Hydrothermal Vents and Organisms

According to the National Geograpic Website, hydrothermal vents are like geysers, or hot springs, on the ocean floor. These vents are found along the many mid-ocean ridges formed by tectonic plates as the magma rises and cools. As the seawater circulates in the ocean’s crust it becomes super-heated. This superheating creates pressure and as the seawater warms, it begins to dissolve minerals and rise toward the surface of the crust. The hot, mineral-rich waters mix with the cool seawater as they exit the oceanic crust.


Despite the extreme temperatures and pressures, toxic minerals, and lack of sunlight that characterized the deep-sea vent ecosystem, there are many thriving species. Scientists later realized that bacteria were converting the toxic vent minerals into usable forms of energy through a process called chemosynthesis, and this provides food for other many other vent organisms. One of these organisms is the tubeworm (Riftia pachyptila), which according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, lives in a symbiotic relationship with bacteria; allowing them to survive. These tubeworms begin as larvae and with their symbiotic relationship, can grow as much as 31 inches a year. Another organism that survives at this depth in part to the mineral rich environment is the vent shrimp (Rimicaris exoculata). These shrimp have developed a light sensing organ that is a photo receptor which, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, scientist have determined to be used to see the thermal radiation found in these vents which can reach over 350 Celsius.

Hydrothermal vent structures are characterized by different physical and chemical factors, including the minerals, temperatures, and flow levels of their plumes. Black smokers emit the hottest, darkest plumes, which are high in sulfur content and form chimneys up to 18 stories tall, or 55 meters (180 feet). The plumes of white smokers are lightly colored and rich in barium, calcium, and silicon. Compared to black smokers, white smokers usually emit cooler plumes and form smaller chimneys. Vents with even cooler, weaker flows are often called seeps. They appear to shimmer because of differences in water temperatures or bubble because of the presence of gases, like carbon dioxide.

Source: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution http://www.whoi.edu/ and National Geographic http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/deep-sea-hydrothermal-vents/?ar_a=1

Mineral #2 - Platinum

 

Platinum is one of the rarest minerals and metals. It has gained popularity in the use of jewelry making and is more expensive than comparable gold jewelry items.

 

According to Minerals.net "Platinum is rare, with few noteworthy occurrences. Russia is the most important producer of Platinum specimens, producing fine nuggets along a north-south belt along the spine of the Ural Mountains. The districts producing the largest specimens are Nizhniy-Tagil in Sverdlovsk Oblast; and the Is River in Perm Kraj. In far-east Russia, the Konder Massif near Nekl'kan, in Khabarovskiy Kraj is especially known for its exceptional cubic and twinned crystals. Two other Russian Platinum localities are the Talnakh District, in the Norilisk District in Siberia; and Ledayanoy Ruchey, Koriak, in the Kamchatka Peninsula.The world's largest deposit of Platinum is in the Merensky Reef in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa, though few specimens from South Africa ever make it to the mineral market. Colombia has produced fine placer nuggets in Choco Department, in the San Juan and Atrato Rivers near Papayan. In Australia, Platinum nuggets have been found in the Fifield District of Cunningham and Kennedy Counties, New South Wales.In the U.S., the only commercially producing Platinum mines are in the Stillwater Complex in Stillwater, Sweetwater, and Park Counties, Montana (specifically at the Stillwater Mine near Nye, and the East Boulder Mine, south of McLeod). Alaska has produced Platinum nuggets in a few placer deposits, and those from the Salmon River in Goodnews Bay (especially at Fox Gulch) have made their way to collections. Platinum also is found in the placer deposits of Trinity Co., California. Another U.S. locality is Cape Blanco, Curry Co., Oregon.The only active Platinum mine in Canada is the Lac des Iles Mine, near Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is mined primarily for palladium. In British Columbia, small nuggets come from the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers and their tributaries near Princeton. - See more at: http://www.minerals.net/mineral/platinum.aspx#sthash.c82VgNzQ.dpuf" 

Mineral #1 Turquoise

Turquoise is the birthstone for December which is not only the beginning of winter but also my wife's birthday. It is also a mineral commonly used in "Native American" jewelry.

According to Minerals.net...

The Mineral turquoise

Turquoise is an antique ornamental stone, highly regarded for its unique and striking namesake color. Valued in both the ancient Persian and Native American civilizations, it still retains its popularity today. Turquoise specimens are often polished or sliced for collectors, and may even be dyed. Turquoise is porous and has a naturally waxy luster; it is sometimes impregnated with a plastic lubricant for to enhance its luster and increase its stability. Many Turquoise fakes exist. The most prevalent is white Howlite dyed blue to resemble Turquoise.

Turquoise often contains embedded shiny Pyrite flakes, or may contain black oxide veins running through it. It is sometimes intergrown together with other secondary copper materials, especially Chrysocolla. Turquoise may also form as a pseudomorph of other minerals such as Apatite, Beryl, and feldspars.

- See more at: http://www.minerals.net/mineral/turquoise.aspx#sthash.HIqzJH2V.dpuf

Proportional Symbol Maps

Proportional symbol maps (also known as graduated symbol maps) are used in Cartography to visualize quantitative data associated with specific locations. For a given point on a geographic map, a symbol (usually a disk or a square) is scaled such that its area is proportional to the numerical value associated to the point. This scaled symbol is then placed at that point. (Source www.mappingignorance.org)

Isarithmic Map

Isarithmic Map - www.earthonlinemedia.com defines this map as a map that "uses isolines, lines that connect equal values, to illustrate continuous data such as elevation, air pressure, and precipitation."

Dot Map

Dot Map - According to www.earthonlinemedia.com, a dot map is one that "uses dots to illustrate the presence of the phenomenon on a map. A dot may equate to one or several units of measurement. Dot maps are especially useful in visualizing the frequency of occurrence or density of a mapped variable."

Choropleth Map

Choropleth Map - Wikipedia defines this map as a "a thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the measurement of the statistical variable being displayed on the map, such as population density or per-capita income."