thermal processes that are involved during fluid circulation and mineral precipitation. Also, knowing the setting and composition of the environment associated
with hydrothermalism may help in the discovery of new land-based deposits.
Another important aspect of hydrothermal activity is related to the bacteria and
other biological communities that are produced or which develop near these sites.
Until their discovery in the 1970s, scientists were unaware of the existence of such
animal communities in the depths of the sea, close to extremely hot geysers of
acidic, mineralized seawater. Continued research will increase our understanding
of the interaction between mineral precipitation and the animal communities that
have formed around the hydrothermal sources.
References
Charlou J, Donval J (1993) Hydrothermal methane venting between 12°N and 26°N along the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge. J Geophys Res 98(B6):9825–9642
Corliss JB, Lyle M, Dymond J (1978) The chemistry of hydrothermal mounds near the Galapagos
Rift. Earth Planet Sci Lett 40:12–24
Corliss JB, Dymond J, Gordon LE, Edmond JM, Von Herzen RP, Ballard RD, Green K, Williams
D, Bainbridge AE, Crane K, van Andel Tj H (1979) Submarine thermal springs on the
Galapagos Rift. Science 203:1073–1083
Binns RA, Scott SD (1993) Actively-forming polymetallic sulfide deposits associated with felsic
volcanic rocks in the eastern Manus Basin. Papua New Guinea: Econ Geol 88:2226–2236
Bischoff JL (1980) Geothermal system at 21°N, East Pacific Rise: physical limits on geothermal
fluid and role of adiabatic expansion. Science 207(4438):1465–1469
Degens E, Ross DA (eds) (1969) Hot brines and heavy metal deposits in the Red Sea; a
geochemical and geophysical account. Springer, New York, 600 p
Dymond J, Cobler R, Muratli CM, Chou C, Conrad R (1980) In initial reports, Deep Sea drillin
project. In: Rosendahl BR, Hekinian R (eds) vol 54. US Govt. Printing Office, Washington,
pp 377–386
Exon NJ, Bogdanov NA, Francheteau J, Garrett C, Hsü J, Mienett W, Ricken SD, Scott SD, Stein
RH, Thiede J, von Stackelberg (1992) Group report: what is the resource potential of deep sea
ocean? In: Su KJ, Thiede J (eds) Use and Miss-use of the sea floor. Wiley, p 7–27
Francheteau J, Needham D, Juteau T. Rangin C (1980) Naissance d’un Océan, CYAMEX,
Publshed by CNEXO (Centre National pour l’Exploitation des Océans) IFREMER 92138,
Issy Les Moulineaux France, 85 p
Hajash A (1975) Hydrothermal processes along mid-ocean ridges: an experimental investigation.
Unpublished Ph D dissertation Texas A&M University College Station Texas, p 61
Haymon RM, Kastner M (1981) Hot spring deposits on the East Pacific Rise at 21°N: preliminary
description of mineralogy and genesis. Earth Planet Sci Lett 53:363–381
Haymon RM, Kastner M (1986) Caminite: a new magnesium-hydroxide-sulfate-hydrated mineral
found in submarine hydrothermal deposit, East Pacific Rise, 21°N. Am Mineral 71:819–825
Hekinian R, Fouquet Y (1985) Volcanism and metallogenesis of axial and off-axial structures on
the East Pacific Risenear 13°N. Econom Geol 80:221–249
Hekinian R, Binard N (2008) Le Feu des Abysses. Editions Quae: Versailles, France, p 175
Hoffert M, Perseil A, Hekinian R, Choukroune P, Needham HD, Francheteau J and Le Pichon X
(1978) In initial reports, deep sea drilling project. In: Rosendahl BR, Hekinian R (eds), US
Govt Printing Office, Washington, vol 54, pp. 339–376
Honnorez J (1981) The aging of the oceanic crust at low temperature: In Emiliani C (ed), The
Sea. The oceanic lithosphere. Wiley, New York, vol 7, pp 525–587
Exploitable Mineral Resources of the Sea Floor
163
with hydrothermalism may help in the discovery of new land-based deposits.
