印度洋西南海脊的热液活动

洋中脊的水下热液喷口喷出热的缺氧流体,当它们从海底喷出时与周围海水激烈混合,沉淀出各种硫化物和氧化物,直到达到海底之上数百米平衡为止。最终的热液柱沿等密度面散布,等密度面处的热液柱可由溶解的化学示踪物高度富集和悬浮颗粒负载增高检验出来。最近的研究中,...     

西南印度洋中脊海底热液活动

在超慢速扩张的西南印度洋中脊(SWIR)发现现代海底热液活动改变了人们的传统观点,有助于进一步深化时全球热液活动系统的认识.对西南印度洋中脊地质构造背景、玄武岩和超镁铁质岩的地球化学特征,以及热液活动的特点进行较为系统地分析.指出:独特的地质构造环境使西南印度洋中脊成为研究现代海底热液活动、地球圈层问相互作用所导致的物...     

西南印度洋深海热液区铠甲虾初探

简述了深海热液区铠甲虾的分类研究现状,整理出铠甲虾总科下属科的形态分类检索表,并对2008年10月-2009年2月中国大洋科考第20航次在西南印度洋深海热液区获得的铠甲虾样品进行详细的形态描述和分类,初步鉴定为5种,隶属于2科5属,分别是:劣柱虾科(Chirostylidae)的折尾虾(Uroptychus sp.),...     

西南印度洋脊“断桥”热液区深部地质构造研究

Polymetalic sulfide is the main product of sea-floor hydrothermal venting, and has become an important sea-floor mineral resources for its rich in many kinds of precious metal elements. Since 2007, a number of investigations have been carried out by the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association(COMRA)cruises(CCCs) along the Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR). In 2011, the COMRA signed an exploration contract of sea-floor polymetallic sulfides of 10 000 km2 on the SWIR with the International Seabed Authority. Based on the multibeam data and shipborne gravity data obtained in 2010 by the R/V Dayang Yihao during the leg 6 of CCCs21, together with the global satellite surveys, the characteristics of gravity anomalies are analyzed in the Duanqiao hydrothermal field(37°39′S, 50°24′E). The "subarea calibration" terrain-correcting method is employed to calculate the Bouguer gravity anomaly, and the ocean bottom seismometer(OBS) profile is used to constrain the two-dimensional gravity anomaly simulation. The absent Moho in a previous seismic model is also calculated.The results show that the crustal thickness varies between 3 and 10 km along the profile, and the maximum crustal thickness reaches up to 10 km in the Duanqiao hydrothermal field with an average of 7.5 km. It is by far the most thicker crust discovered along the SWIR. The calculated crust thickness at the Longqi hydrothermal field is approximately 3 km, 1 km less than that indicated by seismic models, possibly due to the outcome of an oceanic core complex(OCC).     

东北太平洋Explorer Ridge热液羽状流位温浊度异常和物质能量通量估算

深海热液流体与周围海水之间存在明显的物理和化学差异,通过检测海水的位温浊度异常是探测深海热液活动的重要手段之一。本文采用"海底火山带项目（Submarine Ring of Fire 2002）"拖曳式温盐深测量仪数据资料,研究了东北太平洋Explorer Ridge热液场的水文特征及物质能量通量的释放。结果表明Explorer Ridge热液场热液羽状流中性浮力层所在深度范围约为1 600~1 900 m,距离海底的高度约为200 m,最大位温、盐度和浊度异常分别为0.04℃、0.004和0.18 NTU;中性浮力层热液羽状流帽呈椭圆结构,其长轴与洋中脊线重合,羽状流帽总面积约为27 km2;热液羽状流在中性层范围内存在明显的分层现象,通过经验公式计算得到Explorer Ridge热液场观测范围内热液喷口的总的浮力通量为6.19×10-2 m4/s3,平均值为2.063×10-2 m4/s3;总的体积通量为9.884×10-2 m3/s,平均值为3.295×10-2 m3/s;总的热通量为194.9 MW,平均值为64.967 MW。     

