The chronologies of TAG and Snakepit hydrothermal fields have been established using 210Pb/Pb, 230Th/234U and 14C dating. At the TAG field, a Mn‐oxide record, indicative of low temperature events, began at least 125,000 years and possibly 140,000 years ago with maximum intensities at 15,000, 7000 and 4000 years before present. High temperature events, giving rise to sulfide deposits, began about 100,000 years ago and have been intermittent to the present day. A presently active site has experienced intermittent pulses of activity every 4000 to 6000 years over the past 20,000 years. Decrease in activity is often marked by low temperature aragonite precipitation in chimney conduits at 4000, 7000 and 9000 years ago. After a period of quiescence lasting about 4000 years this site was reactivated about 50 years ago. The Snakepit field is much younger and no sulfides older than 4000 years have been recovered. Relict sulfide deposits are dated between 2000 and 4000 years old indicating this site was active during a quiescent period at TAG. Reactivation of Snakepit. took place about 80 years ago, and is presently concurrent with that of TAG. Comparison with hydrothermal sites on the East Pacific Rise suggests that on slow spreading ridges the major fracture systems focussing the hydrothermal discharge can be reactivated at intervals and new deposits precipitated on top of older ones, while on faster spreading ridges each pulse of activity is separated in space and time resulting in discrete deposits.

New radiometric dates are presented for the hydrothermal deposits in the Alvin andMir relict hydrothermal zones located on the lower east wall of the rift valley within the TAG hydrothermal field and placed in context of the evolution of the TAG field as a whole over the past 10Syears. The field includes an active high-temperature sulfide mound situated near the base of the east wall and a low-temperature zone at middepth on the east wall all within a 5 by 5 kilometer area. The oldest hydrothermal deposits sampled in the Mir relict zone, the lowtemperature zone, and an inactive sulfide mound in the Alvin relict zone are low-temperature manganese crusts dated at 140,000, 125,000 and 74,000 years, respectively. High-temperature activity began about 100,000 years ago in the Mir zone. A 50,000 year-high-temperature event took place at the active sulfide mound, in the Mir zone, and at the inactive sulfide mound in the Alvin zone. This event is followed by sporadic activity at the Mir zone and the active sulfide mound, until 10,000 and 5000 years ago, respectively. A reactivation of the system affected the Mir zone from about 2000 to 600 years ago. The presently active sulfide mound was reactivated only 60 years ago, after a quiescence of about 4000 years. The radiochronologic record reveals that the hydrothermal activity has been episodic with a major high-temperature event throughout the TAG field at 50,000 years and other more localized events.

Geochronological studies of a large number of precipitates from the TAG hydrothermal field and of few samples from Snakepit hydrothermal field of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge show intermittent repeated hydrothermal events at both sites. Zl°Pb/Pb and 23°Th/234U measurements of sulfides, iron and manganese oxides, and ~4C measurements of carbonates combined with observations of hydrothermal events recorded as discrete layers in sediment cores provide the basis for unravelling the temporal history of the fields. The TAG field shows intermittent activity over the past 120,000 years as evidenced by ages of low-temperature Mn oxides. The presently active black smoker mound first formed about 40,000-50,000 years ago with precipitation of massive sulfides. It has had intermittent, pulsed high-temperature activity every 5000-6000 years over the past 20,000 years which may reflect renewed magmatic activity at the ridge axis. Fluid flow is focussed at the mound site by structural and tectonic control suggested by the intersection of N-S ridge parallel lystric normal faults and an E-W transform fault. Periods of inactivity are marked by covering of the mound with pelagic carbonate ooze which is probably partially dissolved and reprecipitated as aragonite at the end of each high-temperature event. The Snakepit field had an initial event about 4000 years ago, probably shortly after the eruption of the volcanic ridge on which it sits. A recent renewal, still presently active, was probably initiated by recent fissuring of the volcanic pile.