Active Hydrothermal Vents Research Articles

A self-potential investigation of submarine massive sulfides: Palinuro Seamount, Tyrrhenian Sea

The self-potential (SP) method detects naturally occurring electric fields, which may be produced by electrically conductive mineral deposits, such as massive sulfides. Recently, there has been increasing interest in applying this method in a marine environment to explore for seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits, which may contain economic resources of base and precious metals. Although SMS sites that are associated with active venting and are not buried under sediment cover are known to produce an SP signal, the effectiveness of the method at detecting inactive and sediment-covered deposits remained an outstanding question. We built an instrument capable of recording SP data in a marine setting. We carried out a test of the instrument at the Palinuro Seamount in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Palinuro is one of only a few known sites containing an SMS occurrence that is buried under sediment and not associated with active hydrothermal venting, although diffuse seepage of hydrothermal fluids is known to occur at the site. Elevated electric field strengths recorded in and near the site of previously drilled massive sulfide samples are on the order of [Formula: see text]. A second zone of high field strengths was detected to the north of the drilling area where gravity coring later confirmed the existence of massive sulfides. Our observations indicate that an SP signal can be observed at the site of SMS mineralization even when the mineralized zone is shallowly buried and active hydrothermal venting is not present. These observations could aid in the planning of future marine research expeditions that use the SP method in the exploration of seafloor massive sulfides.

Prefrontal bore mixing

AbstractRainbow Ridge, a 1950 m deep upthrusted ultramafic block along the axis of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge, has an active hydrothermal vent system at 2400 m on its western slope. However, within 1 km from the vent excessive temperatures are barely measurable, probably due to strong turbulent mixing. This mixing is studied here using a 400 m long high‐resolution temperature sensor array moored with a 600 m ranging 75 kHz acoustic Doppler current profiler. Rich internal wave turbulence was recorded, characterized by 100–200 m upshoots and >200 m large overturning in particular near the end of the warming phase of the up and down moving tide. These highly nonlinear internal waves of tides interacting with buoyancy frequency waves extend up to 400 m above the sloping bottom of the ridge. While a turbulent “bottom boundary layer” could barely be defined, the more intense turbulence higher up in the water column is suggested to lead to the strong dispersion of the hydrothermal plume.

Distribution and isotopic signature of ligand-leachable particulate iron along the GEOTRACES GP16 East Pacific Zonal Transect

Abstract Particles play an important role in the marine biogeochemical cycling of iron, an essential micronutrient. Particles of biogenic, lithogenic and authigenic origin can act as sources or sinks of dissolved iron and therefore influence its distribution and availability to phytoplankton. However, not all particulate iron (pFe) is readily accessible to phytoplankton and various treatments are used to estimate the bioavailable, or labile fraction of pFe. Here we report concentration and iron stable isotope data for the “ligand-leachable” fraction of pFe, following the application of a pH 8 oxalate-EDTA leach to 0.8–51 μm-sized particles collected during the US GEOTRACES East Pacific Zonal Transect (GP16). Across the GP16 section, we identified two regions of high labile pFe concentrations and differing δ 56 Fe labile . Within a hydrothermal plume originating from the East Pacific Rise, nearly all of the pFe was labile, with concentrations as high as 42 nM. Particulate δ 56 Fe labile within the hydrothermal plume averaged − 0.26 ± 0.14‰ ( n = 67), which is similar to both δ 56 Fe of hydrothermal plume dissolved Fe and the δ 56 Fe of primary vent fluids from previous studies, suggesting that vent fluid Fe is quantitatively precipitated as labile Fe oxyhydroxides and that the chemical form of hydrothermal dissolved and particulate Fe are the same, though they are found in different size classes. Elevated pFe concentrations were also observed over the Peruvian continental shelf and extending westwards, coincident with the secondary nitrite maximum at the top of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Again, most of the pFe was within the labile fraction, but the δ 56 Fe labile associated with the OMZ was lighter than in the hydrothermal plume (− 0.68 ± 0.32‰, n = 41), reflecting its origin within reducing continental margin sediments. The open ocean away from these features was characterized by labile and total pFe concentrations of 56 Fe labile values, with 80% in the range of − 0.5‰ to + 0.2‰ ( n = 169). Below the hydrothermal and OMZ plumes, benthic nepheloid layer labile pFe had similar δ 56 Fe labile to particles in the overlying water column features, suggesting that Fe isotopes in surface sediments may be a tracer for the location of active hydrothermal venting and oxygen minimum zones in the past ocean.

