Abstract
IN 1989, the submersible Nautile discovered one of the most active hydrothermal fields on the modern ocean floor, in the Lau back-arc basin (Fig. 1). The field contains high-temperature white and black smokers, and as we report here, its characteristics contrast strongly with those of the hydrothermal fields found at normal mid-ocean ridges. The main differences are the acidity (pH as low as 2), chemistry and temperature (up to 400 °C) of the hydrothermal fluids, the composition of the ore deposits, and the volcanic and tectonic environments. The fluids also have very high concentrations of trace metals, and primary gold is present in the accompanying mineral deposits. Our data show that these back-arc deposits in the Lau Basin are intermediate between typical mid-ocean-ridge mineralization and massive sulphide deposits of the Kuroko type.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jenner, G. A. et al. J. Volcan. geotherm. Res. 32, 209–222 (1987).
von Stackelberg, U. et al. Mar. Min. 7, 431–442 (1988).
Frenzel, J. M., Mühe, R. & Staffers, P. Geol. Jb. D92, 395–471 (1990).
Sunkel, G. Mar. Min. 9, 205–234 (1990).
Boespflug, X. Thesis, Univ. Brest (1990).
Fouquet, Y. et al. Eos 71, 678–679 (1990).
Morton, J. L. & Sleep, N. H. in Geology and Offshore Resources of Pacific Island Arcs-Tonga Region (eds School, D. W. and Vallier, T. L.) 441–443 (1985).
von Stackelberg, U. et al. BGR Circ. 2, 3–14 (1985).
Foucher, J. P. et al. C.r. hebd. Seanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 307, 509–616 (1988).
Parson, L. et al. Geology 18, 470–473 (1990).
Herzig, P., von Stackelberg, U. & Petersen, S. Mar. Min. 9, 271–301 (1990).
von Stackelberg, U. & von Rad, U. Geol. Jb. (in the press).
Campbell, A. C., Edmond, J. M., Colodner, D., Palmer, M. R. & Falkner K. K. Eos 68, 1531 (1987).
Michard, A. et al. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 67, 297–307 (1984).
Von Damm, K. L. et al. Geochem. cosmochim. Acta 49, 2221–2237 (1985).
Von Damm, K. L. et al. Geochem. cosmochim. Acta 49, 2197–2220 (1985).
Von Damm, K. L. & Bischoff, J. L. J. Geophys. Res. 92, 334–346 (1987).
Campbell, I. H. et al. Nature 335, 514–519 (1988).
Donval, J. P. et al. Terra Cognita 1, 325 (1988).
Palmer, M. R. & Edmond, J. M. Proc. 28th Int. Geol. Congress 2, 567 (Washington, 1989).
Herzig, P., Fouquet, Y., Hannington, M. & Stackelberg, U. Eos 71, 1680 (1990).
Hannington, M. D., Thompson, G., Rona, P. A. & Scott, S. D. Nature 333, 64–66 (1988).
Ohmoto, H. & Skinner, B. J. Econ. Geol. Monogr. 5, 1–8 (1983).
Halbach, P. et al. Nature 338, 496–499 (1989).
Auzende, et al. C.r. hebd. Seanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 309, 1787–1795 (1989).
Fouquet, Y., Auclair G., Cambon, P. & Etoubleau, J. Mar. Geol. 84, 145–178 (1988).
Tanimura, S., Date, J., Takahashi, T., Ohmoto, H. Econ. Geol. Monogr. 5, 9–54 (1983).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fouquet, Y., Stackelberg, U., Charlou, J. et al. Hydrothermal activity and metallogenesis in the Lau back-arc basin. Nature 349, 778–781 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/349778a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/349778a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Active hydrothermal vents in the Woodlark Basin may act as dispersing centres for hydrothermal fauna
Communications Earth & Environment (2022)
-
Rapid coupling between solid earth and ice volume during the Quaternary
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Geological, physical, and chemical characteristics of seafloor hydrothermal vent fields
Journal of Oceanology and Limnology (2020)
-
Ecology and trophic role of Oncholaimus dyvae sp. nov. (Nematoda: Oncholaimidae) from the lucky strike hydrothermal vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
BMC Zoology (2019)
-
Mineralogical and geochemical variation in hydrothermal sulfides from Vienna Woods field, Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea: constraints on their evolution
Acta Oceanologica Sinica (2018)