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China's autonomous submersible makes maiden dive

Chinese sub finds "black smokers" in Indian Ocean
CCTV.com

02-07-2015

China's deep sea submersible, the Jiao Long, has discovered an area of hydrothermal vents during its scientific research journey 2,800 meters underwater somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

At this depth in the ocean, minerals like sulfur, copper, and iron are transferred from the oceanic crust into the water. Then the metal-rich water is heated by the lava and gushes through the cracks, forming hydrothermal vents. As the hot water escapes from the vents and comes in contact with the near-freezing water on the ocean bed, the metals quickly solidify back out of their solution.

The result is surging clouds of particle-rich water called "black smokers".

To learn about the environment and resources of this mining area, Jiao Long has placed a high temperature probe near the vents, and will return to the area for a more complete survey.

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