The rare earth element(REE)geochemistry of hydrothermal vent systems has been investigated intensively,but few studies have been carried out on marine shallow-water hydrothermal systems like that at Kueishantao.Here we present novel data sets of REE in hydrothermal fluids from Kueishantao,off northeastern Taiwan.The total REE(REE)concentrations of yellowish fluids are similar to those of whitish fluids,813–1212 ng/L,and are significantly higher than that of ambient seawater.The yellowish fluids have chondrite-normalized REE(REEN)distribution patterns with slight convex-downward curvatures at Eu;and the REE patterns of the whitish fluids are smooth at Eu,which is related to the lower temperature and more oxidizing conditions.The Kueishantao hydrothermal fluids are slightly enriched in light REE(La-Nd)relative to the heavy REE(Gd-Lu).The behaviors of REE in both yellowish and whitish fluids are affected by the short time of water-rock interaction.The REE distributions in the yellowish fluids are also affected by very low pH(2.81 and 2.29),boiling of the fluid and precipitation of native sulfur.In the whitish fluids,adsorption by small particles and formation of REE-chloride complexes has played a role in the distribution of REE.
WANG XiaoYuanZENG ZhiGangCHEN ShuaiYIN XueBoCHEN Chen-Tung Arthur
The interactions of seafloor hydrothermal fluid with igneous rocks can result in leaching elements from the rocks,creating potential ore-forming fluids and influencing the chemical compositions of near-bottom seawater.The hydrothermal alteration of plagioclase microphenocrysts and basaltic glass in the pillow basalts from one dredge station(103°57.62′′W,12°50.55′N,water depth 2480 m)on the East Pacific Rise(EPR)near 13°N were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope(SEM)and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry(EDS).The results show that the edges of the plagioclase microphenocrysts and the basaltic glass fragments are altered but the pyroxene and olivine microphenocrysts in the interior of the pillow basalts appear to be unaffected by the hydrothermal fluids.In addition,our results show that the chemical alteration at the rims of the plagioclase microphenocrysts and the edges of basaltic glass fragments can be divided into separate types of alteration.The chemical difference in hydrothermal alteration of the plagioclase microphenocrysts and the basaltic glass indicate that different degrees of hydrothermal fluid-solid phase interaction have taken place at the surface of the pillow basalts.If the degree of hydrothermal fluid-solid phase interaction is relatively minor,Si,Al,Ca and Na diffuse from the inside of the solid phase out and as a result these elements have a tendency to accumulate in the edge of the plagioclase microphenocrysts or basaltic glass.If the degree of hydrothermal fluid-solid phase interaction is relatively strong,Si,Al,Ca and Na also diffuse from the inside of solid phase out but these elements will have a relatively low concentration in the edge of the plagioclase microphenocrysts or basaltic glass.Based on the chemical variation observed in the edges of plagioclase microphenocrysts and basaltic glass,we estimate that the content of Si,Al and Fe in the edges of plagioclase microphenocrysts can have a variation of 10.69%,17.59%and 109%,respectively.Similarly,the Si,Al and Fe conc
