British scientific expedition discovers world's deepest known undersea volcanic vents
Monday, April 12, 2010 - 03:28
in Earth & Climate
A British scientific expedition has discovered the world's deepest undersea volcanic vents, known as 'black smokers,' 3.1 miles (5000 metres) deep in the Cayman Trough in the Caribbean. Using a deep-diving vehicle remotely controlled from the Royal Research Ship James Cook, the scientists found slender spires made of copper and iron ores on the seafloor, erupting water hot enough to melt lead, nearly half a mile deeper than anyone has seen before...