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Koko Guyot

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description Koko Guyot Overview

Koko Guyot is a large, flat-topped underwater volcano located in the northern Pacific Ocean within the Emperor seamount chain. It is notable for the recovery of 48-million-year-old volcanic rock samples during scientific deep-sea drilling projects. These geological findings have provided researchers with valuable data regarding the volcanic history and plate tectonics of the Hawaii-Emperor chain.

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What is Koko Guyot?

Koko Guyot is a flat-topped submarine volcano in the Emperor seamount chain of the northern Pacific. It is roughly 48 million years old, which places it near the southern end of the Emperor section of the Hawaiian-Emperor chain.

How did Koko Guyot get its flat top?

A guyot is generally an eroded volcanic island or seamount whose summit was planed near sea level before the Pacific Plate carried it downward. Koko's flat top therefore records a former shallow-water stage even though the volcano is now underwater.

What did scientists drill at Koko Guyot?

Ocean Drilling Program Leg 197 recovered cores from Koko Seamount, including material used to study its age and the history of the Emperor chain. One well-known site is Site 1206, where drilling reached volcanic material below the sediment.

Why is Koko Guyot important for studying the Hawaiian-Emperor bend?

Koko lies about 200 kilometers north of the bend where the Hawaiian Ridge changes direction into the Emperor chain. Its roughly 48.1-million-year age helps geologists test explanations involving Pacific Plate motion and hotspot migration.

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