Near-seafloor magnetics of off-axis volcanism near the Kairei and
Yokoniwa hydrothermal fields of the Central Indian Ridge
Abstract
The Kairei and Yokoniwa hydrothermal fields are hosted in mafic as well
as ultramafic rocks distributed at an off-axis volcanic knoll of the
Central Indian Ridge. Despite intensive investigations, their geological
and geophysical background is still debated. Here, we show results of
near-seafloor magnetic field measurements using a submersible. We
investigated crustal magnetization of the hydrothermally altered zone
and surrounding lava flows, and evaluated their intensities compared to
previously reported values at axial areas of a spreading environment.
The Kairei hydrothermal field is characterized by low coherence between
observed and modeled anomalies and low values of magnetization. This
result suggests that magnetic minerals within basaltic lava flows were
likely altered by hydrothermal fluid circulation. The variation pattern
in the observed magnetic anomalies above the lava flows is in phase with
that of modeled magnetic anomalies for a simple assumption with a
magnetization direction parallel to the geomagnetic field. This result
suggests that these lava flows preserve normal magnetic polarity
corresponding to the Brunhes chron. The estimated magnetization
intensity reaches 20 A/m in this area, which is clearly greater than
that of the general off-axis crustal magnetization. This study provides
new insight into the distribution of highly magnetized lava flows and
indicates the distribution of recent off-axis volcanic activity, which
is potentially linked to sub-seafloor hydrothermal circulation.