TECTONIC WINDOWS INTO THE OCEANIC LITHOSPHERE
Locations of tectonic windows and deep drill holes in oceanic crust formed at intermediate to fast rates.
HOV Alvin has been used extensively to study the geology of oceanic crust exposed in tectonic windows.
ROV Jason II permits extended surveys of oceanic crust in tectonic windows.
The Geocompass is a simple tool for measuring the orientation (strike and dip) of structures on the deep sea floor.
Comparison of sheeted dikes formed by seafloor spreading exposed in the Oman Ophiolite (left) and at the Pito Deep Rift (right).
Digital mosaic of sheeted dikes exposed on a cliff face at the Hess Deep Rift. Image is about 20 m high.
Columnar sections summarizing Alvin and Nautile dive data from the N wall of the Blanco Transform Fault (below). Dives were made in the area outlined in the bathymetric map (above).
Summary of oceanic crustal structure at the Hess Deep Rift (right) based on near-bottom geological investigations in the outlined area in the bathymetric map (above).
Summary of oceanic crustal structure at the Pito Deep Rift (right) based on near-bottom geological investigations in the outlined area in the bathymetric map (above).