TAG Hydrothermal Fields Research Articles

Adsorption of Rare Earth Metal Cations by Base Metal Sulfides in the Broken Spur and TAG Hydrothermal Fields, Atlantic Ocean

Adsorption of Rare Earth Metal Cations by Base Metal Sulfides in the Broken Spur and TAG Hydrothermal Fields, Atlantic Ocean

Adsorption of Rare Earth Metal Cations by Base Metal Sulfides in the Broken Spur and TAG Hydrothermal Fields, Atlantic Ocean

The article presents the results of sorption of rare earth metal cations on samples of deepsea polymetallic sulfides of the hydrothermal fields of the Broken Spur and TAG of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The main minerals of these samples were respectively marcasite, pyrrhotine, pyrite, sphalerite and chalcopyrite, pyrite, and marcasite. It has been established that these sulfide minerals of iron, copper and zinc are natural adsorbents. The exchange capacity of sulfide minerals for rare earth metal cations is in the range of 0.006‒0.061 mg-eq/g. The exchange complex of sulfide minerals consists of cations of alkaline, alkaline-earth metals and basic cations of metals of the crystal lattice – Fe, Zn, Cu (in very limited quantities). The mechanism of absorption of rare earth metal cations is ion-exchange, equivalent to the exchange cations of sulfide minerals. It was found that in the composition of sulfide minerals, rare earth metal cations are almost completely in sorbed form (more than 90% of the total amount); The chemically bound form can be, apparently, only for Lu and Dy cations. The mineral composition of sulfide deposits is preserved in the products of exchange reactions, new phases do not appear.

Adsorption of Heavy Metal Cations by Base Metal Sulfides in the Broken Spur and TAG Hydrothermal Fields, Atlantic Ocean

Data on the mineral and chemical composition of samples of sulfide deposits from the Broken Spur and TAG (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) are presented. The main minerals in the Broken Spur field are marcasite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite; in sample from TAG: chalcopyrite, pyrite, and marcasite. It has been established that these sulfide minerals of Fe, Cu, and Zn are natural ion exchangers and belong to the class of adsorbents. Exchange capacity of sulfide minerals in terms of heavy metal cations (Ni2+, Co2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+) is 0.022–0.32 mg-equiv/g. In the exchange reaction products, the mineral composition of sulfide deposits is retained, and new phases do not appear. It is suggested that the adsorbed heavy metal cations populate either vacant cationic or interstitial defect sites in the structures of sulfide minerals. Bond strength of the adsorbed heavy metal cations with the main structural elements of minerals is low, which is confirmed by their high extraction in an acid medium. The results of adsorption-desorption experiments indicate two forms of heavy metal cations in sulfide minerals: adsorbed (basic) and chemically bound.

Geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal plumes above the TAG and Broken Spur fields of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The paper reports data on the distribution of solute (Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) and particulate (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Co) species of metals in hydrothermal plumes above the active TAG and Broken Spur hydrothermal fields (26° N and 29° N in the MAR rift valley, respectively). Sediment-trap data on fluxes of hydrothermal-sedimentary material in the areas indicate that (i) the predominant Zn source for the metalliferous sediments at the TAG field is material precipitating from a plume of neutral buoyancy, and (ii) the predominant source of Fe and Co is redeposited ore material coming from the area of extensive settling of sulfides.

Comparative analysis of the mineral and chemical compositions of black smoker smoke at the TAG and Broken Spur hydrothermal fields, mid-Atlantic ridge

The paper presents newly obtained data on the fluxes of hydrothermal-sedimentary material collected with sedimentation traps within 3 m from the bottoms of black smokers at the TAG and Broken Spur hydrothermal fields and reports the results of comparative analysis of the mineralogical and chemical compositions of this material. The sedimentary material deposited near the vent was determined to account to approximately 3% of the overall mass of the orebody. The results demonstrate that, in both cases, the trap material is characterized by high contents of ore components and ore-forming chemical elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Co), and Se, As, Sb, Ba, and P compared to tholeiitic basalts from which these elements are leached. However, the material of a more “mature” (having an age of 40–50 ka) hydrothermal spring at the TAG field contains 40% Fe hydroxides, in contrast to the material of a spring at the Broken Spur field (age <1000 yr) whose material is dominated by sulfides (72%) and contains much pyrrhotite. These springs also show principal differences between the enrichment coefficients for Se (by a factor of 4.8), As (3), Ca (4.1), and Si (5.2). These differences are thought to reflect various evolutionary stages of the circulating hydrothermal systems.

