Low-temperature hydrothermal deposits in the rift zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

New data on the low-temperature hydrothermal deposits of the Snake Pit, TAG, Broken Spur, and Lucky Strike fields in the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) obtained during the 47th cruise of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh are reported. These deposits are related to focused and diffuse flows of hydrothermal solutions and the material precipitated from hydrothermal plumes. Electron microscopy study allowed us to identify protoferrihydrite, ferrihydrite, goethite, hematite, Mn-feroxyhyte, and Fe-vernadite. Fe-free vernadite, akaganeite, opal, nontronite, lepidocrocite, and jarosite occur in subordinate amounts. Bacteria-like forms made up of protoferrihydrite particles replaced with ferrihydrite, nontronite, and goethite along with particles of Fe-free vernadite and opal were found. The contents of major, minor, and noble metals were determined in samples with AAS, INAA, and the direct chromatographic method. Elevated PGE contents were established in the low-temperature hydrothermal deposits of the MAR for the first time. The highest PGE contents were detected in the inner zone of Fe-Mn crusts on the surface of a hydrothermal chimney in the Snake Pit field ((ppm) 0.13 Pd, 0.12 Rh, and 0.03 Pt, along with 16.5 Au, 642 Ag, and 355 Se) and in the Au-depleted crust on the surface of a sulfide ore fragment in the Lucky Strike field (0.12 ppm Pd and 0.04 ppm Rh along with 0.03 ppm Au, 683 ppm Se, and 1.5 wt % Ba).