Table 1.
Samples descriptions and bacterial biomass estimates.
| Sample | Vent field | Rock type | Rock mineralogy (thin section) | Rock mineralogy (XRD) | Bacterial cells g−1 rock* (% Bacteria versus Archaea) | Archaeal cells g−1 rock* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KiMba | Kilo Moana | Silicate; basalt | Augite (<5%), Plagioclase (5–10%), Aegirine-augite (<5%), amorphous glass, not porous | Major species: diopside, aegirine-augite Minor species: augite | 4.14 ± 0.06 × 105 (93.6%) | 2.82 ± 0.69 × 104 |
| ABEba | ABE | Silicate; transitional | Augite (35%), Plagioclase (20%), moderately altered, not porous | Major species: albite, augite Minor species: labradorite | 5.20 ± 0.12 × 104 (99.7%) | 1.49 ± 0.27 × 102 |
| Marba | Mariner | Silicate; basaltic andesite | Augite (5%), Plagioclase (5–10%), little to no alteration, 40% porous | Signal too amorphous | 9.97 ± 1.12 × 103 (15.4%) | 5.47 ± 1.86 × 104 |
| ABEsO** | ABE | Outside of an inactive sulfide | Poorly crystalline, pyrite, sphalerite | Sphalerite, pyrite, barite | 9.92 ± 0.34 × 107 (100%) | Below detection |
| ABEsIN | ABE | Inside of an inactive sulfide | nd | nd | 1.15 ± 0.04 × 107 (99.8%) | 2.87 ± 0.18 × 104 |
| TuiMs | Tui Malila | Inactive sulfide | Cinnabar, pyrite, sphalerite, anhydrite | Barite, sphalerite, pyrite | 3.65 ± 0.10 × 107 (100%) | Below detection |
*As determined by qPCR, ±Standard Error.
**Mineralogical analysis was completed for the bulk sample for ABEs, but DNA analysis was completed on two separate samples from the same chimney, one from the exterior and one from the interior conduit.