西南印度洋脊49.6°E热液区热液产物和玄武岩地球化学特征

利用X射线荧光法和ICP-MS等方法对取自超慢速扩张的西南印度洋脊(SWIR) 49.6°E热液区的热液产物和玄武岩样品进行元素地球化学特征分析研究,结果表明:(1)与亏损型洋中脊玄武岩(N-MORB)相比,研究区玄武岩样品的主量元素组成显示其偏碱性,而微量元素对比表明该区玄武岩明显富集Pb元素;(2)对热液产物的综合分析表明这些样品多为Fe-Si-Mn氧羟化物且都为热液来源;(3)热液产物的∑REE含量介于玄武岩和海水之间,经球粒陨石标准化的稀土元素(REE)分布模式均表现出Eu正异常和轻稀土(LREE)富集的特征。另外,本研究还表明,利用玄武岩和热液产物地球化学指标不仅能够模拟出以热液喷口为中心的元素地球化学晕,而且能反映出热液活动的影响范围。     

西南印度洋49°～56°E洋脊段的热液羽状流:来自深水中的氦同位素异常证据

海水中的氦同位素能对海底热液活动进行有效示踪。本文对在西南印度洋49°~56°E洋脊段采集的5条CTD拖曳剖面共14件深水样品进行了氦氖同位素分析。通过分析水体中存在的氦同位素异常,探讨调查区热液异常的特征和热液羽状流的分布。分析表明,5条CTD剖面均存在δ3He异常,其中CTD7-2(位置:37.927°S、49.412°E,水深2 140m,离底高度100m)的δ3He值最大,达到49.2%。根据δ3He分布特征,认为调查区内存在至少6处热液羽状流,其中37.927°S、49.412°E以西数千米范围内可能存在海底热液喷口。     

西南印度洋脊49°39′E热液活动区IODP钻探计划的科学意义

自20世纪70年代以来,现代海底热液活动调查研究一直是地球科学领域研究的热点和焦点.中国大洋19航次第Ⅰ、Ⅱ航段于2007年3月在西南印度洋脊首次发现的海底热液活动区,为IODP在超慢速扩张洋脊热液活动区进一步的调查和研究创造了条件.为了能够更深入地开展该热液区的地质地球物理、矿产资源和生物多样性调查研究,笔者建议应在该区域开展IODP钻探研究,以便对热液活动区硫化物矿体、基岩及深部物质的三维分布和结构物质组成,热液流体与岩石、沉积物相互作用关系,以及热液循环、热及物质通量和成矿机制、成矿物质来源演化关系等方面得到更深入的认识,进而探索地球深部极端环境下的微生物生命现象.     

西南印度洋中脊热液区岩石声学特性

西南印度洋中脊(Southwest Indian Ridge, SWIR)热液区具有潜在发育的大规模硫化物矿床,当前正在开展SWIR硫化物矿产资源评价。测量分析硫化物和不同围岩的声速等物性特征是硫化物近底地震勘探资料处理和解释的基础。该文对西南印度洋中脊热液区的硫化物和围岩等样品进行了系统的物性测量,结合岩石物性(包括密度、孔隙度、P波速度)与矿物组成,深入分析了西南印度洋中脊热液区岩石声速变化特性及其影响因素。结果表明,SWIR热液区围岩的P波速度受到岩石骨架矿物、孔隙和围压的影响。由于岩石孔隙度总体偏小,对P波速度的影响并不显著,但围压的增加使岩石微裂缝和孔隙逐渐闭合,P波速度呈非线性指数变化。蚀变作用导致了矿物成分改变,是影响围岩声速的最关键因素。单一物性参数测量结果可能存在多解性,联合波速、密度、磁性和电性等多物性参数测量有利于岩性区分。该研究成果有助于识别硫化物和围岩,为我国西南印度洋合同区多金属硫化物地震勘探工作提供重要支撑。     

西南印度洋脊龙旂热液区蚀变岩岩石学特征及对热液流体循环的指示

慢速−超慢速扩张洋脊的海底热液活动区多出露类型多样的蚀变岩石,记录了地壳深部的流体与围岩的相互作用,为研究深部热液流体特征以及循环过程提供了样本。本研究选取了中国大洋第30、34和40航次在超慢速扩张西南印度洋脊龙旂热液区(A区、B区和C区)利用电视抓斗采集的蚀变玄武岩、蚀变辉长岩、蚀变辉石岩和蛇纹岩等蚀变岩样品,利用光学显微镜、电子探针开展了岩相学和矿物化学分析。岩相学结果表明,龙旂热液区蚀变岩石样品约95%发生了地壳浅部的脆性变形作用,靠近龙旂1号热液区(A区)约有5%的蚀变岩石混合发育了脆性变形及脆性−塑性变形特征。研究区岩石蚀变属于中−低温变质作用,变质相近似绿片岩相,变质矿物组合为绿泥石−绿帘石−钠长石−阳起石−榍石。其中,A区的蚀变岩中的绿泥石形成温度(201～341℃)以及蛇纹石、阳起石、绿泥石等蚀变矿物的Fe元素含量(17.5%～27.5%)都高于龙旂3号热液区(B区和C区)的绿泥石形成温度(239～303℃)和Fe元素含量(16.8%～26.5%),这也与在该区观测到高温的热液喷口相符合。本研究认为龙旂热液区所在洋脊段发育的拆离断层为热液流体的向上运移提供了通道,洋壳扩张后期轴部的岩浆熔体在轴侧区域的岩浆侵入或喷发活动可能为热液循环提供了热源。     