Another important aspect of hydrothermal activity is related to the bacteria and
other biological communities that are produced or which develop near these sites.
Until their discovery in the 1970s, scientists were unaware of the existence of such
animal communities in the depths of the sea, close to extremely hot geysers of
acidic, mineralized seawater. Continued research will increase our understanding
of the interaction between mineral precipitation and the animal communities that
have formed around the hydrothermal sources.
References
Charlou J, Donval J (1993) Hydrothermal methane venting between 12°N and 26°N along the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge. J Geophys Res 98(B6):9825–9642
Corliss JB, Lyle M, Dymond J (1978) The chemistry of hydrothermal mounds near the Galapagos
Rift. Earth Planet Sci Lett 40:12–24
Corliss JB, Dymond J, Gordon LE, Edmond JM, Von Herzen RP, Ballard RD, Green K, Williams
D, Bainbridge AE, Crane K, van Andel Tj H (1979) Submarine thermal springs on the
Galapagos Rift. Science 203:1073–1083
Binns RA, Scott SD (1993) Actively-forming polymetallic sulfide deposits associated with felsic
volcanic rocks in the eastern Manus Basin. Papua New Guinea: Econ Geol 88:2226–2236
Bischoff JL (1980) Geothermal system at 21°N, East Pacific Rise: physical limits on geothermal
fluid and role of adiabatic expansion. Science 207(4438):1465–1469
Degens E, Ross DA (eds) (1969) Hot brines and heavy metal deposits in the Red Sea; a
geochemical and geophysical account. Springer, New York, 600 p
Dymond J, Cobler R, Muratli CM, Chou C, Conrad R (1980) In initial reports, Deep Sea drillin
project. In: Rosendahl BR, Hekinian R (eds) vol 54. US Govt. Printing Office, Washington,
pp 377–386
Exon NJ, Bogdanov NA, Francheteau J, Garrett C, Hsü J, Mienett W, Ricken SD, Scott SD, Stein
RH, Thiede J, von Stackelberg (1992) Group report: what is the resource potential of deep sea
ocean? In: Su KJ, Thiede J (eds) Use and Miss-use of the sea floor. Wiley, p 7–27
Francheteau J, Needham D, Juteau T. Rangin C (1980) Naissance d’un Océan, CYAMEX,
Publshed by CNEXO (Centre National pour l’Exploitation des Océans) IFREMER 92138,
Issy Les Moulineaux France, 85 p
Hajash A (1975) Hydrothermal processes along mid-ocean ridges: an experimental investigation.
Unpublished Ph D dissertation Texas A&M University College Station Texas, p 61
Haymon RM, Kastner M (1981) Hot spring deposits on the East Pacific Rise at 21°N: preliminary
description of mineralogy and genesis. Earth Planet Sci Lett 53:363–381
Haymon RM, Kastner M (1986) Caminite: a new magnesium-hydroxide-sulfate-hydrated mineral
found in submarine hydrothermal deposit, East Pacific Rise, 21°N. Am Mineral 71:819–825
Hekinian R, Fouquet Y (1985) Volcanism and metallogenesis of axial and off-axial structures on
the East Pacific Risenear 13°N. Econom Geol 80:221–249
Hekinian R, Binard N (2008) Le Feu des Abysses. Editions Quae: Versailles, France, p 175
Hoffert M, Perseil A, Hekinian R, Choukroune P, Needham HD, Francheteau J and Le Pichon X
(1978) In initial reports, deep sea drilling project. In: Rosendahl BR, Hekinian R (eds), US
Govt Printing Office, Washington, vol 54, pp. 339–376
Honnorez J (1981) The aging of the oceanic crust at low temperature: In Emiliani C (ed), The
Sea. The oceanic lithosphere. Wiley, New York, vol 7, pp 525–587
Exploitable Mineral Resources of the Sea Floor
163