This large angular boulder was observed resting on a pillow lava outcrop and volcaniclastic sediment and gravel cover during Dive 18 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Most likely the boulder broke off from an outcrop further up toward the seamount’s summit peak and rolled downslope. We saw several of these large displaced boulders during the dive, suggesting that the slope above the dive transect may be significantly unstable.
Displaced Boulder
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts. Download larger version (jpg, 1.2 MB).

This large angular boulder was observed resting on a pillow lava outcrop and volcaniclastic sediment and gravel cover during Dive 18 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Most likely the boulder broke off from an outcrop further up toward the seamount’s summit peak and rolled downslope. We saw several of these large displaced boulders during the dive, suggesting that the slope above the dive transect may be significantly unstable.

Learn more