Investigating the influence of lithology and water depth on the composition and distribution of sulphides at the worlds deepest known vent sites.
Lead Research Organisation:
National Oceanography Centre
Department Name: Science and Technology
Abstract
The start of the Age of Metal marked a step-change for mankind. Today, our entire technological society is dependent on metals. But it all started with copper. One of the main sources of this metal in the ancient world was Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus is named after the Greek word for copper. The island's secret was the Troodos ophiolte, an ancient fragment of oceanic crust that was uplifted to form a mountain range. Here, eighty six million years ago, high-temperature hydrothermal vents deposited large mineral ore bodies on the seafloor. Below the seabed, these were rich in copper minerals, deposited by the hot vent fluids as they mixed with cold seawater. Today, modern hydrothermal vents, their ore deposits, and exotic animals are well known as striking examples of geology in action. But we know relatively little about what determines the distribution and composition of the ore deposits. We think that vent fluids become rich in valuable base metals deep beneath mid-ocean ridges, where pressures are 5000 atmospheres and temperatures reach ~500 degrees Celsius. Under these conditions, seawater is supercritical (i.e. the vapour phase behaves like a fluid) and is so reactive that it can easily dissolve rocks. We also think that the composition of those dissolving rocks is important. Different rocks have different metals in them and this affects the composition and value of the ore deposits. But until now, it has been impossible to sample hydrothermal systems under these pressure and temperature conditions. In April 2010, we made the extraordinary discovery of hydrothermal activity in the deepest mid-ocean ridge on Earth. Within the Cayman Trough, deep beneath the Caribbean Sea, we found vents at 5000m gushing out supercritical fluids at nearly 500 degrees Celsius. These are the hottest ever found, and are close to the conditions normally found where seawater meets magma chambers deep below the seafloor. With another expedition already scheduled for 2012, we have a unique opportunity to use this natural laboratory to test predictions about the distribution and composition of ore deposits formed from such high-temperature supercritical fluids. The significance of this work is multi-fold. Economically, we can apply the knowledge gained from this unique study to predict other, more accessible ore deposits on land and at sea. Already, deep-sea extraction companies are starting to explore seafloor ore deposits. The information we gather from this study will help predict the future viability of these deposits. Our new data will also help inform governments and NGOs (e.g. the United Nations International Seabed Authority) of how to protect these sites and ensure that only sustainable exploration is ever planned. Scientifically, we will gain a new understanding of the role of pressure, temperature and rock composition in the formation of ore deposits. We will also revise our estimates of the exchange of heat and fluids between the ocean and seafloor. This exchange helps explain why the sea is salty and the Earth's climate has been in balance. Our exciting work, in such an extreme environment, will continue to engage the public's imagination and help promote science and technology to tomorrow's generation.
Organisations
- National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Southampton, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (Collaboration)
- 2H Offshore Engineering (Collaboration)
- University of Lisbon (Collaboration)
- RWTH Aachen University, Germany (Collaboration)
- University College Dublin, Ireland (Collaboration)
- IHC Mining (Collaboration)
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (Collaboration)
- University of Bergen, Norway (Project Partner)
- University North Carolina Wilmington, United States (Project Partner)
- University of Texas at Austin, United States (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Bramley James Murton (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bergo NM
(2021)
Microbial Diversity of Deep-Sea Ferromanganese Crust Field in the Rio Grande Rise, Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
in Microbial ecology
Connelly DP
(2012)
Hydrothermal vent fields and chemosynthetic biota on the world's deepest seafloor spreading centre.
in Nature communications
Dumke I
(2019)
Underwater Hyperspectral Imaging Using a Stationary Platform in the Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse Hydrothermal Field
in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Gehrmann R
(2019)
Marine Mineral Exploration With Controlled Source Electromagnetics at the TAG Hydrothermal Field, 26°N Mid-Atlantic Ridge
in Geophysical Research Letters
Giljan G
(2020)
Bacterioplankton reveal years-long retention of Atlantic deep-ocean water by the Tropic Seamount.
