Sulfide chimney samples collected during the 1998 - 1999 R/V Atlantis -
DSV Alvin 3 - 30 research cruise have been examined and classified into four
types, based on common characteristics. Chimney morphology is the most important
characteristic and resulted in the following groups: 1. flutes, 2. cones, 3.
wide-flats, and 4. beehives. Other characteristics resulted in the
classification of subgroups within the flute, cone and wide-flat groups. The
combination of characteristics, including; the presence of an orifice, internal
chimney fabrics, wall thickness, extent of weathering, and the presence of
Alvinella worm casts, enable evolutionary trends between the different chimneys
types to be established. These trends indicate that with time, flutes evolve
from immature zoned chimneys with a central orifice and smooth thin-walls, into
cone chimneys with thick walls and massive fabrics which have their orifices
infilled by massive sulfides, and a rough exterior. Repeated mineralisation
within, cones may result in the formation of wide-flat chimneys. Beehive
chimneys can form at any time during chimney growth.