Wilson Cycle Phase 2: Ocean Opening

“…for times before the present oceans existed, we cannot do plate tectonics. Instead we must consider the life cycles of the ocean basins.”

~ John Tuzo Wilson

In the 12 minute video below (a great and quick watch), “Wilson Cycle Phase 2: Ocean Opening”, we continue our travels with Professor Dougal Jerrom of Oslo University, to look at evidence of the former presence of oceanic crust.

The first evidence we find is the presence of pillow basalts formed in the deep ocean. Pillow basalts are erupting magma that is quenched (hardened) by the ocean water. The scientists can tell that the ocean was deep because the pressure of the water allowed the gases to be released in solution (no vesicles in the basalt). Pillow basalts are the top layer of oceanic crust.

Secondly we find evidence of a black smoker in a copper mine. The black smoker was created by hydrothermal activity, as evidenced by the presence of copper and other minerals, in the sheeted dikes, the second layer of oceanic crust.

Wilson Cycle Phase 2: Ocean Opening: https://youtu.be/AtflMez-Zb4

Includes Step 3 and 4 of the Wilson Cycle: c.im/@vickyveritas/10962360456...

Note: We will see the other steps of the Wilson Cycle in this series. More to come!


#TheWilsonCycle #Caledonides #Norway #PlateTectonics #geology #PillowBasalts #SheetedDikes #BlackSmoker #HydrothermalActivity #ScienceMastodon #NorwegianGeologyRocks @geology