Several of these flat-topped slabs were observed near the beginning of Dive 13 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. They appeared to have detached from the upper summit of the seamount and fallen intact downslope along with sediments. Erosional features caused by sediments flowing downslope across the top of the slabs were visible as vertical, stripe-like patterns and fresher, blacker ferromanganese crusts could be seen precipitating on the side of these slab features.
Fallen Slabs
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts. Download larger version (jpg, 1.5 MB).

Several of these flat-topped slabs were observed near the beginning of Dive 13 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. They appeared to have detached from the upper summit of the seamount and fallen intact downslope along with sediments. Erosional features caused by sediments flowing downslope across the top of the slabs were visible as vertical, stripe-like patterns and fresher, blacker ferromanganese crusts could be seen precipitating on the side of these slab features.

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