SCIENTISTS have discovered an extinct volcano, in deep sea off
the state's far west coast. The cone-shaped volcano, 800m across
and 200m high, lies 2km below the ocean's surface and 100
nautical miles offshore in a protected area of the Great
Australian Bight. It was a lucky find, according to researchers.
A survey of a single strip of seabed in the Benthic Protection
Zone tripped over the unexpected feature - now named "Anna's
Pimple" after a university student on board the Southern
Surveyor. South Australian Research and Development Institute
chief scientist Dr David Currie said the area was always thought
to have a soft, flat sea floor. "So to find something like an
extinct volcano in the middle, poking out of a sea of soft
sediments, is pretty remarkable," he said. "And the fact it's
pretty deep and probably never been fished, or never been
touched since it was created (48 million years ago) is pretty
amazing. So we're excited. It might support some interesting
beasts." Seamounts elsewhere, off Tasmania a