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A photograph of the mysterious basalt outcrop on Alderdice Bank in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by fish and encrusted with algae and sponges. The picture was taken in about 220 feet of water from an underwater robot know as a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV. The inset photo shows a sample of the basalt back on deck that was collected with the ROV. Its microscopic crystals indicate that it cooled quickly below the earth’s surface. Its dark color shows that it contains heavy elements such as iron and manganese, which make it denser than any other kind of rock found in this area.
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