Three ore-forming stages were identified in chimney fragments collected in the Edmond hydrothermal field. The corresponding minerals are (stage I) anhydrite + barite + colloidal/porous pyrite (Py1) + fine-grained sphalerite; (stage II) marcasite; (stage III) euhedral pyrite (Py2) + coarse-grained sphalerite + chalcopyrite + isocubanite.
The field is located on a flat surface with partly wrinkled lava flows at a depth of 3270–3320 m. Iron-oxyhydroxide sediments are common, and the underlying basaltic rocks generally experienced significant albitization. The hydrothermal field is approximately 100 m long and 60 m wide with clusters of chimneys (<35 m tall) distributed in this area. These chimneys display multiple orifices and even beehive structures. Black smoker fluids venting from these chimneys have high temperature (273–382 °C), high concentrations of several dissolved transition metals (e.g., Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) and H2S, and low pH values (3–3.3).

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

ⓘ Anhydrite

11 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Basalt

ⓘ Basaltoid

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anhydrite

Formula: CaSO₄

References:

Zhang, Huichao; Chen, Kean; Tao, Chunhui; Alveirinho Dias, Ágata; Liang, Jin; Yang, Weifang; Liao, Shili; An, Fang; Yin, Bohao; Sun, Chuanqiang (2023) Occurrence and precipitation mechanism of silver in pyrite from chimney fragments in the Edmond hydrothermal field, Central Indian Ridge. Ore Geology Reviews, 158. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2023.105471

ⓘ Baryte

Formula: BaSO₄

References:

ⓘ Chalcopyrite

Formula: CuFeS₂

References:

Wang, Yan, Wu, Zhongwei, Sun, Xiaoming, Deng, Xiguang, Guan, Yao, Xu, Li, Huang, Yi, Cao, Kaijun (2018) He–Ar–S Isotopic Compositions of Polymetallic Sulphides from Hydrothermal Vent Fields along the Ultraslow-Spreading Southwest Indian Ridge and Their Geological Implications. Minerals, 8 (11) 512 doi:10.3390/min8110512

ⓘ Gordaite

Formula: NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O

References:

ⓘ Isocubanite

Formula: CuFe₂S₃

References:

ⓘ Marcasite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

ⓘ 'Monazite Group'

Formula: REE(PO₄)

References:

ⓘ Native Silver

Formula: Ag

References:

ⓘ Native Sulphur

Formula: S₈

References:

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ Sphalerite

Formula: ZnS

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Silver	1.AA.05	Ag
ⓘ	Native Sulphur	1.CC.05	S₈
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Sphalerite	2.CB.05a	ZnS
ⓘ	Chalcopyrite	2.CB.10a	CuFeS₂
ⓘ	Isocubanite	2.CB.55b	CuFe₂S₃
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
ⓘ	Marcasite	2.EB.10a	FeS₂
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Anhydrite	7.AD.30	CaSO₄
ⓘ	Baryte	7.AD.35	BaSO₄
ⓘ	Gordaite	7.DF.50	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Monazite Group'	-	REE(PO₄)

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Gordaite	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
O	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
O	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Gordaite	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Gordaite	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
S	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
S	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
S	ⓘ Isocubanite	CuFe₂S₃
S	ⓘ Marcasite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
S	ⓘ Native Sulphur	S₈
S	ⓘ Gordaite	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Gordaite	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Isocubanite	CuFe₂S₃
Fe	ⓘ Marcasite	FeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Cu	ⓘ Isocubanite	CuFe₂S₃
Zn	Zinc
Zn	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
Zn	ⓘ Gordaite	NaZn₄(SO₄)(OH)₆Cl · 6H₂O
Ag	Silver
Ag	ⓘ Native Silver	Ag
Ba	Barium
Ba	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Indian OceanOcean

Capricorn BasinOceanic Crust

Somali PlateTectonic Plate

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References

[1]Zhang, Huichao; Chen, Kean; Tao, Chunhui; Alveirinho Dias, Ágata; Liang, Jin; Yang, Weifang; Liao, Shili; An, Fang; Yin, Bohao; Sun, Chuanqiang (2023) Occurrence and precipitation mechanism of silver in pyrite from chimney fragments in the Edmond hydrothermal field, Central Indian Ridge. Ore Geology Reviews, 158. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2023.105471

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Edmond vent field, Southwest Indian Ridge, Indian OceaniRegional Level TypesEdmond vent fieldHydrothermal Vent Southwest Indian RidgeRidge Indian OceanOcean function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

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Detailed Mineral List:

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List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Edmond vent field, Southwest Indian Ridge, Indian Ocean i
Regional Level Types
Edmond vent field Hydrothermal Vent
Southwest Indian Ridge Ridge
Indian Ocean Ocean