Estimating the phase of the response of the Earth to long-period geomagnetic fluctuations

Samples collected by the deep submersible “Alvin” from four hot spring fields (T = 3–13°C) on the crest of the Galapagos spreading ridge show pronounced and varied compositional anomalies. If it is assumed that these have a general significance, that they are associated with hydrothermal reactions between seawater and basalt wherever new oceanic crust is being produced then global fluxes can be computed. These are large. For Mg and SO₄ they balance the river input. For Li and Rb they exceed it by factors of between five and ten. Calcium is supplied at a rate equivalent to that of non-carbonate Ca from the continents. The additions of K, Ba and Si are between one third and two thirds of the river load. There are large positive and negative anomalies for Cl and Na indicating that substantial amounts of Cl may be taken up by the newly formed crust and transported deep into the subduction zones.Where there are data in common, the field measurements agree with the experimental findings at low (<5) water/rock ratios.