Explorer Ridge

The western side of the Explorer Ridge is associated with the northwest trending Pacific plate which has formed the Queen Charlotte Fault, an active transform fault along the coast of British Columbia and southeast Alaska.

Most seismicity recorded in this area occurred on or near the Explorer Transform Fault Zone.

[3] Along the Southern Explorer Ridge lies a large hydrothermal vent area called Magic Mountain.

The source of the hydrothermal fluid that fuels Magic Mountain probably rises along fault systems associated with a recent episode of rifting that, in turn, followed a massive outpouring of lava.

These vents are forming seafloor massive sulfide deposits on the ocean floor.

Bathymetry of Explorer Ridge area, collected between 1980 and 1984. Bathymetry is contoured at a 200-meter interval. The inset shows the ridge location. The open white circle represents the approximately location of the Magic Mountain vent site.
Pillow lavas and breccia overlain with slabby pieces of sulfide formed from hydrothermal venting on the east side of the Southern Explorer Ridge.
Bathymetry image showing the crest of Southern Explorer Ridge. Purple and dark blue colors indicate deepest depths.