Bounty Seamount facts for kids

Bounty Seamount is a huge underwater mountain, also called a seamount. It's found deep in the Pacific Ocean. This amazing seamount reaches down to about 420 to 450 meters (1,378 to 1,476 feet) below the surface. From its base on the seafloor, it stands about 3,950 meters (12,960 feet) tall.

What is Bounty Seamount?

Bounty Seamount is part of a group of underwater mountains. These mountains are located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Pitcairn Island. This group includes several smaller seamounts. It also features the very large Adams Seamount. Scientists first discovered these underwater mountains in 1989.

How Bounty Seamount Looks

Bounty Seamount has a shape like a cone. It has three main peaks at its top. It also has several "rift zones." These are areas where the Earth's crust is pulling apart. The sides of the seamount are covered in special types of rock. These include pillow lavas, which look like stacked pillows. There are also hyaloclastites, which are broken pieces of volcanic glass. You can also see "parasitic vents." These are smaller openings where lava or gases can escape.

Size and Rocks of Bounty

Bounty Seamount is quite large. Its total volume is about 310 cubic kilometers (74 cubic miles). At its base, it measures about 19 kilometers (12 miles) wide. The volcano has erupted different kinds of rocks. These include alkali basalt, which is a dark volcanic rock. It also has trachyandesite and trachyte. These are lighter-colored volcanic rocks.

When Did Bounty Seamount Form?

Bounty Seamount was not formed all at once. It developed over several different stages. Scientists believe it could have grown over a period of 58,000 years. Rocks from Bounty Seamount have been studied. They used a method called potassium-argon dating. This method helps find the age of rocks. The alkali basalts from Bounty are about 344,000 years old.

Recent Activity at Bounty

Even though it's very old, Bounty Seamount shows signs of recent activity. Scientists have found traces of new volcanic action. They have also found signs of "hydrothermal venting." This means hot water is coming out of the seafloor.

Hydrothermal Vents Explained

Hydrothermal venting happens when fluids come out of the seamount. These fluids are not very hot, usually between 14 and 19 degrees Celsius (57 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit). As these fluids escape, they leave behind special crusts. These crusts are rich in iron. This shows that there is still some activity happening deep inside Bounty Seamount.