Deposit Type:
PMS, polymetallic massive sulfides
Notes on Vent Field Description:
small active sulfide deposit on neovolcanic ridge along axis of rift valley; high-temperature (365) clear venting, diffuse (50) venting at base of chimneys; the field can be subdivided into the eastern valley and a western plateau
Notes Relevant to Biology:
Alvinocarididae, Bythograeidae, Zoarcidae, Mytilidae, Polynoidae; see Vereshchaka et al. (2002)
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
1993 submersible Alvin; earlier in 1993, water column anomalies and towed camera did not confirm activity
Discovery References (text):
B.J. Murton et al., (1994) Direct evidence for the Distribution and Occurrence of Hydrothermal Activity Between 27 and 30 degrees north on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 125, pp. 119–128.
Other References (text):
[Elderfield et al. (1993)]
[Nesbitt et al. 1995]
[Bogdanov et al. 1995]
JTP Copley et al. (1997) Spatial and interannual variation in the faunal distribution at Broken Spur vent field (29°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Mar Bio 129: 723-733
(plume only) Chin et al., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 162, 1-13, 1998, Detection of hydrothermal plumes on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge: results from optical measurements
Vereshchaka et al. (2002) Biological studies using Mir submersibles at six North Atlantic hydrothermal sites in 2002. InterRidge News 11(2): 23-28.