Record of hydrothermal activity in the Yuhuang hydrothermal field and its implications for the Southwest Indian Ridge:evidence from sulfide chronology

The Yuhuang hydrothermal field(YHF)is located between the Indomed and Gallieni fracture zones near the top of the off-axis slope on the south rift wall of Segment 29 on the ultraslow Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR).Previous studies have shown that sulfides in the YHF formed during different mineralization episodes and the YHF has the greatest potential for the formation of large-scale seafloor massive sulfide deposits.However,the sulfide chronology and hydrothermal activity of the YHF remain poorly constrained.In this study,mineralogical analyses and 230Th/U dating were performed.Hydrothermal activity may start about(35.9±2.3)ka from the southwest part of the YHF and may cease about(708±81)a ago from the northeast part of the YHF.The 74 nonzero chronological data from hydrothermal sulfide samples provide the first quantitative characterization of the spatial and temporal history along the SWIR.Hydrothermal activity in the SWIR has been relatively active over the past20 ka.In contrast,between 40 ka and 100 ka,hydrothermal activity was relatively infrequently and short in duration.The maximum activity occurred at 15–11 ka,9–7 ka,6–0.2 ka.There was a slight positive correlation between the maximal age and estimated surface area or estimated tonnage.The minimum mass accumulation rate of YHF is about 278 t/a,which is higher than most HFs related to ultramafic systems.The ultraslow spreading SWIR has the greatest potential to form large-scale seafloor massive sulfides(SMS)deposits.The results of this study provide new insights into the metallogenic mechanism of hydrothermal sulfides along ultraslow-spreading ridges.

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 Fe^(2+)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 hightemperature conditions,and the ore forming elements were likely derived from ultramafic rocks.In addition,Py1and 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.

Ga isotopic fractionation in sulfides from the Yuhuang and Duanqiao hydrothermal fields on the Southwest Indian Ridge

This study examines the Ga isotopic compositions of sulfides in the Yuhuang and Duanqiao hydrothermal fields on the Southwest Indian Ridge,mid-ocean ridge basalts(MORB),and calcareous sediments around the hydrothermal fields.Theδ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) values of theMORB samples vary little(+1.20‰to+1.23‰,with an average of+1.22‰)and are consistent with the δ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) values of two standard basalt samples(BCR-2 and BHVO-2),indicating that Ga isotopes may either not fractionate or fractionate only slightly under high-temperature geological processes;therefore,the δ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) value of oceanic crust may be+1.22‰.The sediments(+1.28‰to+1.47‰,with an average of+1.38‰)are rich in heavier Ga isotopes than the basalts,and the Ga present in the sediments may have originated from soluble Ga present in the seawater that was adsorbed by(Mn,Fe)oxides/hydroxides.The Ga contribution of basaltic debris to the sedimentswas almost negligible.Thus,wespeculate that theδ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) value of seawater in the study area fell within a range from+1.92‰to+2.36‰.Theδ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) values of the sulfides in the Yuhuang hydrothermal field range from+0.99‰to+1.57‰,with an average of+1.25‰,and theδ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) values of the sulfides in the Duanqiao hydrothermal field range from+0.93‰to+1.55‰,with an average of+1.19‰.Theδ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) ranges of the sulfides in the Yuhuang and Duanqiao hydrothermal fields are similar,with the Ga isotopic fractionation reaching 0.58‰and 0.62‰,respectively.The averageδ^(71/69)Ga_(NIST-994) values in the sulfides are close to those in the MORBs.This suggests that Ga within the sulfides in the Yuhuang and Duanqiao hydrothermal fields mainly originated from MORBs,with seawater and sediments making only small contributions.The Ga isotopic fractionation in the sulfides may be related to processes associated with the formation of sulfides,such as rapid precipitation or the admixture of different stages of sulfide.This study is of great significance for understanding the global distribution of Ga isotopes and the Ga cycle in submarine hydrothermal systems.

Geological characteristics of the Qiaoyue Seamount and associated ultramafic-hosted seafloor hydrothermal system(~52.1°E,Southwest Indian Ridge)

Hydrothermal vent incidence was once thought to be proportional to the spreading rate of the mid-ocean ridges(MORs).However,more and more studies have shown that the ultraslow-spreading ridges(e.g.,Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR))have a relatively higher incidence of hydrothermal venting fields.The Qiaoyue Seamount(52.1°E)is located at the southern side of segment#25 of the SWIR,to the west of the Gallieni transform fault.The Chinese Dayang cruises conducted eight preliminary deep-towed surveys of hydrothermal activity in the area during 2009 and 2018.Here,through comprehensive analyses of the video and photos obtained by the deep-towed platforms,rock samples,and water column turbidity anomalies,a high-temperature,ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal system is predicted on the northern flank of the Qiaoyue Seamount.We propose that this hydrothermal system is most likely to be driven by gabboric intrusions.Efficient hydrothermal circulation channels appear against a backdrop of high rock permeability related to the detachment fault.

