Apologies for not posting much here, but life on board is very busy and we had some weather hiccups that did not help us sitting in front of a computer or looking through the microscope.
Our first 10 days of work have been extremely successful.
We deployed seismometers to record the seismic activity and reconstruct the 3D structure of the Rainbow Massif. This will help us understanding where the heat source creating the hydrothermal activity at Rainbow is located.
We mapped (and still mapping) at high resolution the seafloor to learn more about the superficial tectonics and morphology of the Rainbow Massif.
We observed amazing high temperature black smokers, low temperature diffused hydrothermal vents and detachment faults.
See some amazing striations here:
https://twitter.com/jaodynamics/status/1526810049141690373?s=20&t=aMFnIQCpptRTDBV9QuP_YQ
Finally, we recovered rocks of several types that will help us unravel the processes of mineralization at these hydrothermal vents and the fluid/rock chemical exchanges.
Follow us at http://arcensub.ens.fr/en/arc-en-sub-en/ the official blog of the expedition managed by LGENS-Paris and LGL Lyon.
Exploring Rainbow Hydrothermal field with Victor6000 from the Pourquoi pas?
Black smoker at Rainbow
Black smoker at Rainbow
Life at Rainbow
Rocks!
