Mineral Components, Texture, and Forming Conditions of Hydrothermal Chimney on the East Pacific Rise at 9°-10°N

To characterize the hydrothermal processes of East Pacific rise at 9°-10°N, sulfide mineral compositions, textural, and geochemical features of chimney ores were studied using ore microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, and electron microprobe techniques. Results show that there are three mineral assemblages for the hydrothermal chimney ores, namely: (i) anhydrite + marcasite + pyrite, (ii) pyrite + sphalerite + chalcopyrite, and (iii) chakopyrite + bornite + digenite + covellite. Mineral assemblages, zonational features, and geochemical characteristics of the ore minerals indicate that ore fluid temperature changed from low to high then to low with a maximum temperature up to 400 °C. The chimney is a typical black smoker. The initial structure of the chimney was formed by the precipitation of anhydrites, and later the sulfides began to precipitate in the inner wall.