Submarine volcanism surrounding Tenerife, Canary Islands: implications fortectonic controls, and oceanic shield forming processes

Using high-resolution bathymetric data, 97 seamounts within two large subma rine areas, N and SE of Tenerife, have been identified and studied in detai l. Main dimensions and associated parameters of these seamounts have been m easured, allowing a morphometric and morphologic classification on a shape basis. In order to be certain of their volcanic origin, several restrictive criter ia were applied (conical shape with maximum height >150 m, basal ratio >1, aspect ratio >0.1) to the initial tally, obtaining finally 31 regular shape s that can be identified without any reasonable doubt as volcanic seamounts , These are very similar to submarine volcanoes described elsewhere on the sea floor. Most of these volcanic seamounts are aligned along two lines that follow th e main volcano-tectonic trends of the Canary Archipelago. The NW-SE line cr osses the island, while the NE-SW line coincides with a seismically active reverse fault that separates the Tenerife and Gran Canaria insular blocks. The distribution of the submarine volcanism to the north of Tenerife permit s a better knowledge of the island from its base on the sea floor and defin es the tectonic control of the growth of the shield between 4 and 2 Ma. The refore, the evolution of the submarine edifice of Tenerife shows that the w idespread parasite or satellite eruption centres are also very important in the overall growth of large shield edifices of volcanic islands. (C) 2000 Elsevier science B.V. All rights reserved.