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Mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal sulphide from a submarine volcanic high at 18°36.4′S Central Lau Spreading Center, Southwest Pacific

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  • Marine Geology
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Abstract

We report the mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal sulphide from the crater of a volcanic high near 18°36.4′S of the Central Lau Spreading Center. During 1990s, that volcanic structure was reported active and sulphide samples were collected by MIR submersible. A section of a chimney-like structure from the crater-floor was studied here. The Fe-depleted sphalerites, and Co-depleted pyrites in that chimney were similar to those commonly found in low to moderate temperature (<300°C) sulphides from sediment-starved hydrothermal systems. Bulk analyses of three parts of that chimney section showed substantial enrichment of Zn (18%–20%) and Fe (14%-27%) but depletion of Cu (0.8%–1.3%). In chondrite-normalized rare earth element-patterns, the significant negative Ce-anomalies (Ce/Ce*=0.27–0.39) and weakly positive Eu-anomalies (Eu/Eu*=1.60–1.68) suggested sulphide mineralisation took place from reduced low-temperature fluid. The depleted concentration of lithophiles in this sulphide indicates restricted contribution of sub-ducting plate in genesis of source fluid as compared to those from other parts of Lau Spreading Centre. Uniform mineralogy and bulk composition of subsamples across the chimney section suggests barely any alteration of fluid composition and/or mode of mineralisation occurred during its growth.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-NIO, Goa for providing necessary facilities for this study. Anil L. Paropkari is highly grateful to Alexander P. Lisitsyn for inviting him to participate in the cruise on-board R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh and sharing sulphide samples to undertake scientific investigation. Thanks to Prabhu and Khedekar for XRD and EPMA analyses, respectively. This manuscript has CSIR-NIO contribution No. 6976.

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  1. CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403004, India

    Durbar Ray

  2. CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, 403004, India

    Anil L. Paropkari

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Ray, D., Paropkari, A.L. Mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal sulphide from a submarine volcanic high at 18°36.4′S Central Lau Spreading Center, Southwest Pacific. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 42, 93–101 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-022-2121-2

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