Black smokers are chimney-like structures created by underwater geysers.
The waters swept up from deep within Earth's crust are rich in dissolved minerals, which are deposited as tall funnels. They were only discovered in the late 1970s but have been the subject of intense study ever since. Scientists are intrigued by the lifeforms that can thrive around the smokers and the vast hydrothermal systems in which they are found. These are extreme environments with no light, where the lifeforms must use the minerals from the vents to make the chemical energy they need to survive. Not surprisingly, mining companies are also interested in the opportunities for tapping these systems for new resources.