Local Seismicity of the Rainbow Massif on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge

The Rainbow massif, an oceanic core complex located in a nontransform discontinuity on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (36°N), is notable for hosting high‐temperature hydrothermal discharge through ultramafic rocks. Here we report results from a 9 month microearthquake survey conducted with a network of 13 o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geophysical research. Solid earth 2018-02, Vol.123 (2), p.1615-1630
Main Authors: Horning, G., Sohn, R. A., Canales, J. P., Dunn, R. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Convection
Deformation
Deformation mechanisms
Geophysics
Microearthquakes
mid‐ocean ridge
Ocean bottom
Ocean bottom seismometers
Ocean floor
Reflectors
Rocks
Seismic refraction
Seismicity
Seismographs
Seismometers
Serpentinization
Sills
Surveying
ultramafic massif
Ultramafic rocks
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Summary:The Rainbow massif, an oceanic core complex located in a nontransform discontinuity on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (36°N), is notable for hosting high‐temperature hydrothermal discharge through ultramafic rocks. Here we report results from a 9 month microearthquake survey conducted with a network of 13 ocean bottom seismometers deployed on and around the Rainbow massif as part of the MARINER experiment in 2013–2014. High rates (~300 per day) of low‐magnitude (average ML ~ 0.5) microearthquakes were detected beneath the massif. The hypocenters do not cluster along deeply penetrating fault surfaces and do not exhibit mainshock/aftershock sequences, supporting the hypothesis that the faulting associated with the exhumation of the massif is currently inactive. Instead, the hypocenters demarcate a diffuse zone of continuous, low‐magnitude deformation at relatively shallow (
ISSN:2169-9313
2169-9356
DOI:10.1002/2017JB015288