Over time, the height, width and thickness of a chimney structure builds around the vent flow while the temperature and chemical composition of the hydrothermal fluid varies. Concentric circles of various mineral zones form like tree rings in the chimney wall and evolve with changes in thermal and chemical gradients, as well as changes in chimney wall permeability. The different colors that can be seen in this sliced piece of hydrothermal vent structure reveal some of the different minerals that composed the vent wall. Image courtesy of Rachel Haymon.
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