Sea Floor Exploration

The author participated in 38 sea going expeditions including the first manned-submersible project to explore the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the past 45 years of sea floor exploration. It summarizes the mineralogical and petrological composition of sea floor rocks, ocean floor volcanism in relation to the geological setting and the discovery of hydrothermal activity. In addition to learning about various scientific missions and their objectives, the reader is introduced to rift zones where the sea floor is being created, as well as to fracture zones, intraplate volcanoes, and the structural setting of subduction zones.

Introduction.- The birth of planet Earth.- Man's penetration into the abysses.- Sea floor rocks.- Earth's mantle melting and volcanism.- Hydrothermal activity and metalliferous deposits.- Oceanic ridges: Sea floor creation.- Fracture zones.- Voyage to Antarctica region.- Hotspots.- Subduction zones.

"This book can serve as text for students learning about sea floor exploration, but it could also serve students and researchers interested in physical geography, mineraology, petrology, oceanography, surveying and mapping and marine sciences. ... This book will help you to learn, explore, understand and appreciate a large part of the world that you rarely get a chance to see and understand in such a unique way." (Jeff Thurston, 3dvisworld.com, April, 2015)