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

Using high-resolution bathymetric data, 97 seamounts within two large submarine areas, N and SE of Tenerife, have been identified and studied in detail. Main dimensions and associated parameters of these seamounts have been measured, allowing a morphometric and morphologic classification on a shape basis. In order to be certain of their volcanic origin, several restrictive criteria were applied (conical shape with maximum height >150 m, basal ratio >1, aspect ratio >0.1) to the initial tally, obtaining finally 31 regular shapes 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 the main volcano-tectonic trends of the Canary Archipelago. The NW-SE line crosses 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 permits a better knowledge of the island from its base on the sea floor and defines the tectonic control of the growth of the shield between 4 and 2 Ma. Therefore, the evolution of the submarine edifice of Tenerife shows that the widespread 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.