in Scientific reports
Haroon A
(2018)
Marine dipole-dipole controlled source electromagnetic and coincident-loop transient electromagnetic experiments to detect seafloor massive sulphides: effects of three-dimensional bathymetry
in Geophysical Journal International
Haughton G
(2019)
Volcanic-Tectonic Structure of the Mount Dent Oceanic Core Complex in the Ultraslow Mid-Cayman Spreading Center Determined From Detailed Seafloor Investigation
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Hodgkinson MR
(2015)
Talc-dominated seafloor deposits reveal a new class of hydrothermal system.
in Nature communications
Josso P
(2021)
Geochemical evidence of Milankovitch cycles in Atlantic Ocean ferromanganese crusts
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Josso P
(2020)
Development of a Correlated Fe-Mn Crust Stratigraphy Using Pb and Nd Isotopes and Its Application to Paleoceanographic Reconstruction in the Atlantic
in Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
Lehrmann B
(2018)
Insights into Extinct Seafloor Massive Sulfide Mounds at the TAG, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
in Minerals
Lough A
(2019)
Diffuse Hydrothermal Venting: A Hidden Source of Iron to the Oceans
in Frontiers in Marine Science
Lusty P
(2018)
Deep-Ocean Mineral Deposits: Metal Resources and Windows into Earth Processes
in Elements
Milinovic J
(2020)
Analysis of deep-ocean sediments from the TAG hydrothermal field (MAR, 26° N): application of short-wave infrared reflectance (SWIR) spectra for offshore geochemical exploration
in Journal of Soils and Sediments
Morris K
(2012)
Lower bathyal and abyssal distribution of coral in the axial volcanic ridge of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 45°N
in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Murton B
(2019)
Geological fate of seafloor massive sulphides at the TAG hydrothermal field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
in Ore Geology Reviews
Murton B
(2015)
Carlsberg Ridge and Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Comparison of slow spreading centre analogues
in Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
Murton B
(2013)
Seafloor mining: the future or just another pipe dream?
in Underwater Technology
Murton B
(2012)
Further Advances in Unmanned Marine Vehicles
Murton Bramley J.
(2013)
Surveyor, Sampler For Deep-Ocean Operations HyBIS Enables Interaction With Seafloor Up to 6,000-Meter Depths
in SEA TECHNOLOGY
Murton Bramley J.
(2012)
Exploring Ultradeep Hydrothermal Vents In the Cayman Trough by ROV
in SEA TECHNOLOGY
Petersen S
(2018)
Modern Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems: New Perspectives on Ancient Ore-Forming Processes
in Elements
Szitkar F
(2019)
Detachment tectonics at Mid-Atlantic Ridge 26°N.
in Scientific reports
Van Dover C
(2020)
Research is needed to inform environmental management of hydrothermally inactive and extinct polymetallic sulfide (PMS) deposits
in Marine Policy
Webb S
(2014)
Rheology and the Fe3+-chlorine reaction in basaltic melts
in Chemical Geology
Webber A
(2017)
The formation of gold-rich seafloor sulfide deposits: Evidence from the Beebe hydrothermal vent field, Cayman Trough GOLD IN THE BEEBE VENT FIELD
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Webber A
(2015)
Geology, sulfide geochemistry and supercritical venting at the Beebe Hydrothermal Vent Field, Cayman Trough BEEBE HYDROTHERMAL VENT FIELD GEOLOGY
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Wheeler A
(2013)
Moytirra: Discovery of the first known deep-sea hydrothermal vent field on the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores Moytirra Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Wilson S
(2013)
Mantle composition controls the development of an Oceanic Core Complex MANTLE COMPOSITION DRIVES OCC FORMATION
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Wynn R
(2014)
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs): Their past, present and future contributions to the advancement of marine geoscience
in Marine Geology
Zeng Z
(2020)
Dispersion and Intersection of Hydrothermal Plumes in the Manus Back-Arc Basin, Western Pacific
in Geofluids
| Description | We have discovered controls on the mineralogy and composition of hydrothermal deposits and systems that are controlled by temperature, pressure and basement lithology. This includes the discovery of a new class of hydrothermal system not hitherto known before.Related spin-off research (Blue Mining) has shown how basalt-hosted seafloor massive sulphides may be preserved and that the deposits extend in depth for hundreds of metres and are 5 times larger than their surface expression. |
| Exploitation Route | Has led directly to a multi-million euro R&D project with industry and academic partners across Europe focused on seafloor mineral resources. In turn, that has led to the award of funding for a NERC/UKRI Strategic Highlight Topic (Project Ultra) focused on polymetalic mineralisation associated with hydrothermal mineralisation in an ultra-mafic seafloor setting. This 4 year multi-partner project is set to run fro 2020 to 2024. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Other |