Utilizing ~(234)Th/~(238)U disequilibrium to constrain particle dynamics in hydrothermal plumes in the Southwest Indian Ocean

Metal-enriched minerals have been widely observed near hydrothermal vent fields.However,the dynamics of particulate metals influenced by hydrothermal activities is poorly constrained.Here,radioactive ~(234)Th in both dissolved and particulate phases were used to examine the kinetics of particle-reactive metal adsorption,removal,and residence in a newly found hydrothermal plume over the Southwest Indian Ridge.The results showed a relatively low value on ~(234)Th/~(238)U ratios(i.e.,0.73-0.88) compared to the deep oceans,indicating an enhanced adsorption of particle-reactive metals onto particulate matter in the plume.Based on the ~(234)Th-~(238)U disequilibria,the adsorption and sinking rate constants of ~(234)Th averaged(0.009±0.001) d~(-1) and(0.113±0.024) d~(-1) in the hydrothermal plume,corresponding to the residence times of(115±19) d and(16±5) d for dissolved and particulate ~(234)Th,respectively.This timescale allows vent-discharged particle-reactive metals to disperse hundreds to thousands of miles away.Thus,hydrothermal activities might influence the metal distribution in deep ocean over a very large scope.Also,a high sinking flux of(36.2±5.4) B q/(m~2·d) for ~(234)Th was observed for the plume,suggesting an enrichment of metal in particles deposited close to the vent.The enhancement of particle sinking could also benefit the transport of organic carbon and nitrogen and fuel the benthic ecosystems under the plume regimes.Thus,hydrothermal plumes may have an impact on both the elemental geochemistry and/or ecosystem to the deep oceans interior than previous expectation.     

西南印度洋脊龙旂热液场金属硫化物的矿物学组成及指示意义

西南印度洋脊(SWIR)是当前洋底超慢速扩张洋脊的典型代表, 具有独特的热液硫化物矿床形成机理, 对位于该洋脊的龙旂热液场硫化物样品进行了系统的矿物学分析, 结果表明:该区硫化物为高温热液喷溢活动所形成的富Fe型硫化物, 目前已经历了一定程度的氧化蚀变; 硫化物矿物组合以磁黄铁矿、黄铁矿为主, 其次是少量黄铜矿、白铁矿和(铁)闪锌矿; 黄铜矿出溶等轴古巴矿现象普遍, 部分样品中可见自然金颗粒。经综合分析, 该区热液成矿作用可划分为3个成矿阶段和1个后期海底风化阶段: (1)高温的黄铁矿+黄铜矿(等轴古巴矿) +磁黄铁矿阶段, (2)中高温的黄铁矿+闪锌矿阶段, (3)低温的胶状或莓球状黄铁矿+白铁矿+自然金阶段, (4)后期硫化物海底氧化性蚀变阶段主要是形成Fe的氧/羟化物。在整个成矿期间, 流体温度有不同程度的波动, 主要硫化物矿物形成时端元流体的温度应在335℃以上, 瞬间(短时)或局部热液的最高温度推测超过400℃。本区的磁黄铁矿属于富钴型磁黄铁矿亚类, 经历了六方磁黄铁矿+黄铁矿→单斜磁黄铁矿+黄铁矿的变化, 表明该区热液流体发生了快速降温的演化过程。     

Rare earth element geochemistry of hydrothermal deposits from Southwest Indian Ridge

The REE compositions of hydrothermal deposits and basalt samples from the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) were determined with ICP-MS.The results show that there are significant differences between different types of samples although all samples show relative LREE enrichment.The contents of REE in hydrothermal sulfides and alterated rocks samples are lower (from 7.036 × 10 6 to 23.660 × 10 6),while those in the white chimney deposits are relatively higher (ranging from 84.496 × 10 6 to 103.511 × 10 6).Both of them are lower than basalts.Chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns show that sulfides and alterated rocks samples are characterized by significant positive Eu anomalies.On the contrary,white chimney deposits have obvious negative Eu anomalies,which may be caused by abundant calcite existing in the white chimney samples.Both the content and distribution pattern of REE in sulfides suggest that REE most possibly is originally derived from hydrothermal fluids,but influenced by the submarine reducing ore-forming environment,seawater convection,mineral compositions as well as the constraint of mineral crystallizations.     