Contrasted hydrothermal activity along the South‐East Indian Ridge (130°E–140°E): From crustal to ultramafic circulation

AbstractUsing a combined approach of seafloor mapping, MAPR and CTD survey, we report evidence for active hydrothermal venting along the 130°‐140°E section of the poorly‐known South‐East Indian Ridge (SEIR) from the Australia‐Antarctic Discordance (AAD) to the George V Fracture Zone (FZ). Along the latter, we report Eh and CH4 anomalies in the water column above a serpentinite massif, which unambiguously testify for ultramafic‐related fluid flow. This is the first time that such circulation is observed on an intermediate‐spreading ridge. The ridge axis itself is characterized by numerous off‐axis volcanoes, suggesting a high magma supply. The water column survey indicates the presence of at least ten distinct hydrothermal plumes along the axis. The CH4:Mn ratios of the plumes vary from 0.37 to 0.65 denoting different underlying processes, from typical basalt‐hosted to ultramafic‐hosted high‐temperature hydrothermal circulation. Our data suggest that the change of mantle temperature along the SEIR not only regulates the magma supply, but also the hydrothermal activity. The distribution of hydrothermal plumes from a ridge segment to another implies secondary controls such as the presence of fractures and faults along the axis or in the axial discontinuities. We conclude from these results that hydrothermal activity along the SEIR is controlled by magmatic processes at the regional scale and by the tectonics at the segment scale, which influences the type of hydrothermal circulation and leads to various chemical compositions. Such variety may impact global biogeochemical cycles, especially in the Southern Ocean where hydrothermal venting might be the only source of nutrients.

海底熱水温度差発電システムの性能解析に関する研究

Deep-sea observations have been conducted for the earthquake prediction through the acquisition of crustal deformation data and the influence of marine environment. Energy supply system for deep-sea observation tools is a necessity in long-term deep sea observation. There are high potential energy reservoirs and many active hydrothermal vents. Thermal energy conversion system using submarine hydrothermal utilizes two heat sources with different temperatures between submarine hydrothermal and cold deep seawater. The effective temperature difference of the working fluid is less than the heat source temperature difference due to the heat exchange between the working fluid and the heat source. This paper investigates on the influence of the heat source temperature change in the heat exchange process and the thermal characteristics of the working fluid on the system performance of the power generation system using submarine hydrothermal. The parametric performance analysis of Rankine cycle is carried out using the thermal characteristics of three working fluids. As a result, the maximum power output of water is the largest in three working fluids, followed in order by toluene and pentane. The low-temperature heat source, which is cold deep seawater, has strong influence on the maximum power output.

Population subdivision of hydrothermal vent polychaete Alvinella pompejana across equatorial and Easter Microplate boundaries.

BackgroundThe Equator and Easter Microplate regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean exhibit geomorphological and hydrological features that create barriers to dispersal for a number of animals associated with deep-sea hydrothermal vent habitats. This study examined effects of these boundaries on geographical subdivision of the vent polychaete Alvinella pompejana. DNA sequences from one mitochondrial and eleven nuclear genes were examined in samples collected from ten vent localities that comprise the species’ known range from 23°N latitude on the East Pacific Rise to 38°S latitude on the Pacific Antarctic Ridge.ResultsMulti-locus genotypes inferred from these sequences clustered the individual worms into three metapopulation segments — the northern East Pacific Rise (NEPR), southern East Pacific Rise (SEPR), and northeastern Pacific Antarctic Ridge (PAR) — separated by the Equator and Easter Microplate boundaries. Genetic diversity estimators were negatively correlated with tectonic spreading rates. Application of the isolation-with-migration (IMa2) model provided information about divergence times and demographic parameters. The PAR and NEPR metapopulation segments were estimated to have split roughly 4.20 million years ago (Mya) (2.42–33.42 Mya, 95 % highest posterior density, (HPD)), followed by splitting of the SEPR and NEPR segments about 0.79 Mya (0.07–6.67 Mya, 95 % HPD). Estimates of gene flow between the neighboring regions were mostly low (2 Nm < 1). Estimates of effective population size decreased with southern latitudes: NEPR > SEPR > PAR.ConclusionsHighly effective dispersal capabilities allow A. pompejana to overcome the temporal instability and intermittent distribution of active hydrothermal vents in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Consequently, the species exhibits very high levels of genetic diversity compared with many co-distributed vent annelids and mollusks. Nonetheless, its levels of genetic diversity in partially isolated populations are inversely correlated with tectonic spreading rates. As for many other vent taxa, this pioneering colonizer is similarly affected by local rates of habitat turnover and by major dispersal filters associated with the Equator and the Easter Microplate region.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0807-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Time-resolved interaction of seawater with gabbro: An experimental study of rare-earth element behavior up to 475 °C, 100 MPa

