InRidge program: Preliminary results from the first cruise

The first cruise under India's own Ridge research initiative, InRidge colle cted new data on bathymetry, free-air gravity and magnetic anomalies across the ridge axis between the Vema and Zhivago transform faults in the Centra l Indian Ridge. In addition, basalt and ferro-manganese nodules were collec ted from the Vityaz transform fault area. Basalts are fresh and phyric, con taining plagioclase and olivine phenocrysts, Ferro-manganese nodules from t he same areas show smooth textures, variable oxide thicknesses and fresh ba saltic nuclei, Preliminary studies indicate a possible mixed hydrothermal a nd hydrogenous source for these nodules, The water column was also sampled at the Vema and Vityaz transform fault areas.