Beijing, Sept. 14 (SANA) Chinese researchers have discovered mineral deposits rich in gold and silver on the floor of the western Pacific Ocean during an expedition exploring resources associated with deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
The discovery was made aboard the research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10, with scientists identifying a large new hydrothermal field in a basin within China’s exclusive economic zone, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
Exploration of the site revealed polymetallic sulfide deposits containing copper, iron and zinc, as well as gold and silver.
Preliminary analysis of samples collected during the expedition found gold concentrations of up to 15.4 grams per ton of ore, while silver concentrations reached as high as 1.27 kilograms per ton.
Such deposits form around hydrothermal vents, where extremely hot, mineral-rich fluids rising from beneath the seabed mix with cold seawater, causing minerals to precipitate and form solid sulfide deposits.
Previous expeditions in the area identified dozens of hydrothermal vents at depths of between 700 and 1,500 metres, with fluid temperatures exceeding 315 degrees Celsius.
Researchers have now identified a new deposit area containing three large cone-shaped mineral bodies composed mainly of sulfide minerals and containing gold and silver.
The team is continuing to analyze samples to determine the deposits’ size and composition and assess their scientific significance and potential for future use.
The research is part of broader efforts to explore deep-sea mineral resources while studying the geological processes and ecosystems associated with hydrothermal vents.
N.J/ABD
