Chemical composition of hydrothermal sulfide minerals from the Rainbow, Logachev-1, and Logachev-2 hydrothermal fields

Composition of ore minerals in MAR sulflde occurrences related to ultramaflc rocks was studied using methods of mineragraphy, electron microscopy, microprobe analysis, and X-ray analysis. Objects are located at various levels of maturity of sulflde mounds owing to differences in age, duration and degree of activity of the following hydrothermal systems: generally inactive Logatchev-1 field (up to 66.5 ka old), inactive Logatchev-2 field (3.9 ka), and generally active Rainbow field (up to 23 ka). Relative to MAR submarine ore occurrences in the basalt substrate, mineralization in the hydrothermal fields mentioned above is characterized by high contents of Au, Cd, Co, and Ni, along with presence of accessory minerals of Co and Ni. The studied mounds differ in quantitative ratios of major minerals and structural-textural features of ores that suggest their transformation. Ores in the Logatchev-1 field are characterized by the highest Cu content and development of a wide range of multistage contrast exsolution structures of isocubanite and bornite. In the Logatchev-2 field, sphalerite-chalcopyrite and gold-arsenic exsolution structures are present, but isocubanite exsolution structures are less diverse and contrast. The Rainbow field is marked by presence of homogenous isocubanite and the subordinate development of exsolution structures. The authors have identified four new phases in the Cu-Fe-S system. Phases X and Y (close to chalcopyrite and isocubanite, respectively) make up lamellae among isocubanite exsolution products in the Logatchev-1 and Logatchev-2 fields. Phase Y includes homogenous zones in zonal chimneys of the Rainbow field. Phases A and B formed in the orange bornite domain at low-temperature alteration of chalcopyrite in the Logatchev-1 field. Mineral assemblages of the Cu-S system are most abundant and diverse in the Logatchev-1 field, but their development is minimal in the Logatchev-2 field where mainly Cu-poor sulfides of the geerite-covellite series have been identified. Specific features of mineral assemblages mentioned above reflect the maturity grade of sulfide mounds and can serve as indicators of maturity.

(Table 2) Chemical composition of ice-rafted brecciated crystalline schist and biotite-garnet crystalline schist from the Kara Sea

Composition and distribution.of ice-rafted coarse debris from the Kara Sea bottom were investigated. This material was obtained on 42 stations in Cruise 49 of R/V Dmitry Mendeleev by Sigsby trawls, box corers, grabs, and gravity corers. Existence of two main petrographic provinces is suggested: (1) West Kara and (2) East Kara. They differ in composition and sources of debris material. It is supposed that debris was transported mainly by floating ice. In Upper Pleistocene time rafting by glaciers and icebergs was also very possible.

Chemical and isotopic compositions of rocks, ores, and hydrothermal minerals from the Rainbow and Logachev-2 hydrothermal fields

The aim of this paper is to analyze and compare mineralogy and geochemistry of copper-zinc sulfide ores from the Logachev-2 and Rainbow hydrothermal fields of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) confined to serpentinite protrusions. It was found that Zn(Fe) and Cu, Fe(Zn) sulfides had been deposited in black smokers pipes almost simultaneously from intermittently flowing, nonequilibrium H2S-low solutions of different temperatures. Pb isotope composition confirmed that the deep oceanic crust had been a source of lead. The ores from the Rainbow field are 20-fold higher in Co than ores restricted to basalts and show a high ratio of Co/Ni=46. The ores from the Rainbow field are enriched in 34S isotope (aver. d34S=10 per mil) because of constant flow of cold sea water into the subsurface zone of the hydrothermal system. Ores from the Logachev-2 field are 8 times higher in gold compared to other MAR regions. Sulfide ores from the Rainbow and Logachev-2 fields have no analogues among MAR ore occurrences in terms of enrichment in valuable components (Zn, Cd, Co, and Au).