Talc-dominated seafloor deposits reveal a new class of hydrothermal system
Talc-dominated seafloor deposits reveal a new class of hydrothermal system
The Von Damm Vent Field (VDVF) is located on the flanks of the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre, 13?km west of the axial rift, within a gabbro and peridotite basement. Unlike any other active vent field, hydrothermal precipitates at the VDVF comprise 85–90% by volume of the magnesium silicate mineral, talc. Hydrothermal fluids vent from a 3-m high, 1-m diameter chimney and other orifices at up to 215?°C with low metal concentrations, intermediate pH (5.8) and high concentrations (667?mmol?kg?1) of chloride relative to seawater. Here we show that the VDVF vent fluid is generated by interaction of seawater with a mafic and ultramafic basement which precipitates talc on mixing with seawater. The heat flux at the VDVF is measured at 487±101?MW, comparable to the most powerful magma-driven hydrothermal systems known, and may represent a significant mode of off-axis oceanic crustal cooling not previously recognized or accounted for in global models.
10150
Hodgkinson, Matthew
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Webber, Alexander P.
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Roberts, Stephen
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Mills, Rachel A.
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Connelly, Douglas P.
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Murton, Bramley J.
9076d07f-a3c1-4f90-a5d5-99b27fe2cb12
22 December 2015
Hodgkinson, Matthew
2e2ab582-a6af-4f26-9427-9a95023681da
Webber, Alexander P.
c9b7b1e3-ea40-4740-805e-914806eeaeb7
Roberts, Stephen
f095c7ab-a37b-4064-8a41-ae4820832856
Mills, Rachel A.
a664f299-1a34-4b63-9988-1e599b756706
Connelly, Douglas P.
d49131bb-af38-4768-9953-7ae0b43e33c8
Murton, Bramley J.
9076d07f-a3c1-4f90-a5d5-99b27fe2cb12
Hodgkinson, Matthew, Webber, Alexander P., Roberts, Stephen, Mills, Rachel A., Connelly, Douglas P. and Murton, Bramley J.
(2015)
Talc-dominated seafloor deposits reveal a new class of hydrothermal system.
Nature Communications, 6, .
(doi:10.1038/ncomms10150).
Abstract
The Von Damm Vent Field (VDVF) is located on the flanks of the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre, 13?km west of the axial rift, within a gabbro and peridotite basement. Unlike any other active vent field, hydrothermal precipitates at the VDVF comprise 85–90% by volume of the magnesium silicate mineral, talc. Hydrothermal fluids vent from a 3-m high, 1-m diameter chimney and other orifices at up to 215?°C with low metal concentrations, intermediate pH (5.8) and high concentrations (667?mmol?kg?1) of chloride relative to seawater. Here we show that the VDVF vent fluid is generated by interaction of seawater with a mafic and ultramafic basement which precipitates talc on mixing with seawater. The heat flux at the VDVF is measured at 487±101?MW, comparable to the most powerful magma-driven hydrothermal systems known, and may represent a significant mode of off-axis oceanic crustal cooling not previously recognized or accounted for in global models.
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Accepted/In Press date: October 2015
Published date: 22 December 2015
Organisations:
Geochemistry, Marine Geoscience
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 383209
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/383209
PURE UUID: dc36b1ea-b7d1-4681-b39c-75df2edd6aea
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Date deposited: 22 Oct 2015 15:40
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:46
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Author:
Matthew Hodgkinson
Author:
Alexander P. Webber
Author:
Douglas P. Connelly
Author:
Bramley J. Murton
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