The origin of ancient banded iron formation （BIF） has remained unclear for a long time. How the precipitation process occurred and what the environmental condition was have been widely discussed among scientists, because the period when the major BIFs deposited （-2.8 to 1.8Ga） is the same time when biosphere and atmosphere significantly changed. Based on the discovery of modern seafloor hydrothermal vents, it is possible that reductive environment controlled by vent system is related to the environment where BIF was deposited. According to matter source.
热液羽流的扩散过程常常记录于其下的热液沉积物中。研究热液羽流的沉积学记录有利于在现代洋底寻索所动热液喷口的位置,甚至还可为陆地类似成因矿床的发现提供有价值的线索。本文报道了来自Juan de Fuca洋脊(Jd FR)Endeavour段的8个按规律采样的羽流末端沉积物样品的矿物学和地球化学分析结果。分步化学淋滤结果表明,热液来源物质直接对于该沉积物的贡献最少为23.03–33.