Hydrothermal vents near a mantle hot spot: the Lucky Strike vent field at 37°N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The Lucky Strike hydrothermal field occurs in the summit basin of a large seamount that forms the shallow center of a 65 km long ridge segment near 37°N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The depth and chemistry of the ridge segment are influenced by the Azores hot spot, and this hydrothermal field is the first Atlantic site found on crust that is dominated by a hot spot signature. Multiple hydrothermal vents occur over an area of at least 300 m by 700 m. Vent morphologies range from flanges and chimneys with temperatures of 200–212°C, to black smoker chimneys with temperatures up to 333°C. Cooler fluids from northern vents have higher chlorinities and lower gas volumes, while hotter, southern fluids have chlorinities 20% below seawater with higher gas volumes, suggesting phase separation has influenced their compositions. All gas volumes in fluids are higher than those at TAG and Snake Pit hydrothermal fields. Black smokers exhibit their typical mineralogy, except that barite is a major mineral, particularly at lower-temperature sites, which contrasts with previously investigated Atlantic sites. The fluid chemistry, distribution of the relict sulfide deposits on the seamount summit in the areas investigated using DSV Alvin, and contact relationships between active vent sites and surrounding basaltic and sulfide substrate suggest that the hydrothermal system has a long history and may have recently been rejuvenated. Fauna at the Lucky Strike vent sites are dominated by a new species of mussel, and include the first reported sea urchins. The Lucky Strike biological community differs considerably from other vent fauna at the species level and appears to be a new biogeographic province. The Lucky Strike field helps to constrain how variations in the basaltic substrate influence the composition of hydrothermal fluids and solids, because basalt compositions at Lucky Strike are 10–30 times enriched in incompatible elements compared to other Atlantic hydrothermal sites such as TAG, Snake Pit and Broken Spur. The incompatible element

Detailed geological studies of hydrothermal fields in the North Atlantic

Abstract Sidescan sonar and TV/photo surveys, TV-controlled sulphide grab sampling and sediment sampling have been carried out at the TAG and MARK hydrothermal fields of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during research cruises of the Sevmorgeologija Association, St Petersburg. Detailed mapping of the MARK field (23°N) allowed contouring of the massive sulphide bodies. The largest of them are Cu-enriched and the smallest zincenriched. Sulphides of the TAG field (26°N) active mound appear to be Cu-rich in its central and Zn-rich in its marginal parts. Sampling of the inactive Mir hydrothermal mound of the TAG field revealed an enrichment in Cu in its northern part and an abundance of silica in the south. This mound and especially the north hydrothermal zone, both presently inactive, determined the metal distribution in TAG sediments during the last 10 000–13 000 years. Extensive Cu-rich sulphide deposits were also discovered and sampled near 14°45′N. The dominance of Cu over Zn in mature Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal deposits, arising at late stages of their formation, can probably be explained by dominant leaching of Cu from basalts at advanced stages of development of the hydrothermal systems and/or by increasing the efficiency of Cu sulphide deposition in the course of formation of the ore body.

