 It was originally created near the coast of Oregon by the Cobb hotspot 33 million years ago, and was moved to its present location by tectonic plate movement.Patton is one of the most well-understood seamounts, as a major expedition using "DSV Alvin" in 1999 and another in 2002 helped define the scope of the seamount's biological community.Like other large seamounts, Patton acts as an ecological hub for sea life.