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Minerals from the Smokers The water that comes out of the chimneys is rich in dissolved minerals from the crust, mostly sulfides. Since deep-sea organisms have no access to sunlight, they must depend on nutrients found in the chemical deposits and hydrothermal fluids where they live.This changed scientists' original belief that all life depended on photosynthesis.
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![Picture](/uploads/6/0/1/8/60182675/920194764.jpg?1442233966)
Depth
The depth of the vents is about 7,700 meters from the surface.
The water contains ground water that percolated down into the
thermal system from the surface, and also contains some portion
of metamorphic water,magmatic water, and sedimentary formational
brine that is released by the magma.
The depth of the vents is about 7,700 meters from the surface.
The water contains ground water that percolated down into the
thermal system from the surface, and also contains some portion
of metamorphic water,magmatic water, and sedimentary formational
brine that is released by the magma.
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/1/8/60182675/997020723.png?1442234071)
Light
There is absolutely no light at 7,770 meters below the surface,and this was a big discovery for
scientists because until then everyone thought that life relied on the sun and photosynthesis.
However, the life by the vents were able to survive without the sun. Instead, the lifeforms rely on the vents themselves, and the bacteria that they feed off of
There is absolutely no light at 7,770 meters below the surface,and this was a big discovery for
scientists because until then everyone thought that life relied on the sun and photosynthesis.
However, the life by the vents were able to survive without the sun. Instead, the lifeforms rely on the vents themselves, and the bacteria that they feed off of
Water
Dense, cold seawater percolates downward through fractured oceanic crust near the ridge crest.The fluid is chemically modified, losing all dissolved oxygen and accumulating high concentrations of dissolved reduced gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide.The water is also strongly acidic, and is rich in numerous metals—mostly iron, manganese , copper, and zinc, but also precious metals such as silver, gold, and platinum, as well as those often thought of as highly toxic to life (cadmium, mercury, arsenic and lead). |
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/1/8/60182675/482928103.png?1442241659)
Chemicals
The chemical makeup of the water surrounding the vents is crucial to life. While poisonous to us, it provides a life source for the organisms living there
The chemical makeup of the water surrounding the vents is crucial to life. While poisonous to us, it provides a life source for the organisms living there
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/1/8/60182675/468329987.png?1442242009)
Location
Since the vents are located at the mid Atlantic ridge, the vents have an almost endless supply of heat and energy
Since the vents are located at the mid Atlantic ridge, the vents have an almost endless supply of heat and energy