Hydrothermal vents

Experimental study of hydrothermal vents' formation and interaction.

This is the project of my research internship with Prof. Antkowiak. I did experiences to study the formation and interaction of hydrothermal chimneys.

The hydrothermal chimneys are located relatively far from mid-ocean ridge, ejecting basic fluids of moderate temperature, and their color is white. They are different from the ‘black smokers’, which are located on the mid-ocean ridge, and the ejected fluids are hot and acidic.

Experiments were carried out with a laboratory system, simulating the vent fluids injected into seawater. Two appliances are designed to bring about the interaction between several chimneys. We vary the flow rate, the injection form, the composition of solutions the duration of the formation and consider the other factors keeping unchanged.

Here is one of the experiences.

We have also looked the sample under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Analysis with SEM show that chimneys are porous, and each mineral has its own morphology in the structure.

Here is one if the SEM images, brucite and aragonite can be observed on the surface of the sample.