High metal and rare-earth element (REE) concentrations with unusual (‘atypical’) normalized REE patterns are documented in fluids from active hydrothermal vent fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 5°S and the East Scotia Ridge. Those fluids show relative enrichment of middle heavy REEs and almost no Eu anomalies in chondrite-normalized patterns. To understand the processes that produce such atypical REE patterns we ran a series of experiments, in which natural bottom seawater or aqueous solutions (NaCl, NaCl–MgCl2, or NaCl–CaCl2) were reacted with gabbro and gabbro mineral assemblages from 300 to 475°C and 40 and 100MPa. These P–T conditions are representative for water–rock interactions in hydrothermal root and discharge zones. Fluid flux variability and kinetics were addressed in the experiments by varying the water-to-rock mass ratio (w/r) from 0.5–10 and using different run durations from 3–720h.Only seawater and synthetic MgCl2-bearing fluid mobilized significant amounts of REEs, Si, Ca, Fe, and Mn from gabbro, from clinopyroxene, and from plagioclase. At 425°C and 40MPa, fluids were initially acidic with pH (25°C) of ∼2 increasing to values between ∼4 and 7 upon progressing reactions. Rare earth element and Fe contents peaked within 3–6h after interaction with gabbroic mineral grains (125–500μm) at w/r of 5 (REEs) and 2–5 (Fe) but decreased with continuing reaction without strong REE fractionation. Most of the REEs that were leached from primary minerals and dissolved in the fluids early became redeposited into solid reaction products after 720h.Contents of dissolved SiO2 were pressure-dependent, being about twofold higher at 100MPa than at 40MPa (425°C) and were below quartz saturation with gabbro and clinopyroxene as solid starting material and close to quartz saturation with plagioclase reactant. However, Si in fluids from the rock-dominated experiments at 100MPa with gabbro (w/r 0.5–1) dropped to very low contents. A concomitant decrease in chlorinity suggests that these changes may be due to the breakdown of olivine and the formation of serpentine and Fe-hydroxy chlorides.Regardless of the starting solid reactants, fluid REE patterns were dominantly controlled by w/r. Atypical fluid REE patterns and high fluid REE contents were obtained at high w/r (⩾5). Whereas typical REE patterns known from many mid-ocean ridge vent fluids, showing relative enrichments of light REEs and a positive Eu anomaly, were obtained at low w/r of 0.5–1. Our results hence clearly show that REE contents and patterns of vent fluids are sensitive to variations in the w/r.

Defining boundaries for the distribution of microbial communities beneath the sediment-buried, hydrothermally active seafloor.

Subseafloor microbes beneath active hydrothermal vents are thought to live near the upper temperature limit for life on Earth. We drilled and cored the Iheya North hydrothermal field in the Mid-Okinawa Trough, and examined the phylogenetic compositions and the products of metabolic functions of sub-vent microbial communities. We detected microbial cells, metabolic activities and molecular signatures only in the shallow sediments down to 15.8 m below the seafloor at a moderately distant drilling site from the active hydrothermal vents (450 m). At the drilling site, the profiles of methane and sulfate concentrations and the δ13C and δD isotopic compositions of methane suggested the laterally flowing hydrothermal fluids and the in situ microbial anaerobic methane oxidation. In situ measurements during the drilling constrain the current bottom temperature of the microbially habitable zone to ~45 °C. However, in the past, higher temperatures of 106-198 °C were possible at the depth, as estimated from geochemical thermometry on hydrothermally altered clay minerals. The 16S rRNA gene phylotypes found in the deepest habitable zone are related to those of thermophiles, although sequences typical of known hyperthermophilic microbes were absent from the entire core. Overall our results shed new light on the distribution and composition of the boundary microbial community close to the high-temperature limit for habitability in the subseafloor environment of a hydrothermal field.

Under the Sea of Enceladus.

