Near-Bottom Magnetic Anomaly Features and Detachment Fault Morphology in Tianxiu Vent Field, Carlsberg Ridge, Northwest Indian Ocean

Abstract

As a product of hydrothermal mineralization at spreading centers, seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) have become a research hotspot in the field of prospecting and exploring deep-sea mineral resources owing to their enrichment of various strategic metals. Since hydrothermal circulation changes the magnetic properties of host rocks and can generate magnetic anomalies, near-bottom magnetic surveying is an effective method to determine magnetic anomaly features of the seafloor. This technology has been applied to the detection of SMS deposits, in addition to its use in understanding hydrothermal fluid flow conduits and associated hydrothermal alterations. The Tianxiu Vent Field (TVF) is a detachment-fault-controlled, ultramafic-associated hydrothermal system located on the Carlsberg Ridge, Northwest Indian Ocean. During China’s DY57th cruise in 2019, near-bottom magnetic data were collected by an autonomous underwater vehicle. In this paper, we use bathymetric and magnetic data, as well as rock sampling information, to analyze and discuss the magnetic anomaly features of the TVF region. Then, we apply 2.5D magnetic anomaly profile forward modeling to determine the shallow magnetic structure and the pattern of detachment faults in the subsurface. Our results show that TVF is characterized by a significant positive magnetic anomaly, where stronger magnetization exists in the area with active hydrothermal vent clusters. The detachment fault has a dip of less than 30° at shallow depths, which steepens to a dip of ~70° at depths of around 300 m.