Mineralization of a Proterozoic Sulfide Black Smoker Chimney and Thermophilous Microorganisms in Eastern Hebei, China

• Published in: 地质学报（英文版） Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 858 - 863
• Main Authors: XIA Xuehui, LIAN Wei, YUAN Congjian, YAN Fei, YUAN Jiazhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Geology Research Institute of China Chemical Geology and Mines General Bureau, Zhuozhou, Hebei 072754, China%China Chemical Geology and Mines General Bureau, Beijing 100101, China 2008
• Subjects: mineralization; thermophilous microorganisms; Mesoproterozoic; sulfide black smoker chimney
• DOI: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-9515.2008.04.016
• ISSN: 1000-9515

P5; A sulfide black smoker chimney exists in the Gaobanhe seabed exhalation massive sulfidedeposit in the Xinglong-Kuancheng secondary fault basin of the Proterozoic Yanliao rift trough inHebei Province, taking the shape of mounds, individually about 2-3 cm high. Abundant fossils ofthermophilous bacteria and algae in perfect preservation are found in the ore surrounding the blacksmoker chimney. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular biomarker studies on themicroorganismal ore fabric show that the microorganism in the sulfide ore is in fact a sedimentaryproduct of probiotic bacteria and algae. In the special food chain based on black smoker chimney atancient seabed- thermophilous bacteria, the thermophilons bacteria and algae reproduce in largequantity. Intermittently erupting of fluid from the chimney creats conditions for formation of sulfidedeposit. In the process of exhalation action of hot fluid, thermophilous bacteria and algae grow andreproduce around the sulfide black smoker chimney, absorbing mineralizing substances brought bythe fluid. Massive sulfide deposits are formed in this process of absorption of seabed black smokerchimney exhalation-mineralizing fluid puisation.thermophilous microorganism.