The article reports on the availability of evidence that planet Saturn's moon Enceladus is harboring active hydrothermal vents, making it as one of the hottest places to look for life beyond Earth. Topics include the value of this hydrothermal activity as information on the composition and longevity of Enceladus' ocean, the need to learn how Enceladus generates and sustain its hot interior, and the need for future missions to clarify this heat source.

Rifting under steam—How rift magmatism triggers methane venting from sedimentary basins

Abstract During opening of a new ocean, magma intrudes into the surrounding sedimentary basins. Heat provided by the intrusions matures the host rock, creating metamorphic aureoles potentially releasing large amounts of hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons may migrate to the seafloor in hydrothermal vent complexes in sufficient volumes to trigger global warming, e.g., during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Mound structures at the top of buried hydrothermal vent complexes observed in seismic data off Norway were previously interpreted as sediment volcanoes, and the amount of released hydrocarbon was estimated based on this interpretation. Here, we present new geophysical and geochemical data from the Gulf of California suggesting that such mound structures could in fact be edifices constructed by the growth of black smoker–type chimneys rather than sediment volcanoes. We have evidence for two buried and one active hydrothermal vent systems outside the rift axis. The active vent releases fluids of several hundred degrees Celsius containing abundant methane, mid-ocean ridge basalt–type helium, and precipitating solids up to 300 m high into the water column. Our observations challenge the idea that methane is emitted slowly from rift-related vents. The association of large amounts of methane with hydrothermal fluids that enter the water column at high pressure and temperature provides an efficient mechanism to transport hydrocarbons into the water column and atmosphere, lending support to the hypothesis that rapid climate change such as during the PETM can be triggered by magmatic intrusions into organic-rich sedimentary basins.

What drives hydrothermal systems and how does it vary over time?

Seafloor hydrothermal activity has been an active area of research over the last 35 years, since the discovery of the first active hydrothermal vent and the observation of massive sulphide deposit ...

Carbonaceous microstructures from sedimentary laminated chert within the 3.46 Ga Apex Basalt, Chinaman Creek locality, Pilbara, Western Australia

Hydrothermal black chert veins intruding the 3.46Ga Apex Basalt contain some of Earth’s oldest microfossil-like objects, whose biogenicity has been questioned. Whilst these black chert veins have been studied in great detail, relatively little is known about the stratiform, seafloor, sedimentary cherts that are conformably interbedded with volcanic rocks of the Apex Basalt.Herein, we document and assess the biogenicity of carbonaceous microstructures present in the lowermost of the stratiform chert units (informally known as the ‘Apex chert’), at the Chinaman Creek locality in the Marble Bar greenstone belt, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. Carbonaceous material mostly occurs within clotted grey-black cherts and microgranular ‘grainstone-like’ cherts within the stratiform unit, the latter being the major focus of this study. In the clotted cherts, carbon occurs as lobate, fluffy grains, rare compressed flakes, and as a grain boundary phase around spherulitic silica. There is no morphological evidence to support the biogenicity of these microstructures. In contrast, the microgranular chert contains fluffy and flaky carbonaceous grains, plus laminated grains comprising multiple non-isopachous wrinkled carbonaceous laminae, with noted thickening towards some ridge crests, as determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Roll-up structures provide evidence of an initial plasticity, interpreted to have formed via the tearing-up and current-induced plastic deformation of microbial mat fragments. Geochemical mapping, using laser Raman micro-spectroscopy and NanoSIMS, respectively demonstrates the antiquity of the carbon, and reveals a close correlation between carbon, nitrogen and sometimes sulphur, concentrated within dark brown to black laminae. Adjacent to microgranular zones are zones of more persistent carbonaceous, undulose, filament-like laminae that entrain relict sediment grains. These microstructures are directly comparable to a sub-type of microbially induced sedimentary structure (MISS), widely reported from younger siliciclastic sediments colonised by microbial biofilms.The morphology and chemical composition of both the non-isopachous laminated grains and the filament-like laminae are consistent with a biological interpretation, suggesting microscopic MISS were present in the microgranular stratiform ‘Apex chert’. However, the fact that neither macroscopic MISS nor bona fide microfossils have yet been reported from this unit, coupled with the proximity of these structures to active hydrothermal vents, potentially discharging hot carbon-rich fluids, urges caution in such an interpretation. The Chinaman Creek ‘Apex chert’ investigated here is one of at least five sedimentary, laminated cherts within the Apex Basalt. These horizons are promising targets in the search for biological activity within a dominantly volcanic Archaean environment.

