Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Geologic Features of Liliʻuokalani Ridge Seamounts, Nautilus Live

What may look like a yellow brick road to the mythical city of Atlantis is really an example of ancient active volcanic geology Our Corps of Exploration have witnessed incredibly unique and fascinating geological formations while diving on the Liliʻuokalani Ridge within Papahānaumokuakea Marine National Monument. At the summit of Nootka Seamount, the team spotted a dried lake bed formation, now IDed as a fractured flow of hyaloclastite rock (a volcanic rock formed in highenergy eruptions where many rock fragments settle to the seabed). The unique 90degree fractures are likely related to heating and cooling stress from multiple eruptions at this baked margin. Throughout the seamount chain, the team also sampled basalts coated with ferromanganese (ironmanganese) crusts from across different depths and oxygen saturations as well as an interestinglooking pumice rock that almost resembled a sponge. Our exploration of this neverbeforesurveyed area is helping researchers take a deeper look at life on and