MARHYS (MARine HYdrothermal Solutions) Database: A Global Compilation of Marine Hydrothermal Vent Fluid, End Member, and Seawater Compositions.

Diehl, Alexander; Bach, Wolfgang

We introduce a database of hydrothermal vent fluid compositions extracted from peer‐reviewed publications. The database includes general fluid parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity, and pH) as well as major‐, minor‐, and trace‐element concentrations (including rare earth elements) of dissolved cations, anions, reduced carbon compounds, and gases. In addition, isotopic compositions of elements and molecules are included. Each parameter in the database is given in a uniform unit and enables direct intercomparison of data from the incorporated sources. The database provides detailed information about geographic location, the date of sampling, and a broad set of supplementary information that enables clear identification of each individual sample and the original data source. This type of metadata was used to merge compositional data for discrete vent fluid samples that originate from different publications. Hence, the database provides a more complete set of compositional parameters than the original sources do. To facilitate operability, the database is provided as ®Excel sheet, which enables users to visualize, sort, filter, and evaluate the database in a straightforward way. The sample information metadata enables extraction of available vent fluid data for specific regions, tectonic settings, host rock types, etc. The database will be a useful tool in determining (1) mechanisms that set fluid chemistry, as well as (2) regional and global geochemical fluxes across the seabed. To demonstrate the extent of the database, we examine the global distribution of magnesium, chloride, and sodium concentrations in vent fluid samples that are incorporated in MARHYS Database. Plain Language Summary: We have compiled data for chemical compositions of hot solutions emitted from the ocean floor. This compilation uses data from journal publications, book chapters, and monographs and includes all chemical parameters that were found in the surveyed sources. The individual format in which the data are presented in the original sources varies considerably, which makes intercomparisons challenging. We have put all data in a common format to simplify the comparison of vent fluids from different sources. The sample information that was acquired along with the chemical data was used to find discrete samples that were analyzed in several publications and to merge the chemical data to unique entries. These merged entries provide a more complete chemical description of the samples than the original sources do. The database is included in an ®Excel sheet to provide interdisciplinary researchers a simple way to access, filter, and evaluate data. MARHYS Database provides an excellent mean to compare existing data with own results and provides a chance to evaluate globally or regionally averaged chemical compositions of hydrothermal solutions. To demonstrate the extent of the database, we present the distribution of magnesium, chloride and sodium concentrations of all samples incorporated in the database. Key Points: MARHYS Database: A comprehensive dataset of marine hydrothermal vent fluid compositions was compiledAverage values for hydrothermal fluids, end members, and seawater compositions are presentedThe database provides a mean to assess sample information and compositions for individual vents and regional/global compilations

SEAWATER composition; HYDROTHERMAL vents; SALINITY; RARE earth metals; MAGNESIUM

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems: G3, 2020, Vol 21, Issue 12, p1

1525-2027

Academic Journal

10.1029/2020GC009385