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Mineralogical-geochemical features of sulfide ores from the Broken Spur hydrothermal vent field

  • Marine Geology
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Abstract

A representative collection of hydrothermal sediments was sampled practically from all the hydrothermal mounds of the Broken Spur hydrothermal vent field from the Mir manned submersibles during three cruises of R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. Mineral associations characteristic of different morphological types of sulfide ores from hydrothermal pipes, plates, and diffusers are assessed. Particular attention is paid to the distribution of minor elements and their distribution patterns determined by the mineralogical zonation. The measured isotopic value of the sulfur in the sulfide minerals appeared to vary from 0.4 to 5.2‰, which indicates their similarity with the ores from the Snake Pit vent field and is related to the dilution of hot ore-bearing solutions by seawater and reduction of the water sulfate ions to H2S with a heavy isotopic composition.

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Correspondence to A. Yu. Lein.

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Original Russian Text © Yu.A. Bogdanov, A.Yu. Lein, V.V. Maslennikov, Syaoli Li, A.A. Ul’yanov, 2008, published in Okeanologiya, 2008, Vol. 48, No. 5, pp. 734–756.

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Bogdanov, Y.A., Lein, A.Y., Maslennikov, V.V. et al. Mineralogical-geochemical features of sulfide ores from the Broken Spur hydrothermal vent field. Oceanology 48, 679–700 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1134/S000143700805007X

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S000143700805007X

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