Moored observation of abyssal flow and temperature near a hydrothermal vent on the Southwest Indian Ridge

AbstractFour moorings were deployed near “Dragon Flag,” an active hydrothermal vent in the valley of the Southwest Indian Ridge. The goal was to examine the variability of currents and temperature, which will guide the trajectory of spreading plumes. The mean current was cross‐isobath, and the circulation was characterized by a submesoscale circulation. Observed currents also showed fluctuations with periods of 1–15 days. The inferred phase speed and wavelength for the wave with a period of 4.4 day are 10.4 km d−1 and 45.8km, respectively, which are consistent with the topographic Rossby wave theory. The persistent warming tendency with corresponding variation of salinity based on background θ‐S properties may be caused by background circulation and divergence of the water column. The warming or cooling episodes were most likely as signatures of isopycnal surface depression or uplifting induced by the moving of mesoscale eddies. Well‐resolved rotary spectra exhibited important nonlinear interactions between inertial and semidiurnal tide in the velocity and temperature records. Amplification of near‐inertial currents in the near bottom is also exposed. These discoveries provided new evidence for the nonlinear interaction and trapped near‐inertial waves by the ridge, which occurred in the deep ocean of the Southern Hemisphere. Such nonlinear interaction may represent a significant energy loss pathway for the internal waves, and part of the decay of such motion would likely result in increased mixing to maintain the abyssal stratification. Enhanced near‐inertial motions can play a major role for the local advection of hydrothermal plumes.

Clay Minerals in an Active Hydrothermal Field at Iheya‐North‐Knoll, Okinawa Trough

AbstractIheya‐North‐Knoll is one of the small knolls covered with thick sediments in the Okinawa Trough back‐arc basin. At the east slope of Iheya‐North‐Knoll, nine hydrothermal vents with sulfide mounds are present. The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 331 studied Iheya‐North‐Knoll in September 2010. The expedition provided us with the opportunity to study clay minerals in deep sediments in Iheya‐North‐Knoll. To reveal characteristics of clay minerals in the deep sediments, samples from the drilling cores at three sites close to the most active hydrothermal vent were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The sediments are classified into Layer 0 (shallow), Layer 1 (deep), Layer 2 (deeper) and Layer 3 (deepest) on the basis of the assemblage of clay minerals. Layer 0 contains no clay minerals. Layer 1 contains smectite, kaolinite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral. Layer 2 contains chlorite, corrensite and chlorite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral. Layer 3 is grouped into three sub‐layers, 3A, 3B and 3C; Sub‐layer 3A contains chlorite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral, sub‐layer 3B contains chlorite/smectite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals, and sub‐layer 3C contains chlorite and illite. Large amounts of di‐octahedral clay minerals such as smectite, kaolinite, illite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral are found in Iheya‐North‐Knoll, which is rarely observed in hydrothermal fields in mid‐ocean ridges. Tri‐octahedral clay minerals such as chlorite, corrensite and chlorite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral in Iheya‐North‐Knoll have low Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios compared with those in mid‐ocean ridges. In conclusion, the characteristics of clay minerals in Iheya‐North‐Knoll differ from those in mid‐ocean ridges; di‐octahedral clay minerals and Fe‐poor tri‐octahedral clay minerals occur in Iheya‐North‐Knoll but not in mid‐ocean ridges.

Multiple-scale temporal variations and fluxes near a hydrothermal vent over the Southwest Indian Ridge

A deep-ocean mooring system was deployed 100 m away from an active hydrothermal vent over the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR), where the water depth is about 2,800 m. One year of data on ocean temperature 50 m away from the ocean floor and on velocities at four levels (44 m, 40 m, 36 m, and 32 m away from the ocean floor) were collected by the mooring system. Multiplescale variations were extracted from these data: seasonal, tidal, super-tidal, and eddy scales. The semidiurnal tide was the strongest tidal signal among all the tidal constituents in both currents and temperature. With the multiple-scale variation presented in the data, a new method was developed to decompose the data into five parts in terms of temporal scales: time-mean, seasonal, tidal, super-tidal, and eddy. It was shown that both eddy and tidal heat (momentum) fluxes were characterized by variation in the bottom topography: the tidal fluxes of heat and momentum in the along-isobath direction were much stronger than those in the cross-isobath direction. For the heat flux, eddy heat flux was stronger than tidal heat flux in the cross-isobath direction, while eddy heat flux was weaker in the along-isobath direction. For the momentum flux, the eddy momentum flux was weaker than tidal momentum flux in both directions. The eddy momentum fluxes at the four levels had a good relationship with the magnitude of mean currents: it increased with the mean current in an exponential relationship.

