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Mixing Zephyr Program
Preliminary Results from Plume Particulate Studies

Preliminary data gathered from the samples taken by the CTD during the cruise can only be judged from their overall appearance in comparison to samples gathered on past vents cruises. All samples gathered in the high rise and main field plumes looked to be of high sulfide origin dominated by zinc and iron sulfides. Samples taken during searches for other vent sites indicated lower temperature difuse flows to the north of high rise, to the north of the new field, and to the east and a little south of the main field. These samples looked to be of higher iron content per volume due to the yellow or orange color of the filter and the lacking of dark colored high temperature sulfide particles. Samples taken in the vacinity of the new field to the north of high rise seemed to be a combination of diffuse flow mixed with sulfides, leading to the conclusion that the north fields total particulate output of sulfides is small in comparison to high rise or the main field.

Tow data throughout the cruise showed a shifting of the plume in a clockwise rotation of approximately 90 degree shifts that seemed to corelate with low pressure cells in the area. These shifts seemed to take place in a short time period to be followed by several days of directional stability. These findings seem to substantiate the preliminary findings of Cannon and Thompson.

--GL


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