Spiess F N, Macdonald K C, Atwater T, Ballard R, Carranza A, Cordoba D, Cox C, Garcia V M, Francheteau J, Guerrero J, Hawkins J, Haymon R, Hessler R, Juteau T, Kastner M, Larson R, Luyendyk B, Macdougall J D, Miller S, Normark W, Orcutt J, Rangin C
Science. 1980 Mar 28;207(4438):1421-33. doi: 10.1126/science.207.4438.1421.
Hydrothermal vents jetting out water at 380 degrees +/- 30 degrees C have been discovered on the axis of the East Pacific Rise. The hottest waters issue from mineralized chimneys and are blackened by sulfide precipitates. These hydrothermal springs are the sites of actively forming massive sulfide mineral deposits. Cooler springs are clear to milky and support exotic benthic communities of giant tube worms, clams, and crabs similar to those found at the Galápagos spreading center. Four prototype geophysical experiments were successfully conducted in and near the vent area: seismic refraction measurements with both source (thumper) and receivers on the sea floor, on-bottom gravity measurements, in situ magnetic gradiometer measurements from the submersible Alvin over a sea-floor magnetic reversal boundary, and an active electrical sounding experiment. These high-resolution determinations of crustal properties along the spreading center were made to gain knowledge of the source of new oceanic crust and marine magnetic anomalies, the nature of the axial magma chamber, and the depth of hydrothermal circulation.
在东太平洋海隆轴线上发现了水温高达380摄氏度正负30摄氏度的热液喷口。最热的水从矿化烟囱中喷出，并因硫化物沉淀而变黑。这些热液泉是正在积极形成块状硫化物矿床的地方。较冷的泉水清澈至乳白，支持着与加拉帕戈斯扩张中心发现的类似的由巨型管虫、蛤蜊和螃蟹组成的奇特底栖生物群落。在喷口区及其附近成功进行了四项地球物理原型实验：在海底同时放置震源（震击器）和接收器进行地震折射测量、海底重力测量、通过潜水器“阿尔文”在海底磁反转边界上方进行原位磁力梯度仪测量以及有源电测深实验。沿着扩张中心对地壳性质进行这些高分辨率测定，旨在了解新洋壳和海洋磁异常的来源、轴向岩浆房的性质以及热液循环的深度。
