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Processes in the Oceans
Figure 10.41. The ratio of the concentration of an element in the particulate phase to that
in seawater (Figure 10.42) can be used to examine metals scavenged by particulate iron at
vent systems.
It was shown (Foustoukos and Seyfried, 2004) that low molecular weight hydrocarbons
(methane, CH 4 , ethane, C 2 H 6 , and propane (C 3 H 8 ) may be generated in hydrothermal fluids. The process that results in the formation of these hydrocarbons is given by
CO 2 (aq) + [2 + (m/2n)[H 2 (aq) → (1/n) C n H m + 2H 2 O
(10.62)
Mg (mmol kg
–1 )
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
pH
3
4
5
6
7
8
Figure 10.30
pH and total alkalinity as a function of magnesium in vent waters.
Mg (mmol kg
–1 )
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
SO
4 (mmol kg
–1
)
0
10
20
30
40
Figure 10.31
Sulfate concentration as a function of magnesium in vent waters.