the Blanco Fracture zone with sonobuoy arrays. J Geophys Res 83: 255–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karlin R, Lyle M (1986) Sediment studies on the Gorda Ridge. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open-File Report 0–86–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlin R, Lyle M (1989) History of Holocene volcanic and hydrothermal activity in axial valley sediments on Gorda Ridge. Marine Geol (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay R, Hubbard NJ, Gast PW (1970) Chemical characteristics and origin of oceanic ridge volcanic rocks. J Geophys Res 75(8): 1585–1613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krause DC, Menard HW, Smith SM (1964) Topography and lithology of the Mendocino Ridge. J Marine Res 22: 236–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malahoff AM (1985) Hydrothermal vents and polymetallic sulfides of the Galapagos and Gorda/Juan de Fuca Ridge systems and of submarine volcanoes. Biol Soc Wash Bull 6: 19–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • McManus DA (1965) Blanco Fracture Zone, northeast Pacific Ocean. Marine Geol 3: 429–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McManus DA (1967) Physiography of Cobb and Gorda Rises, northern Pacific Ocean. Geol Soc Am Bull 78: 527–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McManus DA, et al. (1970) Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Vol 5. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, pp 65–172.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Melson WG, Vallier TL, Wright TL, Byerly G, Nelen J (1976) Chemical diversity of abyssal volcanic glass erupted along Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean sea-floor spreading centers. In Sutton GH, Manghani MH, Moberly R (eds). The Geophysics of the Pacific Ocean Basin and Its Margin. Washington: American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph 19: 351–367.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Melson WG, Byerly GR, Nelen JA, O’Hearn T, Wright TL, Vallier T (1977) A catalog of major element chemistry of abyssal volcanic glasses. In Mason B (ed). Smithsonian Contributions to Earth Sciences. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 19: 31–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore GW (1970) Sea-floor spreading at the junction between the Gorda Rise and the Mendocino Ridge. Geol Soc Am Bull 81: 2817–2824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore GW, Sharman GF (1970) Summary of SCAN site 4. In: McManus DA et al. (eds): Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Vol 5. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, pp 761–773.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton JL, Holmes ML, Koski RA (1987) Volcan-ism and massive sulfide formation at a sedimented spreading center, Escanaba Trough, Gorda Ridge. Geophys Res Lett 14: 769–772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raff AD, Mason RG (1961) Magnetic survey off the west coast of North America, 40 to 52°N latitude. Geol Soc Am Bull 72: 1267–1270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riddihough RP (1980) Gorda Plate motions from magnetic anomaly analysis. Earth Planetary Sci Lett 51: 163–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riddihough RP (1984) Recent movements of the Juan de Fuca plate system. J Geophys Res 89: 6980–6994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rona PA, Clague DA (1986) Geologic setting of hydrothermal activity at the northern Gorda Ridge, EOS. Trans Am Geophys Union 67: 1028.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rona PA, Denlinger R, Fisk M, et al. (1988) Hydrothermal activity on Gorda Ridge, EOS. Trans Am Geophys Union 69: 1588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheidegger KF (1973) Temperatures and compositions of magmas ascending beneath actively spreading mid-ocean ridges. Ph.D. Dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis, p 143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sclater JG, Jaupart C, Galson D (1980) The heat flow through oceanic and continental crust and the heat loss of the Earth. Rev Geophys Space Physics 18: 269–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selk BW (1978) The manganese-enriched sediments of the Blanco Trough: Evidence for hydrothermal activity in a fracture zone. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, p 137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver EA (1971) Tectonics of the Mendocino Triple Junction. Geol Soc Am Bull 82: 2965–2978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solano-Borrego AE (1982) Microseismicity on Gorda Ridge. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, p 76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess FN, Macdonald KC, Atwater T, et al. (1980) East Pacific Rise: Hot springs and geophysical experiments. Science 207: 1421–1433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoddard PR (1987) A kinematic model for the evolution of the Gorda Plate. J Geophys Res 92: 11524–11532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson G, Melson WG (1972) The petrology of oceanic crust across fracture zones in the Atlantic Ocean: Evidence for a new kind of sea-floor spreading. J Geol 80: 526–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toomey DR, Solomon SC, Purdy GM, Murray MH (1985) Microearthquakes beneath the median valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 23° N: Hypothesis and focal mechanism. J Geophys Res 90: 5443–5448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallier TL, Harold PJ, Girdley WA (1973) Provenances and dispersal patterns of turbidite sand in Escanaba Trough, Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Marine Geol 15: 67–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vine FJ, Matthews DH (1963) Magnetic anomalies of oceanic ridges. Nature 199: 947–949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Herzen RP (1964) Ocean-floor heat-flow measurements west of the United States and Baja California. Marine Geol 1: 225–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeham SE (1978) Petrochemical patterns in young pillow basalts dredged from Juan de Fuca and Gorda Ridges. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, p 95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde P, Chase TE, Holmes ML, et al. (1978) Oceanographie data off northern California-southern Oregon, 40° to 43° North including the Gorda Deep Sea Fan. LBL Publ. 251. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley Lab.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde P, Chase TE, Holmes ML, et al. (1979) Oceanographie data off Oregon 43° to 46°N including Astoria Deep-Sea Fan. LBL Publ. 253. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley Lab.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson DS (1984) Tectonic history of the Juan de Fuca Ridge over the last 40 million years. J Geophys Res 93: 11,863–11,876.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson DS (1986) A kinematic model for the Gorda deformation zone as a diffuse southern boundary of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. J Geophys Res 91: 10259–10269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zierenberg RA (1988) Preliminary results of ALVIN dives on active sediment-hosted massive sulfide deposits in the Escanaba Trough, southern Gorda Ridge. EOS 69: 1148.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Martin R. Fisk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katherine J. Howard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, 910 State Office Building, 97201, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Gregory R. McMurray

  2. Dames & Moore, 1750 SW Harbor Way, Portland, OR, 97201, USA

    Gregory R. McMurray

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this paper

Cite this paper

Fisk, M.R., Howard, K.J. (1990). Geology and Geophysics of Gorda Ridge. In: McMurray, G.R. (eds) Gorda Ridge. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3258-2_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3258-2_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7937-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3258-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation