New age data for Mid‐Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal sites: TAG and Snakepit chronology revisited

The chronologies of TAG and Snakepit hydrothermal fields have been established using 210Pb/Pb, 230Th/234U and 14C dating. At the TAG field, a Mn-oxide record, indicative of low temperature events, began at least 125,000 years and possibly 140,000 years ago with maximum intensities at 15,000, 7000 and 4000 years before present. High temperature events, giving rise to sulfide deposits, began about 100,000 years ago and have been intermittent to the present day. A presently active site has experienced intermittent pulses of activity every 4000 to 6000 years over the past 20,000 years. Decrease in activity is often marked by low temperature aragonite precipitation in chimney conduits at 4000, 7000 and 9000 years ago. After a period of quiescence lasting about 4000 years this site was reactivated about 50 years ago. The Snakepit field is much younger and no sulfides older than 4000 years have been recovered. Relict sulfide deposits are dated between 2000 and 4000 years old indicating this site was active during a quiescent period at TAG. Reactivation of Snakepit. took place about 80 years ago, and is presently concurrent with that of TAG. Comparison with hydrothermal sites on the East Pacific Rise suggests that on slow spreading ridges the major fracture systems focussing the hydrothermal discharge can be reactivated at intervals and new deposits precipitated on top of older ones, while on faster spreading ridges each pulse of activity is separated in space and time resulting in discrete deposits.