Microbial diversity in the deep-sea sediments of Iheya North and Iheya Ridge, Okinawa Trough

In this study, we analyzed the bacterial and archaeal diversities of the deep-sea sediments in Iheya North and Iheya Ridge, Okinawa Trough, using the high-throughput sequencing technology of Illumina MiSeq 2500 platform. Four samples (IN1, IN2, IR1 and IR2) were used in this study, of which IN1 and IN2 were located at regions close to and distant, respectively, from the active hydrothermal vents in Iheya North, while IR1 and IR2 were located at regions close to and distant, respectively, from the active hydrothermal vents in Iheya Ridge. The four samples were rich in different metal elements. Sequence analysis based on the V3–V4 regions of 16S rDNA gene obtained 170,363 taxon tags, including 122,920 bacterial tags and 47,433 archaeal tags, which cover 31 phyla, 50 classes, 59 orders, 87 families, and 138 genera. Overall, the microbial communities in all samples were dominated by bacteria, in which Proteobacteria was the largest phylum, followed by Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Nitrospirae, which together accounted for 64.6% of the total taxon tags. In contrast to the high bacterial diversities, the archaeal diversity was low and dominated by Thaumarchaeota, which accounted for 22.9% of the total taxon tags. Comparative analysis showed that (i) IN2 and IR2 exhibited more microbial richness than IN1 and IR1, (ii) IR1 and IR2 exhibited higher microbial diversities than IN1 and IN2, (iii) samples from Iheya Ridge and Iheya North fell into two groups based on principle component analysis. Furthermore, microbes potentially involved in sulfur, nitrogen, and metal metabolism and cycling were detected in all samples. These results provide for the first time a comparative picture of the microbial diversities in the sediments of Iheya North and Iheya Ridge and indicate that geological features and distance from active hydrothermal vents likely play important roles in the shaping of microbial community structure.

Contrasting styles of deep-marine pyroclastic eruptions revealed from Axial Seamount push core records

A comprehensive understanding of explosive basaltic eruption processes in the deep-sea relies upon detailed analysis and comparison of the variety of volcaniclastic lithologies on the seafloor, which has been challenged by insufficient sample recovery. A dedicated ROV-based sampling approach using long push cores offers an unparalleled opportunity to fully characterize the diversity of unconsolidated volcaniclastic lithofacies on a recently active seamount. Lithofacies from Axial Seamount record two styles of pyroclastic eruptions, strombolian and phreatomagmatic, at 1.5 km water depth. Strombolian eruptions are represented by abundant fluidal and highly vesicular (up to 50%) vitriclasts within limu o Pele lapilli tuff and tuffaceous mud lithofacies. Lapilli-ash grain size, normal grading, good sorting, rip-up clasts and homogeneous glass geochemistry characterize individual limu o Pele lapilli tuff beds, and imply proximal deposition from a turbidity flow associated with a single eruption (i.e. event bed). Limu o Pele lapilli tuff beds are interbedded with poorly sorted, chemically heterogeneous and bioturbated tuffaceous mud units that preserve reworking and biologic habitation of more distal pyroclastic fallout and dilute turbidity flows. The phreatomagmatic eruption style is preserved by hydrothermal mineral-bearing muddy tuff that exhibits characteristics distinct from lapilli ash and tuffaceous mud lithofacies. Hydrothermal muddy tuff lithofacies are well-sorted and fine-grained with notable components of non-fluidal basaltic ash (∼45%), fluidal ash (∼30%) and accessory lithics (∼25%). Heterogeneous geochemistry of ash shards implies that juvenile components are minimal. The abundance, mineralogy and texture of lithic components (Fe–Mg clays, pyrite, epidote, actinolite, altered glass, basalt/diabase, hydrothermal breccia and agglutinate), and very fine-grain size of basaltic ash, are consistent with phreatomagmatic eruption deposits. A lack of bioturbation or other interbedded lithofacies, and presence of normal grading suggests prolonged eruption activity and deposition via turbidity flows or suspension fallout. The proximity of ancient hydrothermal muddy tuff lithofacies and active hydrothermal vents to caldera walls suggest that phreatomagmatic activity was linked to shallow circulation of fluids along caldera ring-faults rooted to underlying magma conduits and shallow reservoirs. This study provides evidence for two distinctly different pyroclastic eruption styles and provides a framework to further develop existing models of deep-sea explosive volcanism.

