Muir Seamount
Encyclopedia
Muir Seamount is a seamount
(underwater volcano) in the Corner Rise seamount chain
, located at 33°43.20′N 62°29.40′W. It is located in the Bermuda rise
, a seismically active region, and was the site of an earthquake on March 24, 1978.
Fourteen core sample
s of up to 125,000 years of age were collected off of Muir Seamount, ranging in depth to more than 3000 m (9,843 ft). These samples were used to analyze the weight percentage of carbonate
over time on the ocean floor, which in turn would provide clues to the oceanic environment over time. Overall concentrations were most stable at 4650 m (15,256 ft) of depth. This was interpreted as indicating an increase in flow form colder waters of Antarctic flow, and the stagnation of the North America
n flows. A total of 8 core samples have been gathered, with ages ranging from Pliocene
to Late Cretaceous
. No radiometric dates are available for the seamount, but it may of Early Cretaceous
time.
Over 150 invertebrate
s have been collected in total from Bear
, Manning
, and Muir seamounts. Ophiuroids and goose barnacles are the most abundant animal found on the seamount, as is Asteroshchema sp., a basket star
. Paragorgia have also been observed. Genetic tests on the specimens collected indicated that Muir Seamount is the most genetically isolated
of the four.
Seamount
A seamount is a mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach to the water's surface , and thus is not an island. These are typically formed from extinct volcanoes, that rise abruptly and are usually found rising from a seafloor of depth. They are defined by oceanographers as...
(underwater volcano) in the Corner Rise seamount chain
Corner Rise Seamounts
The Corner Rise Seamounts are a chain of extinct submarine volcanoes in the northern Atlantic Ocean east of the New England Seamount chain.-Seamounts:Seamounts within the Corner Rise Seamount chain include:*Bean Seamount*Caloosahatchee Seamount...
, located at 33°43.20′N 62°29.40′W. It is located in the Bermuda rise
Bermuda hotspot
The Bermuda hotspot is the supposed "hotspot" proposed to explain the Bermuda Rise , and also...
, a seismically active region, and was the site of an earthquake on March 24, 1978.
Fourteen core sample
Core sample
A core sample is a cylindrical section of a naturally occurring substance. Most core samples are obtained by drilling with special drills into the substance, for example sediment or rock, with a hollow steel tube called a core drill. The hole made for the core sample is called the "core hole". A...
s of up to 125,000 years of age were collected off of Muir Seamount, ranging in depth to more than 3000 m (9,843 ft). These samples were used to analyze the weight percentage of carbonate
Carbonate
In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid, characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, . The name may also mean an ester of carbonic acid, an organic compound containing the carbonate group C2....
over time on the ocean floor, which in turn would provide clues to the oceanic environment over time. Overall concentrations were most stable at 4650 m (15,256 ft) of depth. This was interpreted as indicating an increase in flow form colder waters of Antarctic flow, and the stagnation of the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n flows. A total of 8 core samples have been gathered, with ages ranging from Pliocene
Pliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
to Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
. No radiometric dates are available for the seamount, but it may of Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous
The Early Cretaceous or the Lower Cretaceous , is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous...
time.
Over 150 invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s have been collected in total from Bear
Bear Seamount
The Bear Seamount is a guyot in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the oldest of the New England Seamount chain, which was active more than 100 million years ago. It was formed when the North American Plate moved over the New England hotspot.- External links :*...
, Manning
Manning Seamount
The Manning Seamount is a guyot in the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the New England Seamount chain, which was active more than 100 million years ago. It was formed when the North American Plate moved over the New England hotspot....
, and Muir seamounts. Ophiuroids and goose barnacles are the most abundant animal found on the seamount, as is Asteroshchema sp., a basket star
Basket star
Basket stars are a group of brittle stars. They are treated as a suborder Euryalina or order Euryalida. Many of them have characteristic many-branched arms. They generally live in deep sea habitats.The life span in the wild is up to 35 years. They weigh around 11 lbs, or 5 kg...
. Paragorgia have also been observed. Genetic tests on the specimens collected indicated that Muir Seamount is the most genetically isolated
Genetic isolate
A genetic isolate is population of organisms that has little genetic mixing with other organisms within the same species. This may result in speciation, but this is not necessarily the case...
of the four.