Deep sea vents hold building blocks of life, health, mining
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Hydrothermal systems are also vulnerable to disturbance and slow to recover. The problem is these same environments are also rich in mineral resources coveted by the mining industry, including metals like zinc, cobalt and rare earth elements. The thermal systems are ideal environments for the creation of massive polymetallic sulfide deposits, ferromanganese nodules, and cobalt crusts.
Furthermore, the hydrothermal systems support chemosynthesis, where "energy from inorganic chemical reactions is used to convert dissolved carbon dioxide into the organic molecules (sugars, fats, proteins, etc.) that are the building blocks of life," according to the study. This environment fuels abundant chemosynthesis‐driven microbial life. Endosymbionts (e.g., tube worms, mussels, and clams) and grazing microbial mats (e.g., Rimicaris shrimp) are a few examples.
For more information about the study, see https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lno.11403
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