Quantitative PCR analysis of functional genes in iron-rich microbial mats at an active hydrothermal vent system (Lō'ihi Seamount, Hawai'i).

The chemolithotrophic Zetaproteobacteria represent a novel class of Proteobacteria which oxidize Fe(II) to Fe(III) and are the dominant bacterial population in iron-rich microbial mats. Zetaproteobacteria were first discovered at Lō'ihi Seamount, located 35 km southeast off the big island of Hawai'i, which is characterized by low-temperature diffuse hydrothermal venting. Novel nondegenerate quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays for genes associated with microbial nitrogen fixation, denitrification, arsenic detoxification, Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB), and reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycles were developed using selected microbial mat community-derived metagenomes. Nitrogen fixation genes were not detected, but all other functional genes were present. This suggests that arsenic detoxification and denitrification processes are likely cooccurring in addition to two modes of carbon fixation. Two groups of microbial mat community types were identified by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and were further described based on qPCR data for zetaproteobacterial abundance and carbon fixation mode preference. qPCR variance was associated with mat morphology but not with temperature or sample site. Geochemistry data were significantly associated with sample site and mat morphology. Together, these qPCR assays constitute a functional gene signature for iron microbial mat communities across a broad array of temperatures, mat types, chemistries, and sampling sites at Lō'ihi Seamount.

Thermococcus paralvinellae sp. nov. and Thermococcus cleftensis sp. nov. of hyperthermophilic heterotrophs from deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Two heterotrophic hyperthermophilic strains, ES1(T) and CL1(T), were isolated from Paralvinella sp. polychaete worms collected from active hydrothermal vent chimneys in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean. Both were obligately anaerobic and produced H2S in the presence of elemental sulfur and H2. Complete genome sequences are available for both strains. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strains are more than 97% similar to most other species of the genus Thermococcus. Therefore, overall genome relatedness index analyses were performed to establish that these strains are novel species. For each analysis, strain ES1(T) was determined to be most similar to Thermococcus barophilus MP(T), while strain CL1(T) was determined to be most similar to Thermococcus sp. 4557. The average nucleotide identity scores for these strains were 84% for strain ES1(T) and 81% for strain CL1(T), genome-to-genome direct comparison scores were 23% for strain ES1(T) and 47% for strain CL1(T), and the species identification scores were 89% for strain ES1(T) and 88% for strain CL1(T). For each analysis, strains ES1(T) and CL1(T) were below the species delineation cut-off. Therefore, based on their whole genome sequences, strains ES1(T) and CL1(T) are suggested to represent novel species of the genus Thermococcus for which the names Thermococcus paralvinellae sp. nov. and Thermococcus cleftensis sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strains are ES1(T) ( =DSM 27261(T) =KACC 17923(T)) and CL1(T) ( =DSM 27260(T) =KACC 17922(T)).

Suspended zinc sulfide particles in the Southwest Indian Ridge area and their relationship with hydrothermal activity

Suspended particle samples collected in the water column at 7 stations in the hydrothermal vent area in the Southwest Indian Ridge were studied by electronic scanning microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). A method of zinc sulfide (ZnS) mineral phase identification by SEM and EDX data was proposed, and related adequacy and limitation of the method were presented. 29 ZnS particles with various morphologies were found. 27 sphalerite particles and two wurtzite particles were distinguished by joint consideration of their morphology and chemical element composition. Two types of sphalerite particles with different dissolving intensities were differentiated, which may be depended on the duration of the particles existence in the water column. More than half of the total sphalerite particles include 12 high Fe-containing particles (Fe > 10 wt%) were found at the Station 21VII-CTD7, suggesting a close link to the adjacent active hydrothermal vent. Sphalerite particles at Station 2VI-CTD3 contained only one Fe-containing particle and their amount ranked second among that at all the survey stations, suggesting a good correspondence to the adjacent inactive hydrothermal vent. Only six non-iron ZnS particles were found at the rest eastern 5 stations, suggesting a weak influence of hydrothermal activities in the eastern area.