Fluid-driven Hydrovolcanic Activity along Fracture Zones and near Seamounts: Evidence from Deep-sea Fe-rich Spherules,Central Indian Ocean Basin

An insight on occurrence of Fe-rich spherules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) provides an understanding of their distribution at a water depth of >5,000 m. In the present study, Fe-rich spherules are identified to occur in two different sediment types (i.e., siliceous and pelagic) and tectonic settings (i.e. near seamounts and fracture zones). These are single spheres or aggregates, of different sizes (63 to 390 μm) and show textural variability (smooth/quenched, brickwork, corkscrew, interlocking and dendritic). A comparative study based on physical morphology and chemical composition suggests a common mechanism of formation. The association of spherules with fracture zones (FZ) and seamounts signifies that morpho-tectonic features play an important role in fluid-driven hydrovolcanism. Based on the evidence and geologic conditions existing in the basin, we conclude that molten fuel-coolant interaction (MFCI) coupled with submarine hydrothermal exhalations could be an ideal mechanism for the formation of spherules and Fe-particles. The accretion of the spherules on the surface sediments could be a result of recent volcanic phenomena, while those occurring at different depths (280–355, and 460–475 cm-bsf) within the sediment core indicate two different episodes. The study provides a global implication in understanding fluid-driven magmatism in a deep-sea intraplate environment.     

Genesis of Central Indian Ocean basin seamounts: morphological,petrological, and geochemical evidence

International Journal of Earth Sciences - We present the petrological investigation carried out of the seamounts located between water depths of 4300 and 5385 m in the Central Indian Ocean...     

Trace elements in ferromanganese nodules from the central indian ocean basin

Thirty-three bulk ferromanganese nodules from the sediment–water interface of siliceous sediment domain from the Central Indian Ocean Basin were analyzed for 50 elements including 6 new (Be, As, Se, Sn, Sb, and Bi) using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer. The Mn/Fe ratio and triangular plot (Fe-Mn-{Cu+Ni+Co?×?10}) suggest that ferromanganese nodules are of hydrogenetic, early diagenetic, and diagenetic origin. In the ferromanganese nodules, Mo, Sb, Bi, and As are highly enriched ～320, 160, 90, and 50 times compared with upper continental crust, respectively. A majority of the elements such as Be, Sc, Ti, V, Co, As, Se, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Sn, rare earth elements (REEs), Pb, Bi, P, Th, U, Hf, and Ta are associated with Fe, whereas, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mo, Li, Ga, Sb, Mg, and Cs are associated with Mn in the ferromanganese nodules. Redox proxies such as U/Th (0.14) and Mo/Mn (0.0019) ratio in the ferromanganese nodules suggest their formation under oxic conditions.