Iron Oxyhydroxide‐Rich Hydrothermal Deposits at the High‐Temperature Fåvne Vent Field, Mohns Ridge.

The recently discovered Fåvne vent field, located at 3,040 m depth on the slow‐spreading Mohns mid‐ocean ridge between Greenland and Norway, is a high‐temperature (≥250°C) vent field that is characterized by Fe oxyhydroxide‐rich and S‐poor chimneys and mounds. The vent field is located on both the hanging wall and footwall of a normal fault with a ∼1.5 km throw that forms the western edge of the ∼20 km wide ridge axial valley. Data collected during exploration of the site using a remotely operated vehicle as well as mineralogical and geochemical analyses of rock samples and sediments are used to characterize the geological setting of the vent field and composition of the hydrothermal deposits. The chimney walls are highly porous and lack defined chalcopyrite lined conduits, typical of high‐temperature chimneys. Overall, abundant Fe oxyhydroxide precipitation at high‐temperature vents at Fåvne reflects an excess of Fe over reduced S in the fluid, leading to precipitation of Fe oxide and oxyhydroxide minerals at high to moderate temperature vents (>100°C), and as microbially mediated and abiotic precipitation of Fe oxyhydroxide minerals at low‐temperature diffuse vents (<100°C). The mounds and chimneys exhibit low base metal and reduced S concentrations relative to globally averaged seafloor deposits and suggest subseafloor mixing of hydrothermal fluid with seawater, causing metal sulfide precipitation. Cobalt enrichment at Fåvne may reflect a subsurface influence of an ultramafic substrate on circulating fluids, although ultramafic rocks are absent on the seafloor and no other elements typical of ultramafic deposits are present. Plain Language Summary: Seafloor hydrothermal deposits are mineral deposits formed from seawater penetrating the oceanic crust and becoming enriched in metals by leaching the surrounding rocks as the temperature rises close to a heat source. Once heated, the fluid rises back to the seafloor where it comes into contact with cold seawater and the metals precipitate, forming chimneys and mounds. The minerals and metal concentrations record temperatures of formation and environments, and can help us understand the processes associated with plate tectonics and the formation of ore deposits. Using underwater vehicles, we collected rocks and sediments from the Fåvne vent field and measured the temperature of the chimneys, mounds, and surrounding seafloor to understand how these deposits form on the seafloor. The Fåvne vent field differs from other vent fields because it is enriched in iron‐rich‐minerals and depleted in sulfur‐rich‐minerals. The dominance of iron‐rich minerals and the abundance of fractures in the seafloor at the vent field suggest that the hydrothermal fluid is cooled by seawater percolating along the fractures, accumulating these metals in the subsurface instead of at the seafloor. This process is important for understanding the current land‐based mineral deposits being mined today and for the exploration of seafloor mineral deposits. Key Points: The Fåvne vent field consists of chimneys and mounds composed of Fe oxyhydroxide minerals with minor sulfide mineralsVenting of hot fluids with temperatures up to 267°C is dominantly diffuse, sustaining significant microbial communitiesLow base metal concentrations of the Fåvne deposits suggest subsurface seawater mixing and mineral precipitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]