| URL | http://www.bluemining.eu |
| Description | Identified exemplar strategies for seafloor mineral resource exploration, published in industry periodicals for underwater technology, and read worldwide. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | UN IRP invited contribution on deep-sea mineral resources |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | Recommendations for informed basis for policy approach to weighing risks/rewards regarding sea-bed mineral resources. |
| URL | https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/8729/-UNEPs_environmental,_social_and_economic... |
| Description | Blue Mining: Breakthrough Solutions for the Sustainable Exploration and Extraction of Deep Sea Mineral Resources. |
| Amount | € 15,000,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | project, n° 604500. |
| Organisation | European Union |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 02/2014 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | National Development Plan |
| Amount | € 800,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Marine Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Ireland |
| Start | 06/2011 |
| End | 08/2011 |
| Description | National Geographic Society |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NatGeoSoc-2011-NOC-BJM-1 |
| Organisation | National Geographic |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2011 |
| End | 03/2012 |
| Description | Tectonic Ocean Spreading at the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (TOSCA) |
| Amount | € 800,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Marine Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Ireland |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Blue Mining : EU FP7 Consortium R&D Programme |
| Organisation | 2H Offshore Engineering |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | EU funded 15M euro consortium R&D programme on seafloor mineralisation and resources as direct result of NERC standard grants on CayMin etc. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I lead the work package on mineral resource assessment. Partners (GEOMAR, TNTU Norway, and Uni Lisbon) lead resource exploration, other partners (IHC mining, 2H offshore ltd., Acher Bilt A.S. and Uni Aarchen) lead on extraction technology and economics. |
| Impact | reports on remote sensing of marine mineral deposit assessment using geoacoustics, seismics and controlled source electromagnetics. Numerous contributions given during international meetings. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Blue Mining : EU FP7 Consortium R&D Programme |
| Organisation | Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres |
| Department | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EU funded 15M euro consortium R&D programme on seafloor mineralisation and resources as direct result of NERC standard grants on CayMin etc. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I lead the work package on mineral resource assessment. Partners (GEOMAR, TNTU Norway, and Uni Lisbon) lead resource exploration, other partners (IHC mining, 2H offshore ltd., Acher Bilt A.S. and Uni Aarchen) lead on extraction technology and economics. |
| Impact | reports on remote sensing of marine mineral deposit assessment using geoacoustics, seismics and controlled source electromagnetics. Numerous contributions given during international meetings. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Blue Mining : EU FP7 Consortium R&D Programme |
| Organisation | IHC Mining |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | EU funded 15M euro consortium R&D programme on seafloor mineralisation and resources as direct result of NERC standard grants on CayMin etc. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I lead the work package on mineral resource assessment. Partners (GEOMAR, TNTU Norway, and Uni Lisbon) lead resource exploration, other partners (IHC mining, 2H offshore ltd., Acher Bilt A.S. and Uni Aarchen) lead on extraction technology and economics. |
| Impact | reports on remote sensing of marine mineral deposit assessment using geoacoustics, seismics and controlled source electromagnetics. Numerous contributions given during international meetings. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Blue Mining : EU FP7 Consortium R&D Programme |
| Organisation | Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EU funded 15M euro consortium R&D programme on seafloor mineralisation and resources as direct result of NERC standard grants on CayMin etc. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I lead the work package on mineral resource assessment. Partners (GEOMAR, TNTU Norway, and Uni Lisbon) lead resource exploration, other partners (IHC mining, 2H offshore ltd., Acher Bilt A.S. and Uni Aarchen) lead on extraction technology and economics. |
| Impact | reports on remote sensing of marine mineral deposit assessment using geoacoustics, seismics and controlled source electromagnetics. Numerous contributions given during international meetings. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Blue Mining : EU FP7 Consortium R&D Programme |
