Mineralogical and geological significance of hydrothermal products: A case from the Chihu hydrothermal field, South Mid-Atlantic Ridge

LI Xiang; YE Jun; LIU Xijun; SHI Xuefa; LI Chuanshun; YAN Shijuan

doi:10.16562/j.cnki.0256-1492.2021062301

Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology > 2022 > 42(2): 46-58. > DOI: 10.16562/j.cnki.0256-1492.2021062301

LI Xiang，YE Jun，LIU Xijun，et al. Mineralogical and geological significance of hydrothermal products: A case from the Chihu hydrothermal field, South Mid-Atlantic Ridge[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology，2022，42(2)：46-58. DOI: 10.16562/j.cnki.0256-1492.2021062301

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Mineralogical and geological significance of hydrothermal products: A case from the Chihu hydrothermal field, South Mid-Atlantic Ridge

LI Xiang^1,2,,
YE Jun^2,3,,
LIU Xijun^1, ,,
SHI Xuefa^2,3,
LI Chuanshun^2,3,
YAN Shijuan^2,3

1.
Guilin University of Technology, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Concealed Metal Mineral Exploration & Guangxi Non-ferrous Metal Concealed Deposit Exploration and Material Development Collaborative Innovation Center, Guilin 541004, China
2.
First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
3.
Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Mineralization, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China

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Received Date: June 22, 2021
Revised Date: October 06, 2021
Accepted Date: October 06, 2021
Available Online: February 12, 2022

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Abstract

Abstract

The Chihu hydrothermal field is a mineral occurrence related to a detachment fault structure. It was discovered in 2019 at 23.7°S of the southern mid-Atlantic ridge. The detachment fault is believed having important influences on the hydrothermal activity and mineral deposition of the field. In this paper, mineralogy and mineralogy chemistry studies are conducted for the hydrothermal products by means of transmission-reflection microscope, Terraspec Halo mineral discriminator and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results suggest that the hydrothermal products are mainly composed of siliceous sulfides, siliceous mineralized and carbonate mineralized breccias consisting of altered rock fragments, massive sulfide breccia, fine-grained disseminated sulfide, and siliceous and carbonate cemented matrix. The difference in mineral composition, structure and mineral composition between massive sulfide and fine-grained disseminated sulfide indicates that the hydrothermal area may have experienced multiple times of eruption cycles. The complexity and diversity of altered rock fragments suggest that in addition to basic source rocks, this hydrothermal field may also be affected by ultrabasic source rocks.
- detachment fault,
- hydrothermal products,
- mineralogy,
- metallogenic model,
- Chihu hydrothermal field

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References (29)

References

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Mineralogical and geological significance of hydrothermal products: A case from the Chihu hydrothermal field, South Mid-Atlantic Ridge