New age data for Mid‐Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal sites: TAG and Snakepit chronology revisited

The chronologies of TAG and Snakepit hydrothermal fields have been established using 210Pb/Pb, 230Th/234U and 14C dating. At the TAG field, a Mn‐oxide record, indicative of low temperature events, began at least 125,000 years and possibly 140,000 years ago with maximum intensities at 15,000, 7000 and 4000 years before present. High temperature events, giving rise to sulfide deposits, began about 100,000 years ago and have been intermittent to the present day. A presently active site has experienced intermittent pulses of activity every 4000 to 6000 years over the past 20,000 years. Decrease in activity is often marked by low temperature aragonite precipitation in chimney conduits at 4000, 7000 and 9000 years ago. After a period of quiescence lasting about 4000 years this site was reactivated about 50 years ago. The Snakepit field is much younger and no sulfides older than 4000 years have been recovered. Relict sulfide deposits are dated between 2000 and 4000 years old indicating this site was active during a quiescent period at TAG. Reactivation of Snakepit. took place about 80 years ago, and is presently concurrent with that of TAG. Comparison with hydrothermal sites on the East Pacific Rise suggests that on slow spreading ridges the major fracture systems focussing the hydrothermal discharge can be reactivated at intervals and new deposits precipitated on top of older ones, while on faster spreading ridges each pulse of activity is separated in space and time resulting in discrete deposits.

Helium, radon and manganese at the TAG and Snakepit hydrothermal vent fields, 26° and 23°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

3He, 4He and 222Rn have been measured in samples of vent fluids from the TAG and Snakepit hydrothermal vent fields and in samples from the neutrally buoyant plume at TAG. The hydrothermal end-member 3/He 4He at TAG, normalised to the ratio in air is R/R a= 7.5 ± 0.9, 222Rn= 187 dpm kg −1 and 226Ra= 13.5 ± 0.4 dpm kg −1 . At Snakepit, R/R a= 7.86 ± 1.85, 222Rn= 82 dpm kg −1 and 226Ra= 10.3 ± 0.2 dpm kg −1. Helium isotope-tracer systematics have been described which allow hydrothermal end-member properties to be estimated from plume data or non-conservative behaviour in the buoyant plume to be identified. Comparison of plume Mn concentrations and He isotope data shows that Mn behaves conservatively in the plume system over the time scale considered. In contrast, 222Rn is highly non-conservative and there is a large 222Rn excess in the neutrally buoyant plume (the hydrothermal end-member accounts for less than 2.5% of the excess 222Rn enrichment at the top of the buoyant plume) attributed to entrainment of 222Rn-enriched fluids during buoyant plume rise. 222/Rn 3He ages of the TAG plume give values of around 1–2 days close to the vent field and up to 10 days in adjacent waters. 222Rn/Mn ages are similar, except for a region of anomalous water at the level of neutral buoyancy, which is enriched in 222Rn and Si but not 3He and Mn, and which may be derived from the walls of the axial valley at the depth of the neutrally buoyant plume.

Geochronology of TAG and Snakepit hydrothermal fields, Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Witness to a long and complex hydrothermal history

Geochronological studies of a large number of precipitates from the TAG hydrothermal field and of few samples from Snakepit hydrothermal field of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge show intermittent repeated hydrothermal events at both sites. 210Pb/Pb and 230Th/234U measurements of sulfides, iron and manganese oxides, and 14C measurements of carbonates combined with observations of hydrothermal events recorded as discrete layers in sediment cores provide the basis for unravelling the temporal history of the fields. The TAG field shows intermittent activity over the past 120,000 years as evidenced by ages of low-temperature Mn oxides. The presently active black smoker mound first formed about 40,000–50,000 years ago with precipitation of massive sulfides. It has had intermittent, pulsed high-temperature activity every 5000–6000 years over the past 20,000 years which may reflect renewed magmatic activity at the ridge axis. Fluid flow is focussed at the mound site by structural and tectonic control suggested by the intersection of N-S ridge parallel lystric normal faults and an E-W transform fault. Periods of inactivity are marked by covering of the mound with pelagic carbonate ooze which is probably partially dissolved and reprecipitated as aragonite at the end of each high-temperature event. The Snakepit field had an initial event about 4000 years ago, probably shortly after the eruption of the volcanic ridge on which it sits. A recent renewal, still presently active, was probably initiated by recent fissuring of the volcanic pile.