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The deep structure of a sea-floor hydrothermal deposit

Author

Listed:
  • Robert A. Zierenberg

    (University of California-Davis)

  • Yves Fouquet

    (Institut Française de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Centre de Brest)

  • D. J. Miller

    (Ocean Drilling Program, Texas A&M Research Park)

  • J. M. Bahr

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • P. A. Baker

    (Duke University)

  • T. Bjerkgård

    (Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse)

  • C. A. Brunner

    (Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Stennis Space Center)

  • R. C. Duckworth

    (James Cook University)

  • R. Gable

    (Départment Hydrologie et Transeferts, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières)

  • J. Gieskes

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California-San Diego)

  • W. D. Goodfellow

    (Geological Survey of Canada)

  • H. M. Gröschel-Becker

    (Marine Geology and Geophysics, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami)

  • G. Guèrin

    (Borehole Research Group, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University)

  • J. Ishibashi

    (Laboratory for Earthquake Chemistry, University of Tokyo)

  • G. Iturrino

    (Borehole Research Group, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University)

  • R. H. James

    (University of Bristol)

  • K. S. Lackschewitz

    (Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel)

  • L. L. Marquez

    (Northwestern University)

  • P. Nehlig

    (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières)

  • J. M. Peter

    (Geological Survey of Canada)

  • C. A. Rigsby

    (East Carolina University)

  • P. Schultheiss

    (GEOTEK Ltd.)

  • W. C. Shanks

    (US Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center MS 973)

  • B. R. T. Simoneit

    (College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University)

  • M. Summit

    (School of Oceanography, University of Washington)

  • D. A. H. Teagle

    (Geological Sciences, University of Michigan)

  • M. Urbat

    (Geologisches Institut, Universität zu Köln)

  • G. G. Zuffa

    (Università di Bologna)

Abstract

Hydrothermal circulation at the crests of mid-ocean ridges plays an important role in transferring heat from the interior of the Earth1,2,3. A consequence of this hydrothermal circulation is the formation of metallic ore bodies known as volcanic-associated massive sulphide deposits. Such deposits, preserved on land, were important sources of copper for ancient civilizations and continue to provide a significant source of base metals (for example, copper and zinc)4,5,6. Here we present results from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 169, which drilled through a massive sulphide deposit on the northern Juan de Fuca spreading centre and penetrated the hydrothermal feeder zone through which the metal-rich fluids reached the sea floor. We found that the style of feeder-zone mineralization changes with depth in response to changes in the pore pressure of the hydrothermal fluids and discovered a stratified zone of high-grade copper-rich replacement mineralization below the massive sulphide deposit. This copper-rich zone represents a type of mineralization not previously observed below sea-floor deposits, and may provide new targets for land-based mineral exploration.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert A. Zierenberg & Yves Fouquet & D. J. Miller & J. M. Bahr & P. A. Baker & T. Bjerkgård & C. A. Brunner & R. C. Duckworth & R. Gable & J. Gieskes & W. D. Goodfellow & H. M. Gröschel-Becker & G. G, 1998. "The deep structure of a sea-floor hydrothermal deposit," Nature, Nature, vol. 392(6675), pages 485-488, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:392:y:1998:i:6675:d:10.1038_33126
    DOI: 10.1038/33126
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