Vent Sites:
North Valu Fa Ridge Site 2 (= NVFR_2)
North Valu Fa Ridge Site 3 (= NVFR_3)
Notes on Vent Field Description:
Tahi Moana 2 site of Nautilus Minerals (Nautilus press release Feb. 2009), with NVFR_2 just to N and NVFR_3 is 2 km to S; SRK Consulting report for Nautilus Minerals (http://www.nautilusminerals.com/i/pdf/2008NautilusExplorationNI43-101Report.pdf) does not confirm activity and also says that the NVFR_2 and NVFR_3 sites were discovered in 1989 by the Nautilau cruise; northern Valu Fa Ridge; SRK report (2011): "Tahi Moana 2b area is approximately 370 by 90 m in size with rare active (black smoke) chimneys"
Notes Relevant to Biology:
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
1989 submersible Nautile (need reference to check if activity confirmed); 2004 plume only; 2008 commercial ROV (report does not confirm activity)
Discovery References (text):
(plume only) Baker et al., GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 33, L07308, doi:10.1029/2005GL025283, 2006, Abundant hydrothermal venting along melt-rich and melt-free ridge segments in the Lau back-arc basin.
Other References (text):
SRK Consulting (2011) Nautilus Minerals Incorporated NI43-101 Technical Report 2010 PNG, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Vanuatu and the ISA. Document Reference: NAT007 Nautilus 43-101 Technical Report 2011 Rev3.docx.
SRK Consulting report for Nautilus Minerals (http://www.nautilusminerals.com/i/pdf/2008NautilusExplorationNI43-101Report.pdf)