Detachment-parallel recharge can explain high discharge fluxes at the TAG hydrothermal field

Guo, Zhikui; Rüpke, Lars; Petersen, Sven; German, Christopher R.; Ildefonse, Benoı̂t; Hasenclever, Jörg; Bialas, Jörg; Tao, Chunhui

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118245

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Together with the acquisition of magnetic and seismic data, this led authors to identify a detachment fault most likely active since the last 1.35 Myr (Tivey et al, 2003;Canales et al, 2007;deMartin et al, 2007;Zhao et al, 2012). It is now widely accepted that detachment faulting somehow controls the hydrothermal circulation beneath the TAG hydrothermal field, although some debates exist about the location of the heat source (deMartin et al, 2007;Guo et al, 2023;Zhao et al, 2012).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, defining the extent of a single hydrothermal vent field (i.e., cluster(s) of deposits related to a common heat source and/or subseafloor permeability) may be challenging. That is true for TAG, where the location of the heat source and by extension the pattern of hydrothermal circulation is now disputed (e.g., McCaig et al, 2010;Guo et al, 2023). Moreover, the question of geological continuity may arise if inactive sulfide deposits are discovered toward the LTZ at depths shallower than the detachment fault termination (approximately 3,300 m, Graber et al, 2020).…”

Section: Defining Active Inactive and Extinct Sms Deposits: Insight F...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity, spatial distribution and evolution of inactive and weakly active hydrothermal deposits in the TAG hydrothermal field

Pelleter,

Principaud,

Alix

et al. 2024

Front. Earth Sci.

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Introduction: Although, there is an increasing focus on inactive or extinct seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits driven by the possibility of marine mining, only few studies have been devoted to them so far. The Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse (TAG) hydrothermal field is probably one of the best-studied hydrothermal systems even if the relict SMS deposits known since the mid-1980s have not been thoroughly explored.Objectives: The main objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of these so-called inactive sites.Methods: During four different expeditions, we acquired high-resolution acoustic data and performed numerous human occupied vehicle (HOV) dive operations including extensive rock sampling and in-situ temperature measurements.Results and Discussion: We discovered thirteen new hydrothermal mounds including six large (i.e. > 5,000 m2) deposits making the TAG hydrothermal field one of the largest accumulation of hydrothermal materials (21.1 Mt) known on the seafloor. However, copper and zinc grades of the largest SMS deposits remain low (i.e. < 1.4 wt%) even compared to on-land volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. Additionally, eight areas of diffuse hydrothermal fluid flow were identified challenging the presumed inactivity of these SMS deposits and, for the first time, emphasizing the importance of low temperature (LT) hydrothermal activity in whole the TAG field. Inactive and weakly active SMS deposits exhibit a large diversity of surface mineralization (e.g. sulfides, Fe-Mn mineralization, jasper) illustrating complexity of hydrothermal activities but also different ageing history. Several mounds no longer have visible sulfide chimneys and are covered by a widespread layer of manganese and iron oxyhydroxides attesting the longevity of diffuse fluid flow at specific locations even long after last high-temperature (HT) hydrothermal activity has ceased. This contrasts with SMS deposits that are devoid of extensive LT precipitates but characterized by standing or topped sulfide chimney indicating a relatively abrupt cessation of HT hydrothermal activity.Conclusion: Together these results allow us to propose evolution models to explain the diversity of active, weakly active and inactive SMS deposits in the TAG hydrothermal field.

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Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Defining Active Inactive and Extinct Sms Deposits: Insight F...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity, spatial distribution and evolution of inactive and weakly active hydrothermal deposits in the TAG hydrothermal field

Pelleter,

Principaud,

Alix

et al. 2024

Front. Earth Sci.

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show abstract

“…Despite the significance of detachment faults in controlling hydrothermal circulation along slow-and ultraslowspreading mid-ocean ridges (McCaig et al, 2007), investigating the coupling mechanism between the kinematics of active detachment faulting and fluid recharge/discharge is challenging. Numerical simulation provides new insights into detachment-parallel recharge flow patterns which can explain both high-temperature and high-flux observations at a detachment-controlled hydrothermal system (Guo et al, 2023), while there are still unconstrained parameters remaining in complex models. Near-bottom magnetic surveys have been extensively applied to study the geometry and evolution of detachment faults related to active seafloor hydrothermal fields (e.g., Caratori Tontini et al, 2014;Hussenoeder et al, 1996;Tivey et al, 2003;Wu et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coupled Detachment Faulting and Hydrothermal Circulation at 49.7°E Southwest Indian Ridge Revealed by Seafloor Magnetism

Liu,

Zhou,

et al. 2024

JGR Solid Earth

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Detachment faults at slow‐ and ultraslow‐spreading mid‐ocean ridges are essential for lithosphere‐hydrosphere interactions. However, their coupling with subseafloor hydrothermal circulation is poorly understood. Here, we investigated shallow hydrothermal fluid circulations in the active Dragon Horn detachment fault system of the Southwest Indian Ridge using combined near‐bottom magnetic anomaly data and rock magnetic analyses. We observed enhanced magnetic anomalies related to the high magnetization of basaltic country rocks and highly serpentinized (>80%) peridotite, whereas the hydrothermally altered basalts and sulfide deposits had weak magnetization and reduced magnetic anomalies. Therefore, the low‐magnetization zone was interpreted as a proxy for the hydrothermal fluid channel. The spatial distribution of the low‐magnetization zone revealed that the inactive Suye field expanded more than 500 m in diameter horizontally and ∼100 m vertically, and the active Longqi hydrothermal field had a >1 km fluid channel, both centered around the detachment fault fracture zone. Our results establish a robust link between detachment faulting and shallow hydrothermal circulation in which the detachment fault system provides critical fluid paths. Therefore, detachment tectonics are important elements for evolving seafloor hydrothermal fields along the Southwest Indian Ridge and possibly other slow‐ and ultraslow‐spreading mid‐ocean ridges globally.

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Gold mineralization in the hydrothermal field at the termination of a detachment fault: A case study of the Tianxiu Vent Field

Yang,

Wang,

Petersen

et al. 2024

Miner Deposita

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Detachment-parallel recharge can explain high discharge fluxes at the TAG hydrothermal field

Cited by 6 publications

References 56 publications

Diversity, spatial distribution and evolution of inactive and weakly active hydrothermal deposits in the TAG hydrothermal field

Diversity, spatial distribution and evolution of inactive and weakly active hydrothermal deposits in the TAG hydrothermal field

Coupled Detachment Faulting and Hydrothermal Circulation at 49.7°E Southwest Indian Ridge Revealed by Seafloor Magnetism

Gold mineralization in the hydrothermal field at the termination of a detachment fault: A case study of the Tianxiu Vent Field

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