Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Article Seafloor Hydrothermal Activity around a Large Non-Transform Discontinuity along Ultraslow-Spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (48.1–48.7◦ E) Dong Chen 1,2, Chunhui Tao 2,3,*, Yuan Wang 2, Sheng Chen 4, Jin Liang 2, Shili Liao 2 and Teng Ding 1 1 Institute of Marine Geology, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
[email protected] (D.C.);
[email protected] (T.D.) 2 Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, SOA & Second Institute of Oceanography, MNR, Hangzhou 310012, China;
[email protected] (Y.W.);
[email protected] (J.L.);
[email protected] (S.L.) 3 School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China 4 Ocean Technology and Equipment Research Center, School of Mechanical Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China;
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[email protected] Abstract: Non-transform discontinuity (NTD) is one category of tectonic units along slow- and ultraslow-spreading ridges. Some NTD-related hydrothermal fields that may reflect different driving mechanisms have been documented along slow-spreading ridges, but the discrete survey strategy makes it hard to evaluate the incidence of hydrothermal activity. On ultraslow-spreading ridges, fewer NTD-related hydrothermal activities were reported. Factors contributing to the occurrence of hydrothermal activities at NTDs and whether they could be potential targets for hydrothermal explo- Citation: Chen, D.; Tao, C.; Wang, Y.; Chen, S.; Liang, J.; Liao, S.; Ding, T. ration are poorly known. Combining turbidity and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensors with Seafloor Hydrothermal Activity a near-bottom camera, Chinese Dayang cruises from 2014 to 2018 have conducted systematic towed around a Large Non-Transform surveys for hydrothermal activity around a large NTD along the ultraslow-spreading Southwest ◦ Discontinuity along Indian Ridge (SWIR, 48.1–48.7 E).