Synonyms
Definition
Volcanogenic Massive Sulfides. Accumulations of dominantly sulfide minerals that form at sites of focused hydrothermal discharge on the seafloor. Also refers to a class of ore deposit mined from ancient oceanic crust that is now exposed on land.
Introduction
Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are mineral accumulations that form on or near the seafloor at sites of high-temperature hydrothermal vent fluid discharge. The deposits are formed by the precipitation of dominantly sulfide minerals around hydrothermal vents (e.g., black and white smokers) where high-temperature, metal- and sulfur-rich fluids mix with cold seawater. VMS deposits commonly form along submarine tectonic plate boundaries such as mid-ocean ridges and subduction-relating settings such as volcanic arcs and back-arc basins. Although high-temperature “black smoker” chimneys are the most recognizable features, the deposits can take on a variety of forms, from...
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Jamieson, J.W., Hannington, M.D., Petersen, S., Tivey, M.K. (2014). Volcanogenic Massive Sulfides. In: Harff, J., Meschede, M., Petersen, S., Thiede, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Marine Geosciences. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6644-0_37-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6644-0_37-1
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