Hydrothermal activity and deep-ocean biology of the Mid-Cayman Rise
Lead Research Organisation:
NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE
Department Name: Science and Technology
Abstract
We propose to investigate the world's deepest undersea volcanic ridge for the first time to obtain a vital piece in a global jigsaw puzzle of deep-sea life, advancing our understanding of patterns of biodiversity in our planet's largest ecosystem. Our proposal targets the Mid-Cayman Rise (MCR), an undersea volcanic ridge where ocean crust is being created in the Caribbean Sea. In common with all such ridges examined so far, we expect to find hydrothermal vents on the MCR: hot springs that support rich communities of deep-sea life. Investigations of hydrothermal vents over past 30 years have found hundreds of new animal species and shown that vents are more common than originally realised. Understanding how species survive in these unlikely havens has revolutionised ideas about how ecosystems can be supplied with energy and even provided clues to the origins of life. But we have yet to understand what controls the global distribution of species in these island-like extreme environments. East Pacific vents, for example, are home to metre-long tubeworms, but those animals are not known at Mid-Atlantic vents. The MCR presents a unique opportunity to determine the factors responsible for such patterns. The MCR has a deep-water connection with the Atlantic, so its vents may be inhabited by species related to those of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. But before the Isthmus of Panama closed ~3 million years ago, there was also a deep-water connection with the eastern Pacific. The MCR may therefore harbour species related to those of the eastern Pacific, constituting a 'missing link' between the two oceans. Alternatively, the MCR may also host species unlike any found elsewhere, as a consequence of its depth and isolation from other volcanic ridges. Characterising its vent communities should therefore reveal the roles of ocean currents, geological history, depth and isolation in determining global distributions of vent species. As much of what we know about the dispersal of deep-sea species in general comes from studying these systems, this will advance understanding of patterns of deep-sea biodiversity. Because of this potential, the international Census of Marine Life has identified the MCR as a priority for investigation. From analogies with other ridges, we also expect a variety of types of hydrothermal vent on the MCR. These include high-temperature systems associated with an undersea mountain where rocks from the Earth's mantle may be pushed through the overlying crust. We also anticipate cooler alkaline vents on the ridge, created by reactions between seawater and exposed mantle rocks. And vents towards the ~6000 m maximum MCR depth are expected to have record high temperatures and unusual geochemistry, as a result of pressure-driven differences in the reactions in the crust that create them. Such vents have a high potential for new animal species and novel microbes adapted to them. We therefore propose to study the geology and hydrography of the world's deepest seafloor spreading centre, using established techniques to locate all hydrothermal vents along its ~110 km length. This will include using NERC's new Autosub 6000 autonomous underwater vehicle to pinpoint vents on the seafloor. We will then visit those vents with the UK's deep-diving robotic vehicle Isis to sample their geology, geochemistry and biology. Analysing these samples will confirm the geochemical processes driving the vents and reveal the evolutionary and genetic relationships of their inhabitants to vents elsewhere. We will also collect samples for international programmes in marine microbiology and biotechnology and share our discoveries with the wider public through an outreach programme. By using cutting-edge technology to investigate this part of our planet for the first time and answer a key question in deep-sea science, this proposal addresses NERC's goal of delivering world-class environmental research at the frontiers of knowledge.
Organisations
- NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE (Lead Research Organisation)
- 2H Offshore Engineering (Collaboration)
- University of Lisbon (Collaboration)
- University College Dublin (Collaboration)
- RWTH Aachen University (Collaboration)
- IHC Mining (Collaboration)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (Collaboration)
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
Publications
Lough A
(2019)
Soluble iron conservation and colloidal iron dynamics in a hydrothermal plume
in Chemical Geology
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
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
Van Dover C
(2020)
Research is needed to inform environmental management of hydrothermally inactive and extinct polymetallic sulfide (PMS) deposits
in Marine Policy
Wang W
(2021)
Behavior of iron isotopes in hydrothermal systems: Beebe and Von Damm vent fields on the Mid-Cayman ultraslow-spreading ridge
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Description | Our research has discovered that mid-ocan ridges undergo a complex and semi-continuous history of volcanic and magmatic activity. This has led to a greater understanding of the mineral and energy resource potential at mid-ocean ridge systems. In particular, we have discovered a new class of hydrothermal system (reported in Nature Comms. 2015) and the role of super critical fluids in depositing minerals on the seafloor. |
Exploitation Route | This work has led to further research in to the formation and preservation of seafloor massive sulphides. |
Sectors | Chemicals Energy |
Description | It has stimulated modelling and further research in to the processes of mineral formation by super-critical hydrothermal fluids in and on top of the Earth's crust. In particular, it has led to further research in seafloor massive sulphides funded both academically (NERC) and by the EC (multi-million euro FP7 project -'Blue Mining' involving industry partners. |
Sector | Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | 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 |