Calcium Carbonate Veins (IMAGE)

National Oceanography Centre, UK

Calcium Carbonate Veins

Caption

Calcium carbonate veins are common in upper ocean crust, where they precipitate from low temperature (<100 C) seawater-derived hydrothermal fluids that have reacted with the basaltic lavas that form the ocean floor. These fluids are modified by chemical exchange with the ocean crust as they heat up. The veins precipitate from the basement fluid at compositions that have evolved away from that of the initial seawater, but from analyses of suites of these veins the chemistry of seawater at that time can be estimated.

Credit

Christopher Smith-Duque (NOCS)

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