Black smokers and grey smokers can definitely "blow chunks". Immediately
after we drilled into the Middle Valley Bent Hill massive sulfide mound
during Leg169 of the ODP, and on pulling out ofthe hole, we created a vent
which was so vigorous as to carry/entrain fairly large chunks of
precipitates. We collected these. You can email Rob Zierenberg about the
size ofthe particles, but they were fairly large (size of my small finger
nail), and composed of sulfates, etc.
--
Jan M. Peter, Mineral Resources Division,
Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E8 ph (613) 992-2376
fax (613) 996-9820 email: [log in to unmask]
Mineral Resources Division homepage:
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/mrd/index_e.html
EXTECH II homepage: http://extech2.gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/
personal homepage: http://www.NRCan.gc.ca/~jpeter/
> From: "Robert Willan" <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 17:38:03 +0100
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Flow velocities of hydrothermal fluids?
>
> A query from a colleague in southern Mississippi !
>
> "I am having arguments online with someone about flow velocities of
> hydrothermal fluids and whether they are
> able to entrain something like sand grains. My opponent disagrees and says
> that velocities are too slow. Have you any knowledge of fluids that have
> entrained grains or fragments of the surrounding host AND moved them over
> some distance (metres or more)?"
>
> I can recall reading about small volumes of sediment in open spaces in
> epithermal vein systems. Given the explosive potential of porphyry and
> epithermal systems (mill breccias etc) I am sure there must be so dramatic
> examples that would settle the above argument.
>
> Can anyone help?
>
> Thanks - Rob Willan
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