REE/Fe variations in hydrothermal sediments: Implications for the REE content of seawater

Seafloor hydrothermal vent solutions exhibit rare earth element (REE) enrichments ranging between one to three orders of magnitude greater than average seawater. To assess the impact of these hydrothermal inputs on ocean chemistry, we have examined the behavior of REEs for hydrothermal sediments collected adjacent to two Pacific spreading ridge sites: the East Pacific Rise at 19°S, and the Southern Juan de Fuca Ridge at 4S°N. In general, the REE/Fe ratios for both proximal and distal hydrothermal sediments are greater than vent solutions by a factor of 2 to 500, and these ratios increase with increasing distance away from the ridge axis. An evaluation of these results in the context of previous models of REE behavior indicates that, in fact, seawater experiences a net depletion in REEs as a result of hydrothermal activity. This is due primarily to the large scavenging capacity of iron oxyhydroxides which precipitate from these solutions. Such an interpretation explains why the REE content of seawater collected in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents is anomalously lower than “normal” seawater sampled from a comparable depth.