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NOAA Photo Library Image - expl1162

Galapagos 2005 Expedition. The lava flows in the photo above are young, because they show little accumulation of sediment. However, these lava flows appear to be coated with fine brown mud. This brown sediment is particulate iron oxide minerals that have fallen out of the plume of a nearby black smoker. Searching near this location led to discovery of black smokers.

Image ID: expl1162, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Photo Date: 2005 December 14
Credit: Image courtesy of UCSB, Univ. S. Carolina, NOAA, WHOI.

High Resolution Photo Available





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