Component characteristics of organic matter in hydrothermal barnacle shells from Southwest Indian Ridge

In 2008-2009, hydrothermal barnacle and sediment samples were collected from the Southwest Indian Ridge during a survey of the China Ocean Mineral Resources R＆D Association （COMRA）. Samples were ana- lyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer （GC-MS）, revealing the main organic constituents of hy- drothermal barnacle and sediment to be fatty acids and alkylbenzenes. N-alkanes which possessed obvious even carbon advantage were also detected in hydrothermal sediment. The high concentrations of aromatic compounds might be the result of macromolecular thermal alteration. Microorganism in the submarine hydrothermal ecosystem, especially those related to sulfur metabolism, might be the source of the high con- centrations of fatty acids detected in these samples. In high temperature and high pressure hydrothermal environments, n-alkanes which possessed obvious even carbon advantage might originate from thermal alteration of carboxylic acids and other lipid compounds.     

Newly discovered hydrothermal fields along the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge around 63°E

The ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR) to the east of the Melville fracture zone is characterized by very low melt supply and intensive tectonic activity. Due to its weak thermal budget and extremely slow spreading rate, the easternmost SWIR was considered to be devoid of hydrothermal activity until the discovery of the inactive Mt. Jourdanne hydrothermal field(27°51′S, 63°56′E) in 1998. During the COMRA DY115-20 cruise in2009, two additional hydrothermal fields(i.e., the Tiancheng(27°51′S, 63°55′E) and Tianzuo(27°57′S, 63°32′E)fields) were discovered. Further detailed investigations of these two hydrothermal sites were conducted by Chinese manned submersible Jiaolong in 2014–2015. The Tiancheng filed can be characterized as a lowtemperature(up to 13.2°C) diffuse flow hydrothermal field, and is hosted by fractured basalts with hydrothermal fauna widespread on the seafloor. The Tianzuo hydrothermal field is an inactive sulfide field, which is hosted by ultramafic rocks and controlled by detachment fault. The discovery of the three hydrothermal fields around Segment #11 which receives more melt than the regional average, provided evidence for local enhanced magmatism providing heat source to drive hydrothermal circulation. We further imply that hydrothermal activity and sulfide deposits may be rather promising along the easternmost SWIR.     

Distal axis sulfide mineralization on the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge: an LA-ICP-MS study of pyrite from the East Longjing-2 hydrothermal field

The newly discovered East Longjing-2 hydrothermal field (ELHF-2) is located on the Dragon Horn oceanic core complex of the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge, approximately 12 km from the ridge axis. This study measured the chemical compositions of pyrite from ELHF-2 using a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to investigate the genesis of the field. Three generations of pyrite were classified, and found that: Py1 and Py2, rich in V, Mn, U, and Se, occur in altered basalt debris and the silica alteration matrix, respectively. Py3 was mainly intergrown with chalcopyrite in quartz veins and had higher Cu, In, Ag, Sb, and Au contents than Py1 and Py2. Some elements, such as Au, Se, and Pb, are likely presented as direct substitution with Fe2+ in pyrite, while Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, and Ag probably occur both as direct substitution with Fe and as distributed micro- to nanoparticle-sized sulfides. Meanwhile, the occurrence of V, Mn, and U is likely presented as oxide inclusions. Trace element geochemistry suggested that the pyrite was formed under high-temperature conditions, and the ore forming elements were likely derived from ultramafic rocks. In addition, Py1 and Py2 were formed under higher water/rock ratio and higher temperature conditions, with more seawater involvement compared with Py3. The formation of ELHF-2 was probably driven by exothermic serpentinization reactions with an additional magmatic heat. This study shows that high-temperature hydrothermal circulation driven by magmatic activity can be developed on distal rift flank areas of magma-starved ultraslow-spreading ridges.