Abstract:

Two new major hydrothermal fields have been discovered in the rift valley of the MAR at 13°N (Ashadze) and l6°38'N (Krasnov). The Ashadze field consists of a cluster of active hydrothermal sites associated with ultramafic rocks and located at the greatest depth in the ocean (4,200 m). By contrast, the Krasnov field consists of inactive sulfide mounds hosted in basalts. The Krasnov is the largest hydrothermal deposit on the MAR (17.4 Mt) so far discovered with iron sulfide as the principal mineral type. By contrast, Cu-Zn sulfides are the major minerals in the Ashadze deposits, which are also enriched in gold and several other metals.

Keywords: hydrothermal deposits; massive sulfides; mid-Atlantic Ridge

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/10641190802400708

Affiliations: 1: VNIIOkeangeologia, 1 Angliysky Pr., St. Petersburg, Russia 2: Polar Marine Geosurvey Expedition, Lomonosov, Russia 3: St.Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia