Geological, Geochemical and Mineralogical Active Vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

目前已知只有两个热液系统--TAG和Snakepit--活跃在缓慢扩张的中大西洋海脊上。去年冬天，汤普森参加了一个到这两个地点的大型潜水项目；目前的奖项为他和他的同事汉弗里斯博士和蒂维博士提供了资金，用于分析和解释从最近一次探险中收集的样本，以及从早期采样项目中收集的样本。目标是：1)详细绘制喷口地点图；2)确定成矿作用的性质、来源和时空过程；3)利用观测和模型比较两个地点的演化；4)确定表生蚀变过程中发生的化学交换；5)估计这些矿床对全球地球化学预算和循环的意义；6)评价硫化物矿床的经济意义。

Only two hydrothermal systems -- TAG and Snakepit -- are known to be active on the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Dr. Thompson participated on a large diving program to both sites last winter; the present award provides he and his colleagues Drs. Humphris and Tivey with funds to analyze and interpret the samples collected on both this most recent expedition and ones from earlier sampling programs. Objectives are to: 1) map the vent sites in detail; 2) determine the nature, origin and time/space processes of mineralization; 3) compare the evolution of the two sites using both observations and models; 4) determine chemical exchanges that occur during supergene alterations; 5) estimate the significance of these deposits to global geochemical budgets and cycles; and 6) assess the economic significance of the sulfide deposits.