Four new hydrothermal vent fields were discovered on the slow spreading Central Indian Ridge (8–12°S; Segments 1–3), all located off‐axis on abyssal hill structures or Ocean Core Complexes (OCCs). Each site was characterized using seafloor observation (towed camera system), plume chemistry (Fe, Mn, and CH4; Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth sensor [CTD]/Miniature Autonomous Plume Recorder [MAPR]), and rock sampling (TVgrab/dredges). Different styles of venting on each segment reflect different geological settings, rock types, likely heat sources, and fluid pathways. The segment 1 field was located on the western flank of the axial valley at the base of OCC‐1‐1. High‐temperature venting was inferred from plume characteristics and extensive seafloor sulfide mineralization, but only diffuse venting was observed. This site appears to be a magmatic‐influenced basaltic‐hosted system despite its off‐axis location. Two low‐temperature diffusely venting sites were located on abyssal hills 6 and 9 km off‐axis on Segment 2. Plume particle, metal, and CH4 concentrations were all very low, suggesting dilution of hydrothermal fluids by intrusion of seawater into the highly permeable flank area fault zone. The “Onnuri Vent Field” (OVF), located at the summit of OCC‐3‐2, vented clear, low‐temperature fluids supporting abundant vent organisms (21 macrofaunal taxa). The plume particle signal was low to absent, but strong ORP anomalies correlated with high CH4 and low metal concentrations. Sulfide mineralization was present, which suggests both serpentinization and magmatic/lithospheric influence on fluid composition. The detachment fault is the likely pathway for hydrothermal fluid circulation at this off‐axis location. These new vent field discoveries, especially the OVF, contribute valuable information toward understanding Indian Ocean hydrothermal systems and their ecology/biogeography.

The northern Central Indian Ridge (CIR) between 8°S and 17°S is composed of seven segments whose spreading rates increase southward from ∼35 to ∼40 mm/yr. During expeditions of R/V Onnuri to study hydrothermal activity on the northern CIR in 2009–2011, high‐resolution multibeam mapping was conducted and ridge axis basalts were dredged. The major and trace element and Sr‐Nd‐Pb‐He isotopic compositions of basaltic glasses dredged from the spreading axis require three mantle sources: depleted mantle and two distinct enriched mantle sources. The southern segments have Sr, Nd, and Pb that are a mix of depleted mantle and an enriched component as recorded in southern CIR MORB. This enrichment is indistinguishable from Rèunion plume mantle, except for He isotopes. This suggests that the southern segments have incorporated a contribution of the fossil Rèunion plume mantle, as the CIR migrated over hot‐spot‐modified mantle. The low 3He/4He (7.5–9.2 RA) of this enriched component may result from radiogenic 4He ingrowth in the fossil Rèunion mantle component. Basalts from the northern segments have high 206Pb/204Pb (18.53–19.15) and low 87Sr/86Sr (0.70286–0.70296) that are distinct from the Rèunion plume but consistent with derivation from mantle with FOZO signature, albeit with 3He/4He (9.2–11.8 RA) that are higher than typical. The FOZO‐like enriched mantle cannot be attributed to the track of a nearby mantle plume. Instead, this enrichment may have resulted from recycling oceanic crust, possibly accompanied by small plume activity.

Basaltic volcanism at the mature back‐arc spreading axis in the North Fiji Basin (NFB) exhibits significant geochemical heterogeneity from depleted mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB) to enriched MORB compositions. The volatile and Sr‐Nd‐Pb‐He isotope composition of basaltic glasses from the Central Spreading Ridge (CSR) of the NFB suggests that a second enrichment mantle component is present in addition to the previously observed Samoan mantle plume. The hydrous OIB‐like basalts from the northern CSR have a weak enriched mantle 1 (EM1) isotopic signature and negative correlation between Ba/Th and Zr/Hf ratios, similar to rejuvenated Samoan lavas associated with tectonic driven volcanism. The EM1 signature is distinct from shield‐stage Samoan basalts and back‐arc basin basalts from the Lau Basin by high Ba/La ratio and negative correlation between Ba/Th and Ba/Ta ratios, indicating contributions from dehydrated and altered oceanic crust and sediments. Our new geochemical data suggest that focused melting above the mantle transition zone (MTZ) triggered by dehydration of stagnant slab can be a source of the EM1‐like melts containing both elevated 3He/4He ratios (up to 12.52 RA) and altered oceanic slab components. Given the spatial coincidence of the inferred EM1 basalts with the clustered deep earthquakes, our results support the presence of detached oceanic slabs in the MTZ beneath the northern NFB.

concentrated in relatively higher temperature, whereas Ga tends to be enriched in lower temperature. The enrichment processes of In and Ga in sphalerite might be strongly related to their complexations in the magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. High salinity in the fluid is favorable to form an In-chloride complex for mobilization and enrichment of In into sphalerite. Conversely, Ga-hydroxide complex might not be stable at relatively high temperature which could limit an economic enrichment of Ga in sphalerite in the region.