Sulfide metallogenic model for the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge

Polymetallic sulfides present in mid-ocean ridges(MORs)have become important strategic resources for humans,and a scientific metallogenic model is necessary for the investigation and exploration of these resources.Compared to fast-and slow-spreading MORs,ultraslow-spreading MORs show substantial differences in magma supply,tectonic activity,and oceanic crust structures.However,information on hydrothermal circulation and a metallogenic model related to sulfides along the ultraslow-spreading ridges is still limited,which hinders further exploration of these resources.In this study,the distribution of hydrothermal activities,as well as the characteristics of the structures,heat sources,fluid pathways,host rock types,fluid properties,and sulfide assemblages in typical hydrothermal fields along the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR),have been studied.It is concluded that the hydrothermal systems along the SWIR can be categorized into three types,including local enhanced magma-controlled,one-way detachment/high-angle large-offset fault-controlled,and flip-flop detachment-controlled types,which are further categorized into five subtypes based on their distinct geological backgrounds.Herein,we present a sulfide metallogenic model called Local Enhanced Heat Supply-Deep Faults(eHeat-dFault)for the SWIR.The overall spreading rate remains almost constant(14-18 mm/year),while the magma supply is heterogeneous in the segment scale along the SWIR.Over the past two decades,various hydrothermal systems and sulfide deposits have been identified along the SWIR.A deep magma chamber(4-9 km)is developed in the ridge segment with sufficient magma supply owing to the local enhanced magma supply,while long-lived active deep detachment faults(up to 13 km)with associated metallogenic belts are developed in ridge segments with poor magma supply.Hence,the ultraslow-spreading MORs fulfill the necessary conditions of a sustained heat source and stable hydrothermal pathway for the formation of large-scale polymetallic sulfide deposits.The number of hydrothermal fields detected in the investigation area is 2-3 times that predicted by the traditional Spreading Rate-Magma Flux model,demonstrating its significant endowment for sulfide resources.A balance between magma supply and faulting may influence the type and depth of hydrothermal circulation,the frequency of hydrothermal activity along the axis,and the scale of sulfide deposits.Spreading rate was previously believed to control heat sources,magma supply,and tectonic processes.However,for the SWIR,we suggest that local enhanced heat supply and deep detachment faults have a greater influence than the spreading rate on hydrothermal circulation and sulfide mineralization.The eHeat-dFault sulfide metallogenic model proposed herein could provide guidance for further exploration and research on polymetallic sulfides in ultraslow-spreading SWIR.

Quantifying the influence of magmatism and tectonism on ultraslow-spreading-ridge hydrothermal activity:Evidence from the Southwest Indian Ridge

Hydrothermal activity in mid-ocean ridges(MORs)is an important intermediary for the mass and heat exchange between the ocean and lithosphere.The development of hydrothermal activity on MORs is primarily controlled by coupled magmatic and tectonic activities.In ultraslow-spreading ridges,deepdipping low-angle normal faults with large offsets,typically detachment faults in the inside corners of ridge offsets,favor the formation of tectonic-related hydrothermal activities,whereas volcanic-related hydrothermal fields are typically developed in neovolcanic zones in this category of the ridge system.However,whether tectonic or magmatic activity is dominant and to what extent they control the formation of hydrothermal activities on ultraslow-spreading ridges remain unclear.Segments in the west and east of the Gallieni transform fault(TF)located in the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR),namely,western area(WA)and eastern area(EA),exhibit distinct magma-supply conditions that provide favorable conditions for examining the influence of magmatic and tectonic activities.We generated prediction models for these areas using the spatial analysis of the water depth,minor faults,large faults,ridge axis,nontransform discontinuity(NTD)inside corners,TF inside corners,Bouguer gravity anomaly,magnetic anomalies,and seismic activities.By employing the weights of evidence method,we reported that the formation of seafloor hydrothermal systems in SWIR was primarily correlated to the NTD inside corner,ridge axis,and minor fault(i.e.,contrast values(C)of 4.186,3.727,and 3.482 in WA and 4.278,3.769,and 3.135 in EA).Furthermore,EA was significantly affected by the TF inside corner(C=3.501),whereas WA was influenced by large faults(C=4.062).Our results demonstrated that tectonism was the primary controlling factor in the development of hydrothermal activities in the study area,and the contribution of magmatism was secondary,even in WA,which has a relatively robust magma supply.We delimited prominent prospecting areas at each side based on posterior probability.Our results provided insights into the formation mechanisms of hydrothermal activities and support prospecting in MORs.