TEM investigations of South Atlantic Ridge 13.2&#176;S hydrothermal area

TAO Chunhui; XIONG Wei; XI Zhenzhu; DENG Xianming; XU Yixian

doi:10.1007/s13131-013-0392-3

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2013 > 32(12): 68-74

TAO Chunhui, XIONG Wei, XI Zhenzhu, DENG Xianming, XU Yixian. TEM investigations of South Atlantic Ridge 13.2°S hydrothermal area[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2013, 32(12): 68-74. doi: 10.1007/s13131-013-0392-3

Citation:

TAO Chunhui, XIONG Wei, XI Zhenzhu, DENG Xianming, XU Yixian. TEM investigations of South Atlantic Ridge 13.2°S hydrothermal area[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2013, 32(12): 68-74. doi: 10.1007/s13131-013-0392-3

Citation:

PDF( 2975 KB)

TEM investigations of South Atlantic Ridge 13.2°S hydrothermal area

doi: 10.1007/s13131-013-0392-3

1.
The Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China;Key Laboratory of Submarine Science, the Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China
2.
The Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China;Key Laboratory of Submarine Science, the Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China;Institute of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
3.
School of Geosciences and InfoPhysics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
4.
Institute of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

Received Date: 2013-05-11
Rev Recd Date: 2013-08-16

Abstract

Abstract

According to the exploration contract about polymetallic sulfides in the SWIR (Southwest Indian Ridge) signed by China with the International Seabed Authority, to delineate sulfide minerals and estimate resource quantity are urgent tasks. We independently developed our first coincident loop Transient Electromagnetic Method (TEM) device in 2010, and gained the TEM data for seafloor sulfide at South Atlantic Ridge 13.2 ° S in June 2011. In contrast with the widely applied CSEM (Marine controlled-source electromagnetic) method, whose goal is to explore hydrocarbons (oil/gas) of higher resistivity than seawater from 10² to 10³ m below the sea floor, the TEM is for low resistivity minerals, and the target depth is from 0 to 100 m below the sea floor. Based on the development of complex sulfide geoelectrial models, this paper analyzed the TEM data obtained, proposing a new method for seafloor sulfide detection. We present the preliminary trial results, in the form of apparent resistivity sections for both half-space and full-space conditions. The results correspond well with the observations of the actual hydrothermal vent area, and the detection depth reached 50-100m below the bed, which verified the capability of the equipment.
- transient electromagnetic method,
- mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal activity,
- seafloor polymetallicsulfides,
- South Atlantic Ridge

FullText(HTML)

References(22)

References

Alt J C, Shanks W C, Bach W, et al. 2007. Hydrothermal alteration and microbial sulfate reduction in peridotite and gabbro exposed by etachment faulting at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 15°20'N (ODP Leg 209): A sulfur and oxygen isotope study. GeochemGeophysGeosyst, 8: Q08002, doi: 10.1029/2007GC001617

Bach W, Garrido C J, Paulick J, et al. 2004. Seawater-peridotite interactions: First insights from ODP Leg 209, MAR 15. GeochemGeophysGeosyst, 5(9): 1-22

Beltenev V Y, Beltenev A V. 2003. New discoveries at 12°58'N, 44°52'W, MAR: Professor Logatchev-22 cruise, initial results. InterRidge News, 12(1): 13-14

Chave A D, Constable S C, Edwards R N. 1991.Electrical exploration methods for the seafloor. In: Nabighian M, ed. Electromagnetic Methods in Applied Geophysics. v 2. Tulsa: SocExplorGeophys, 931-966

Tao Chunhui, Lin Jian, GuoShiqin, et al. 2007. The Chinese DY115-19 Cruise: Discovery of the First Active Hydrothermal Vent Field at the Ultraslow Spreading Southwest Indian Ridge. InterRidge News, 16: 25-26

Constable S, Srnka L J. 2007. An introduction to marine controlled-source electromagnetic methods for hydrocarbon exploration. Geophysics, 72: 3-12

Evans R L, Evertt M E. 1994. Discrimination of hydrothermal mound structures using transient electromagnetic methods. Geophysical Research Letters, 21(6): 501-504

Galley A G, Hannington M D, Jonasson I R. 2007.Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. In: Goodfellow W D, ed. Mineral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit-Types, District Metallogeny, the Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration Methods. St John's: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication, 5: 141-161

Gebruk A V, Moskalev L I, Chevaldonné P, et al. 1997. Hydrothermal vent fauna of the Logatchev area (14°45'N, MAR): preliminary results from first ‘Mir’ and ‘Nautile’ dives in 1995. InterRidge News, 6(2): 10-14

German C R, Klinkhammer G P, Rudnicki M D. 1996. The Rainbow Hydrothermal Plume, 36°15'N, MAR. Geophysical Research Letters, 23(21): 2979-2982

Gramberg I S, Kaminsky V D, Kunin A E, et al. 1992. New data on hydrothermal activity and sulphides mineralization at 12°40'-12°50'N obtained by deep-towed system "Rift". DokladiAkademiiNauk, 323: 865-867

Herzig P M. 1999. Economic potential of sea-floor massive sulfide deposits: ancient and modern. Phil Trans R SocLond A, 357: 861-875

Kong F N, Ellingsrud S, Eidesmo T, et al. 2002. Seabed logging: A possible direct hydrocarbon indicator for deepsea prospects using EM energy. Oil Gas J, 100: 30-38

Kuhn T, Alexander B, Augustin N, et al. 2004. Mineralogical, geochemical, and biological investigations of hydrothermal systems on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 14°45'N and 15°05'N (HYDROMAR I). Meteor Berichte, InterRidge News, 13:1-4

Lackschewitz K S. 2005. Longterm study of Hydrothermalism and biology at the Logatchev field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 14°45' (revisit 2005) (HYDROMAR II). In Mid-Atlantic Expedition 2005, Cruise No. 64, 1 April 2005-7 June 2005

Nautilus Minerals. 2009. Electromagnetic survey results outline continuity and extensions at Solwara. News Release. http://www.nautilusminerals.com/s/Media-NewsReleases.asp?reportid=272841 [2009-08-07/2009-11-19]

Palshin N A. 1996. Oceanic electromagnetic studies: a review. Survey in Geophysics, 17(4): 455-491

Paulick H, Bach W, Godard M, et al. 2006. Geochemistry of abyssal peridotites (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 15°20'N, ODP Leg 209): implications for fluid/rock interaction in slow spreading environments. ChemGeol, 234: 179-210

Piskarev A L, Vishnyakov A E, Kaminsky V D, et al. 1987. Deep sea sediments mapping using geophysical methods. Express Information, Marine Geology and Geophysics, VIEMS, 3: 7

Robinson P T, Von Herzen R P. 1989. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program: Initial Reports, 118: 89-222

Swidinsky A, Holz S, Jegen M, 2012. On mapping seafloor mineral deposits with central loop transient electromagnetics. Geophysics, 77(3): 171-184

Goto T, Takekawa J, Mikada Hi, et al. 2011.Marine electromagnetic sounding on submarine massive sulphides using remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).Proceedings of the 10th SEGJ International Symposium. Kyoto, Japan, 20-22 November 2011. 1-5, doi: 10.1190/segj102011-001.103

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Proportional views