The Mid Atlantic Ridge south of 54S was surveyed during both the 1994 and 1996 expeditions (Fig. 3). It is characterized by three short and partially overlapping spreading segments. The axial topography of these segments is more elevated than that of ``normal`` portions of the MAR further to the north; moreover, a well formed axial rift valley is absent. The distribution of the magnetic anomalies suggests that these segments are presently active (Fig. 4); therefore, deformation in the overlapping areas is to be expected. Basaltic glass was sampled at the axis of these MAR segments; preliminary analyses suggest that they are of N-MORB type, with low concentration in Na2O, KZO and TiO2. Samples collected to the north-east, i.e. well into the African plate, are instead of the E-MORB type SIMONOV1996.
![\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{FIG_5.eps}](img12.png)