Scientists exploring Gulf shipwreck discover frozen tar volcano

The rover Deep Discoverer approaches the first of the structures discovered on the floor of the Gulf. The rover Deep Discoverer approaches the first of the structures discovered on the floor of the Gulf. Photo: NOAA Ocean Explorer, Image Courtesy Of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, Gulf Of Mexico 2014 Photo: NOAA Ocean Explorer, Image Courtesy Of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, Gulf Of Mexico 2014 Image 1 of / 104 Caption Close Scientists exploring Gulf shipwreck discover frozen tar volcano 1 / 104 Back to Gallery

Scientists using an underwater robot to explore three shipwrecks off Galveston have found what looks like a solidified eruption from a deep-sea volcano, according to KHOU-TV.

A team of researchers working at a command center at Texas A&M Galveston saw something that looked like a fourth shipwreck, but as the robot got closer, they realized it was an eruption of tar that solidified when it hit the water.

Thomas Heathman, a marine biology student working on the project, told KHOU that the team had never seen anything else like it in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The shipwrecks, within about five miles of each other, are in about 4,300 feet of water some 150 to 170 miles off Galveston.

All three wrecks were found at the same time in early 2011 by Shell workers conducting an oil and gas survey for a proposed pipeline in the company's Monterrey development tract, researchers told the Chronicle last year.

In July 2013, the exploration ship Nautilus brought back 60 artifacts from one of the sunken ships to Galveston.

Among the 60 artifacts were four to six different styles of firearms, porcelain plates, a leather shoe sole, bottles, cups and a cantaro (a clay pot used as a musical instrument).

Earlier this month, the team spotted an old clock that remains underwater.