Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Massive deep-sea sulphide ore deposits discovered on the East Pacific Rise

Nature volume 277, pages 523–528 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

Massive ore-grade zinc, copper and iron sulphide deposits have been found at the axis of the East Pacific Rise. Although their presence on the deep ocean-floor had been predicted there was no supporting observational evidence. The East Pacific Rise deposits represent a modern analogue of Cyprus-type sulphide ores associated with ophiolitic rocks on land. They contain at least 29% zinc metal and 6% metallic copper. Their discovery will provide a new focus for deep-sea exploration, leading to new assessments of the concentration of metals in the upper layers of the oceanic crust.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. CYAMEX Scientific team, EOS, 59, 1198 (1978); C. r. hebd. Acad. Séanc. Sci., Paris 287 (1978).

  2. Larson, R. L. & Spiess, F. N. Science 163, 68–71 (1969).

    Article  CAS  ADS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Larson, R. L. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 823–841 (1971); 83, 3345–3360 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Normark, W. R. Geology 4, 681–685 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Crane, K. & Normark, W. R. J. geophys. Res. 82, 5336–5348 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sillitoe, R. H. Trans. Instn. Min. and Metal. 81, B141–B148 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Spooner, E. T. C. & Fyfe, W. S. Contr. Mineral. Petrol. 42, 287–304 (1973).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hajash, A. Contr. Mineral. Petrol. 53, 205–226 (1975). Bischoff, J. L. & Dickson, F. W. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 25, 385–397 (1975).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bonatti, E. et al. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 87, 83–94 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wright, J. B. in Mineral Deposits, Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics, Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross Inc. Stroudsburg, Penn. (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Spooner, E. T. C. & Bray, C. J. Nature 266, 808–812 (1977).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Parmentier, E. M. & Spooner, E. T. C. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 40, 33–44 (1978).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hutchinson, R. W. Can. Inst. Min. Metal. Trans. 68, 286–300 (1965); Econ. Geol. 68, 1223–1246 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Sawkins, F. J. J. Geol. 80, 377–397 (1972).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sillitoe, R. H. Econ. Geol. 68, 1321–1325 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Duke, N. A. & Hutchinson, R. W. Can. J. Earth Sci. 11, 53–69 (1974).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mitchell, A. H. G. & Garson, M. S. Miner. Sci. Engng. 8, 129–169 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Johnson, A. E. Intern. Geol. Congr. 24th, sect. 4, 291–298 (1972).

  19. Searle, D. L. Trans. Instn. Min. Metal. 81, B 189–B 197 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Constantinou, G. & Govett, G. J. S. Trans. Instn. Min. Metal. 81, B34–B46 (1972).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Degens, E. T. & Ross, D. A. (eds) Hot Brines and recent heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea (Springer, New York, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Skinner, B. J. et al. Econ. Geol. 62, 316–330 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Cann, J. R. et al. Mineral. Mag. 41, 193–199 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hoffert, M. et al. Oceanol. Acta 1, 72–86 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Corliss, J. B. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 40, 12–24 (1978).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hékinian, R. et al. Oceanol. Acta 1, 473–483 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. Francheteau: The authors are all members of the CYAMEX Scientific Team.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Océanologique de Bretagne,

    J. Francheteau & H. D. Needham

  2. Université de Rennes, Laboratoire de Géologie structurale, B.P. 25 A, 35031, Rennes Cedex, France

    P. Choukroune

  3. Université Louis Pasteur, Laboratoire de Minéralogie–Pétrographie, 1, rue Blessig, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    T. Juteau

  4. Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Laboratoire de Géologie structurale, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34000, Montpellier, France

    M. Séguret

  5. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543

    R. D. Ballard

  6. State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, 12222

    P. J. Fox

  7. United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, 94025

    W. Normark

  8. Centro de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico, 20, DF, Mexico

    A. Carranza

  9. Instituto de Geologia, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico, 20, DF, Mexico

    D. Cordoba, J. Guerrero & C. Rangin

  10. Centre Océanologique de Bretagne, B.P. 337, 29273, Brest Cedex, France

    H. Bougault, P. Cambon & R. Hekinian

Authors
  1. J. Francheteau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. D. Needham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Choukroune
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Juteau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Séguret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. D. Ballard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. P. J. Fox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. W. Normark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. A. Carranza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. D. Cordoba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. J. Guerrero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. C. Rangin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. H. Bougault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. P. Cambon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. R. Hekinian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Francheteau, J., Needham, H., Choukroune, P. et al. Massive deep-sea sulphide ore deposits discovered on the East Pacific Rise. Nature 277, 523–528 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277523a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/277523a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing