The Lost City of Hydrothermal Vents
A black smoker hydrothermal vent. (source: Schmidt Ocean Institute.)
Post Author - J. Carlin Decker III
Life can be just as simple as it is complex. There is a lot of credit to be given to simple, microbial organisms such as the undersea ecosystems that are often claimed to be the origin of life on Earth. Heat and minerals spewing from the Earth’s core have supported the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms for billions of years as evidenced in the fossil record, and from these microbes many thriving seafloor communities have blossomed throughout our planet's history. Recently, scientists have studied new minerals from a famous hydrothermal vent region in the mid-Atlantic which has led to new avenues for developing this undersea origin theory.
When discovered in December 2000 on a National Science Foundation expedition, the ‘Lost City’ hydrothermal vent field was found to operate differently from vents previously observed. Hydrothermal vents, like those discovered in the Pacific, have been observed to shoot out extremely hot, black, cloudy sulfide as seawater reacts to magma chambers below the seafloor, earning themselves the nickname ‘black smokers.’
Hydrothermal vent diagram
The vents in the Lost City, however, are made up completely of carbonate, significantly taller, the temperature hot, but not as extreme, and formed differently. Seawater mixes with the mantle rock in a process called serpentinization, in which towering, undersea spires are able to form, some being as tall as 18 stories! The Lost City sits right next to the mid-Atlantic volcano ridge, and the tectonic shifting in the area creates vents that connect directly to the mantle. The alkaline pH levels, unique temperatures, and concentrated carbon create the conditions for such unique vent formations.
Recently, a team of marine excavators were able to actually recover quite a bit of specimen material from the Lost City. Over a thousand meters worth of mantle peridotite was collected in an expedition to Atlantis Massif, the undersea mountain that the Lost City sits on, that departed in Spring 2023. The material is being inventoried and analyzed to understand the composition and structural context of the minerals. The findings could have major insight on the formation of undersea volcanoes and seafloor magma flow. There has been a debate amongst scientific disciplines as to where the origins of life actually occurred on Earth, but the team here hopes to dig deeper into the oceanic origin theories.
Featured Product
Trunk or Treat Woolly Mammoth T-Shirt
Latest News
-
Nov 01, 2025 Is “Paul is Dead” Dead?: Unpacking One Of Pop Culture’s Most Enduring Conspiracy Theories Read More -
Oct 31, 2025 Scientists Discover Hooves and Skin in Preserved Dinosaur "Mummies!" Read More -
Oct 27, 2025 Scientists Record a Bat Catching Birds Mid-Flight! Read More -
Oct 09, 2025 Scientists Discover First Fossilized Leech! Read More -
Oct 01, 2025 Researchers Recreate Dinosaur Sounds Using Bizarre Instrument! Read More -
Sep 19, 2025 The House that Ruth Built: The Story of the Old Yankee Stadium Read More
Cool Things!
Is “Paul is Dead” Dead?: Unpacking One Of Pop Culture’s Most Enduring Conspiracy Theories
Scientists Discover Hooves and Skin in Preserved Dinosaur "Mummies!"
A dinosaur discovery just in time for Halloween! In a new analysis of a group of fossils from Wyoming, Scientists have determined this group of fossils are dinosaur “mummies,” with preserved skin and even hooves.
Scientists Record a Bat Catching Birds Mid-Flight!
Bats, birds, screeches, oh my! In a reverse-Hitchcock twist, a new study reveals that a species of European bat catches and eats birds mid-flight.
Specimen Deep Dives
The House that Ruth Built: The Story of the Old Yankee Stadium
The Queen of the Skies: the Story of the Boeing 747
Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!
