hydrothermal

Locality map and stratigraphic column, North Pole Dome. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4789 Researchers from The University of Western Australia examined 3.5 billion-year-old hydrothermal vent sediments and discovered clues about the origin and early evolution of life. The study, by Professor Birger Rasmussen and Dr. Janet Muhling, from…

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain In recent years, the hydrothermal alteration of olivine has attracted the attention of geologists, biologists, and chemists. It significantly influences the physical and chemical properties of the oceanic lithosphere, and it plays an important role for the recycling of volatiles (such as water and carbon) in subduction zones. In…

A new mesophilic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterial species, Hydrogenimonas cancrithermarum, was discovered at a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, enhancing our understanding of bacterial evolution and diversity. This breakthrough demonstrates the importance of microbial cultivation in complementing genomic studies, offering new insights into the adaptation and evolution of deep-sea bacteria. The image above depicts the deep-sea hydrothermal vent site known as ‘Crab Spa’ on the East Pacific Rise. Credit: Photo courtesy of Stefan…

Overview of study area. The yellow rectangle in a is the location of the study area in China, b is a three-dimensional map of the study area, and c is an enlarged map of the study area. Credit: Trees (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s00468-023-02467-5 Located in the core area of the Asian monsoon, China's subtropical regions have a large population and abundant forest resources, and great potential for carbon sequestration. Increasing…

The diagram illustrates the two main types (intense magma supply type and tectonic control type) of metallogenic models along the spreading axis of a mid-ocean ridge, with the tectonic control type further divided into one-way detachment control and flip-flop detachment control. Credit: Science China Press The research findings of Dr. Tao Chunhui, a senior researcher from the Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of…

Research from Waseda University has found that petit-spot volcanoes on the ocean floor contribute significantly to marine biogeochemical cycles, including the carbon cycle, due to their release of CO2 and methane-enriched alkaline magma. The study of a petit-spot volcano in the Japan Trench revealed it as the deepest known hydrothermal site, with iron and manganese oxides identified as evidence of hydrothermal activity. These findings highlight the need for further study of these underwater volcanoes.Researchers reveal…

Researchers have analyzed samples from petit-spot volcanoes to confirm their hydrothermal activity and estimated the process behind the hydrothermal activity. Credit: Keishiro Azami from Waseda University Underwater volcanoes on the Earth's crust are active contributors of many different elements to the oceanic environment. Hence, they play an important role in biogeochemical and chemosynthetic cycles of the ocean. Although…

Photographs of in situ Raman detection of hydrothermal fluids in the Okinawa Trough hydrothermal field. (a) Location of the Jade and Biwako sites in the mid-Okinawa Trough. (b) The high temperature resistant probe and in situ Raman spectrometer inside titanium pressure housing. The RiP-Hv was inserted into the Jade and Biwako hydrothermal vents to obtain Raman spectra respectively (c and d). Hydrothermal vent fluids for Jade and Biwako sites were…

The water surface of Doublet Pool vibrating. Credit: Jamie Farrell/University of UtahThe rhythmic beating of geysers at Doublet Pool provides insight into the changes in energy within the Yellowstone hydrothermal system.As throngs of people gather around Old Faithful, eagerly anticipating its next eruption, a small pool located just north of Yellowstone National Park’s most famous geyser is putting on its own spectacular display with regularity. Unlike Old Faithful, Doublet Pool doesn’t erupt in a towering spout, but…

Mystery silica ejected in huge quantities from Saturn's icy moon Enceladus is powerful new evidence pointing to heat vents on the floor of a global ocean.According to a new analytical model, internal heating from the moon's core creates ocean currents that transport the silica particles, which are ejected from deep-sea hydrothermal vents that also release heat into the surrounding waters.It's a tantalizing finding that teases a real possibility of the existence of life, deep below an alien ocean on an alien world.When…