Notes on Vent Field Description:
Tahi Moana 6 site of Nautilus Minerals; SRK Consulting report for Nautilus Minerals for Tahi Moana 6 (http://www.nautilusminerals.com/i/pdf/2008NautilusExplorationNI43-101Report.pdf): "The chimneys are up to 6 m high and some are venting grey smoke; there are also numerous vents of shimmering water."
Notes Relevant to Biology:
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only
Discovery References (text):
SRK Consulting report for Nautilus Minerals (http://www.nautilusminerals.com/i/pdf/2008NautilusExplorationNI43-101Report.pdf)
Nautilus Minerals press release Feb. 2009 (http://www.nautilusminerals.com/s/Media-NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=338585&_Type=News-Releases&_Title=Exploration-Success-Continues-for-Nautilus-Minerals-in-Tonga)
(plume only) Baker, E.T. et al. (2005) Hydrothermal activity on near-arc sections of back-arc ridges: results from the Mariana Trough and Lau Basin. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 6: Q09001, doi:10.1029/2005GC000948.
Other References (text):
(deposits sampled just north of this position) [Von stackelberg et al., Bundesanstalt Geowissenschaften Rohstoffe Circular 2, 3-14, 1985]