L. Zuhlsdorff et al., Seismic reflectivity anomalies in sediments at the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge: Evidence for fluid migration?, J GEO R-SOL, 104(B7), 1999, pp. 15351-15364
A high-resolution seismic survey was carried out in the vicinity of Ocean D
rilling Program (ODP) Leg 168 drill sites at the eastern flank of the Juan
de Fuca Ridge. Three seismic systems with different source frequencies up t
o 4000 Hz were used simultaneously along each seismic line. The data sets w
ere combined to provide the best possible resolution at any given depth lev
el. An integrated interpretation of narrow zones of low reflection amplitud
es is presented, which are related to basement highs but are independent of
seafloor topography. The effect is most pronounced above a buried basement
ridge in the vicinity of ODP Sites 1030 and 1031, where higher porosity va
lues are present. Higher porosities can reduce seismic impedance contrasts
and may therefore cause the observed low reflection amplitudes. In addition
, Biot-Stoll's [Biot, 1956a, b; Stoll, 1989] model suggests that attenuatio
n coefficients are porosity dependent and reflection amplitudes are further
decreased at higher seismic frequencies when porosity increases. Since zon
es of higher porosities are potential pathways for fluids, they may be asso
ciated with hydrothermally driven fluid discharge, which was previously. pr
edicted above the buried basement ridge. It is therefore proposed that the
observed seismic amplitude reduction in the vicinity of ODP Sites 1030 and
1031 indicates zones of upward fluid migration.