| Organisation | RWTH Aachen University |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EU funded 15M euro consortium R&D programme on seafloor mineralisation and resources as direct result of NERC standard grants on CayMin etc. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I lead the work package on mineral resource assessment. Partners (GEOMAR, TNTU Norway, and Uni Lisbon) lead resource exploration, other partners (IHC mining, 2H offshore ltd., Acher Bilt A.S. and Uni Aarchen) lead on extraction technology and economics. |
| Impact | reports on remote sensing of marine mineral deposit assessment using geoacoustics, seismics and controlled source electromagnetics. Numerous contributions given during international meetings. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Blue Mining : EU FP7 Consortium R&D Programme |
| Organisation | University of Lisbon |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EU funded 15M euro consortium R&D programme on seafloor mineralisation and resources as direct result of NERC standard grants on CayMin etc. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I lead the work package on mineral resource assessment. Partners (GEOMAR, TNTU Norway, and Uni Lisbon) lead resource exploration, other partners (IHC mining, 2H offshore ltd., Acher Bilt A.S. and Uni Aarchen) lead on extraction technology and economics. |
| Impact | reports on remote sensing of marine mineral deposit assessment using geoacoustics, seismics and controlled source electromagnetics. Numerous contributions given during international meetings. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Blue Mining : EU FP7 Consortium R&D Programme |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Department | Ocean and Earth Science |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EU funded 15M euro consortium R&D programme on seafloor mineralisation and resources as direct result of NERC standard grants on CayMin etc. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I lead the work package on mineral resource assessment. Partners (GEOMAR, TNTU Norway, and Uni Lisbon) lead resource exploration, other partners (IHC mining, 2H offshore ltd., Acher Bilt A.S. and Uni Aarchen) lead on extraction technology and economics. |
| Impact | reports on remote sensing of marine mineral deposit assessment using geoacoustics, seismics and controlled source electromagnetics. Numerous contributions given during international meetings. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | CayMin: Study of water depth and basement influence on composition of hydrothermal mineralisation. |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Department | Ocean and Earth Science |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Direct result: new collaboration resulting in NERC standard grant award focused on mineralisation at the Cayman vents. I led the grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners contributed by bringing a land-based perspective. |
| Impact | see section for grant: CAymin |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Tectonic Oceanic Spreading (TOSCA) |
| Organisation | University College Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have collaborated in conceiving the original concept of the proposal and provided interpretation of the initial data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners have acquired Irish research vessel time and access to their Irish research ROV over a 4 week-long cruise for May-June 2018. |
| Impact | Geology and geophysics.No outcomes as yet |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Deep-sea Mining Summit key-note seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Setting the UK agenda for engagement in deep-sea minerals research and UK Industrial Stategy |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://deepsea-mining-summit.com/ |
| Description | Key-note presentation to the International Seabed Authority meeting, Uganda |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited to speak at an ISA workshop, engaging developing countries in the technological and scientific challenges around deep-sea mineral resources. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.isa.org.jm/ |
| Description | invited contribution to UNEP International Resources Panel, Brusselles |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited key-note presentation to UNEP IRP re: deep-sea mineral resources, risks and rewards. Influence decisions by EU commissioners who were present in the audience. Reflected in the latest UN IRP report. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://web.unep.org/resourcepanel/ |
| Description | lecture series given to University of Sao Paulo students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Series of lectures about deep-sea mineral resources and technology. Knowledge exchange and capacity building with our NEWTON fund partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |