NEW UNDERWATER VOLCANIC FORMATIONS WEST OF SANTORINI ISLAND

9th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference - SGEM2009, www.sgem.org, SGEM2009 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN 10: 954-91818-1-2, June 14-19, 2009, Vol. 2, 257-264 pp

ABSTRACT

A marine archaeological survey reveals not only ancient relics, in cases of success but
interesting features on the seabed. During a field work, at the sea area westwards of
Santorini island, (South Aegean Sea, Greece) we discovered volcanic formations of
pillow lavas surrounded by hydrothermal vents, delineated by white bacterial mats and
drifted particulates in the water column. With side scan sonar, we recorded two circular
dome-like formations possibly of volcanic origin with nearby larger seamounts and
wide outcrops at a flat seabed area in linear arrangement.

Keywords: marine archaeology, shipwrecks, side scan sonar, pillow lavas, vents, bacterial mats, volcanic formations, seamounts