On December 18, Chinese scientists for the first time
successfully obtained samples of hydrothermal sulfide and life
forms living near a deepwater hydrothermal vent during an
expedition in the Indian Ocean.
They detected unusual salinity and turbidity at longitude 70°24'
east and latitude 25°19' south, and used undersea cameras to
observe many organisms including sea anemone and shrimps living
along the 2,400 meters mid-ocean ridges there.
This indicated the existence of a nearby hydrothermal vent, or
"black smoker." The scientists then obtained the 45-kilogram sample
of hydrothermal sulfide using remote controlled equipment.
According to Guo Shiqin, chief scientist of the Ocean No.1
mission, this is the first time for them to see such good piece of
hydrothermal sulfide.
One of the minerals produced through deep sea hydrothermal
activity, the hydrothermal sulfide contains many non-ferrous metals
including bronze and zinc and may one day provide a substitute for
land mineral resources.
Research into life forms living in deep sea hydrothermal
environments could also be of great scientific and economic value,
due to their ability to resist extreme pressures, temperatures and
viruses.
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Ocean No.1 is China's top marine research ship, weighing 5,600 tons
and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
It departed from Cape Town in South Africa at 2 PM on November
23 for China's first scientific expedition in the Indian Ocean,
scheduled to last more than 40 days and travel over 6,000 sea
miles.
As well as obtaining samples of hydrothermal sulfide and life
forms, the expedition aims to conduct geological, geophysical and
geochemical research into the Indian Ocean mid-ocean ridge and look
for new hydrothermal regions.
Ocean No.1 will also travel near Indonesia's Sumatra Island
where the severe earthquake-triggered tsunami took place last year
and collect data on the area's terrain, active fault structure,
sediment and volcano.
(China.org.cn by Wang Qian, December 21, 2005)