Black smokers as they were recently also found in the Manus Basin (see Auzende et al 2000, EOS:81/39)


This black smoker, from 9û50' N on the East Pacific Rise, consists of a sulfide mound with several
actively venting chimneys.
(© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Deep Submergence Operations Group, Dan Fornari)
 

Giant vestimentifera tube worms colony
 

        

Recovered pyritised fossils from the Yaman Kasy deposit.  (left) Yamankasia rifeia tube worm, whitened with ammonium chloride sublimate (Little et al. 1999c).  (right) Lingulate Brachiopods showing preservation of concentric growth lines (Little et al., 1998).  Scale bar 1cm.

    

(left) Image of the mineralised zones of an Alvinella pompejana tube wall. Reflected light microscopy image of primary pyrite and secondary marcasite mineralisation along seperate microbial horizons.  Numerous pores inferred to be microbial cell moulds are present in the pyrite layers (scale = 50mm) (right)  Transmitted Light (T.L.) microscopy image of sheathed bacterial filaments  growing on the tube wall (scale = 10mm) (both from Magginn et al. 2001)