The Atlantis Massif is a prominent undersea massif in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a dome-shaped region approximately across and rising about from the sea floor. It is located at approximately 30°8′N latitude 42°8′W longitude; just east of the intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with the Atlantis Transform Fault. The highest point of the massif is around beneath the surface.
Description
It is believed that the massif was formed underneath the nearby Mid-Atlantic Ridge but was pulled from under the ridge during the movement of the plates, about 1.5 to 2 million years ago. Geologic studies of the massif have indicated that it is not composed of the black basalt typical of the ocean floor but rather of dense green peridotite, which is usually found in the mantle. The central dome is corrugated and striated in a way that is representative of an exposed ultramafic oceanic core complex.
External links
- View of the Massif
- University of Washington: The Atlantis Massif
- Harvard University: Geology of the Atlantis Massif