Age of sub-bottom sulfide samples at the TAG active mound

Abstract

Eight sulfide samples from eight cores from Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse (TAG) drilling areas 1, 2, 4, and 5 (ODP Leg 158) have been age dated using 210Pb/Pb and 230Th/234U methods. In spite of the low number of samples, they give a comprehensible scheme of the possible evolution of the TAG active mound from 20 ka to the present. In conjunction with previous geochronological results obtained from samples dredged or collected by the Alvin submersible research vehicle, a hypothesis for the development of this structure during the last 50 ka is proposed.