Drilling the Snake Pit hydrothermal sulfide deposit on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, lat 23/sup 0/22'N

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Geology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5749156

Detrick, R S; Honnorez, J; Adamson, A C; Brass, G; Gillis, K M; Humphris, S E; Mevel, C; Meyer, P; Petersen, N; Rautenschlein, M; Shibata, T; Staudigel, H; Yamamoto, K

A major high-temperature hydrothermal area has been discovered in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift valley about 25 km south of the Kane Fracture Zone. The vent field consists of a wide area (> 40,000 m/sup 2/) of dark hydrothermal deposits, numerous sulfide chimneys and mounds, some up to 11 m high, and high-temperature black-smoker vents. Ten shallow holes, the first ever drilled in an active submarine hydrothermal area, recovered friable, unconsolidated Fe, Cu-Fe, and Zn sulfides and several large fragments of massive sulfide (mainly chalcopyrite) from the locally thick (> 13 m) hydrothermal deposits. The vents are also associated with an unusual biological community of smaller, more mobile organisms than reported from the East Pacific Rise.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston
• OSTI ID: 5749156
• Journal Information: Geology; (United States), Vol. 14:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
WELL DRILLING
MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
CHALCOPYRITE
COPPER SULFIDES
DRILL CORES
EXPLORATORY WELLS
IRON SULFIDES
SURVEYS
TECTONICS
TELEVISION CAMERAS
ZINC SULFIDES
CAMERAS
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
DRILLING
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
IRON COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
PHOSPHORS
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WELLS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
150303* - Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology- Exploratory Drilling & Well Logging