Discovery of a Hydrothermal Sulfide Deposit on the Southwest Indian Ridge at 49.2°E
Abstract
We report the new discovery of a hydrothermal sulfide deposit at 49.26°E on the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). It is located the farthest west and the shallowest sulfide deposit yet reported at the SWIR. During R/V Dayangyihao Cruise DY115-21, Leg 7 (March 11 to April 15 2010, chief scientist: Dr. Xiqiu Han), we conducted comprehensive geophysical mapping, hydrothermal plume surveying, video sled observing and geological sampling along the largely unexplored ridge segments between 56°E and 45°E. The most significant result of this leg is the discovery of a new hydrothermal sulfide deposit at 49.26°E, 37.94°S in water depths of around 1400m. The sampling site is currently inactive, with no biota observed and no significant hydrothermal anomalies. The sulfide samples mainly consist of sphalerite, wurtzite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and secondary copper minerals. The plume survey revealed that at least two active hydrothermal venting sites exist within 5 km of the sampling site at the water depths of 2300-2800m and 1300-1400m, respectively. Evidences from the oceanfloor observation and geological sampling imply that this area may contain rather promising economic sulfide ore deposit. The data and samples collected so far will serve to understand the tectonic, volcanic and hydrothermal processes of the ridge segment. More detailed and higher resolution survey work is needed in future to locate the active venting sites at the seafloor and to evaluate the ore resource potential of this field. Acknowledgement: The study was supported by COMRA project DYXM-115-02-1-02 and the Fundamental Research Funds for National Nonprofit Institute Grant JT0801.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFMOS21C1531H
- Keywords:
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- 3017 MARINE GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS / Hydrothermal systems;
- 3035 MARINE GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS / Midocean ridge processes;
- 3075 MARINE GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS / Submarine tectonics and volcanism;
- 8135 TECTONOPHYSICS / Hydrothermal systems