Influence of a tube-building polychaete on hydrothermal chimney mineralization

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Geology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1992)020<0895:IOATBP>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:7006423

Juniper, S K ^[1]; Jonasson, I R ^[2]; Tunnicliffe, V ^[3]; Southward, A J ^[4]

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1. Centre Oceangraphique de Rimouski, Quebec (Canada)
2. Geological Survey, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
3. Univ. of Victoria, BC (Canada)
4. Marine Biological Association, Plymouth (United Kingdom)

High-temperature chimneys on the Juan de Fuca Ridge are the preferred habitat of the 'sulfide worm' (Paralvinella n. sp.). An investigation of interactions between the biology of the sulfide worm and chimney mineralization has led to a hypothesis linking formation of marcasite-pyrite crusts on chimney surfaces to colonization and tube-building by the worms. Marcasite precipitation beneath worm tubes and worm migration to newly formed areas of chimney together create a moving front of biomineralization that keeps pace with chimney growth. Sulfide oxidation by this organism can potentially produce enough S to form the FeS[sub 2] crusts. The marcasite-pyrite crusts act as a sealing layer within the outer chimney wall, reducing inflow of cold seawater or outflow of hydrothermal fluid. This may enhance temperature increases within the chimney conduit and hasten replacement of the early anhydrite matrix in the chimney wall by higher temperature sulfides.

• OSTI ID: 7006423
• Journal Information: Geology; (United States), Vol. 20:10; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
ANNELIDS
BIOCHEMISTRY
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
MARCASITE
MINERALIZATION
PYRITE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HABITAT
OXIDATION
ANIMALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
FLUIDS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
INVERTEBRATES
KINETICS
MINERALS
REACTION KINETICS
SULFIDE MINERALS
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