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| CATEGORIES ABOUT HYDROTHERMAL CIRCULATION | |
| geological processes | |
| physical oceanography | |
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SEAFLOOR HYDROTHERMAL CIRCULATION Hydrothermal circulation in the Ocean s is the passage of the water through Mid-oceanic Ridge systems. The term includes both the circulation of the well known, high temperature vent waters near the ridge crests, and the much lower temperature, chamber. The heat source for the passive vents is the still-cooling older basalts. Heat flow studies of the seafloor suggest that basalts within the oceanic crust take millions of years to completely cool as they continue to support passive hydrothermal circulation systems. Hydrothermal Vent s are locations on the seafloor where hydrothermal fluids mix into the overlying ocean. Perhaps the best known vent forms are the Chimney s referred to as Black Smoker s. VOLCANIC AND GRANITE RELATED HYDROTHERMAL CIRCULATION Hydrothermal circulation is not limited to ocean ridge environments. The source water for Geyser s and Hot Spring s is heated Groundwater convecting below and lateral to the hot water vent. Hydrothermal circulating convection cells exist any place an anomalous source of heat, such as an intruding magma ( Granite ) or Volcanic vent, comes into contact with the groundwater system. DEEP CRUST Hydrothermal also refers to the transport and circulation of water within the deep crust, generally from areas of hot rocks to areas of cooler rocks. The causes for this convection can be:
Hydrothermal circulation, particularly in the deep crust, is a primary cause of Mineral deposit fomation and a cornerstone of most theories on Ore Genesis . SEE ALSO
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