Foundation Seamounts

Foundation Seamounts
South Pacific Ocean
Location
Location	South Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	35°S 120°W / 35°S 120°W / -35; -120[1]
Geology
Age of rock	Miocene-Pleistocene
History
Discovery date	1992

Foundation Seamounts are a series of seamounts in the southern Pacific Ocean. Discovered in 1992, these seamounts form a 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) long chain which starts from the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. Some of these seamounts may have once emerged from the ocean.

The Foundation Seamounts were probably formed by a now-weakening mantle plume called the Foundation hotspot that is located close to the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. It is possible that this hotspot generated additional volcanoes, such as the Ngatemato and Taukina seamounts farther west. The oldest volcanism on the Foundation Seamounts occurred 21 million years ago, while the youngest volcanism appears to be hydrothermal venting and the eruption of a lava flow between 1997 and 2001 where the Foundation Seamounts intersect the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge.