title: Diffuse flow environments within basalt- and sediment-based hydrothermal vent ecosystems harbor specialized microbial communities

authors: Campbell, Barbara J.

subjects: 16S rRNA

abstract: Hydrothermal vents differ both in surface input and subsurface geochemistry. The effects of these differences on their microbial communities are not clear. Here, we investigated both alpha and beta diversity of diffuse flow-associated microbial communities emanating from vents at a basalt-based hydrothermal system along the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and a sediment-based hydrothermal system, Guaymas Basin. Both Bacteria and Archaea were targeted using high throughput 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing analyses. A unique aspect of this study was the use of a universal set of 16S rRNA gene primers to characterize total and diffuse flow-specific microbial communities from varied deep-sea hydrothermal environments. Both surrounding seawater and diffuse flow water samples contained large numbers of Marine Group I (MGI) Thaumarchaea and Gammaproteobacteria taxa previously observed in deep-sea systems. However, these taxa were geographically distinct and segregated according to type of spreading center. Diffuse flow microbial community profiles were highly differentiated. In particular, EPR dominant diffuse flow taxa were most closely associated with chemolithoautotrophs, and off axis water was dominated by heterotrophic-related taxa, whereas the opposite was true for Guaymas Basin. The diversity and richness of diffuse flow-specific microbial communities were strongly correlated to the relative abundance of Epsilonproteobacteria, proximity to macrofauna, and hydrothermal system type. Archaeal diversity was higher than or equivalent to bacterial diversity in about one third of the samples. Most diffuse flow-specific communities were dominated by OTUs associated with Epsilonproteobacteria, but many of the Guaymas Basin diffuse flow samples were dominated by either OTUs within the Planctomycetes or hyperthermophilic Archaea. This study emphasizes the unique microbial communities associated with geochemically and geographically distinct hydrothermal diffuse flow environments.

text: Diffuse flow environments within basalt- and sediment-based hydrothermal vent ecosystems harbor specialized microbial communities Hydrothermal vents differ both in surface input and subsurface geochemistry. The effects of these differences on their microbial communities are not clear. Here, we investigated both alpha and beta diversity of diffuse flow-associated microbial communities emanating from vents at a basalt-based hydrothermal system along the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and a sediment-based hydrothermal system, Guaymas Basin. Both Bacteria and Archaea were targeted using high throughput 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing analyses. A unique aspect of this study was the use of a universal set of 16S rRNA gene primers to characterize total and diffuse flow-specific microbial communities from varied deep-sea hydrothermal environments. Both surrounding seawater and diffuse flow water samples contained large numbers of Marine Group I (MGI) Thaumarchaea and Gammaproteobacteria taxa previously observed in deep-sea systems. However, these taxa were geographically distinct and segregated according to type of spreading center. Diffuse flow microbial community profiles were highly differentiated. In particular, EPR dominant diffuse flow taxa were most closely associated with chemolithoautotrophs, and off axis water was dominated by heterotrophic-related taxa, whereas the opposite was true for Guaymas Basin. The diversity and richness of diffuse flow-specific microbial communities were strongly correlated to the relative abundance of Epsilonproteobacteria, proximity to macrofauna, and hydrothermal system type. Archaeal diversity was higher than or equivalent to bacterial diversity in about one third of the samples. Most diffuse flow-specific communities were dominated by OTUs associated with Epsilonproteobacteria, but many of the Guaymas Basin diffuse flow samples were dominated by either OTUs within the Planctomycetes or hyperthermophilic Archaea. This study emphasizes the unique microbial communities associated with geochemically and geographically distinct hydrothermal diffuse flow environments.

year: 2013

title: Subsurface andesite geology and hydrothermal alteration at an exploration prospect north of Waihi

authors: Starzynski, William Christopher Roman

subjects: Andesite

abstract: The Coromandel Volcanic Zone hosts the Hauraki Goldfield in the North Island of New Zealand. The goldfield consists of approximately 50 low sulphidation Au-Ag deposits. Situated in Coromandel Group rocks, which host 95% of the gold production in the region, the area of focus of this study is a prospect located 4 km north of the world class Martha Hill Mine. Such epithermal deposits are characterised by zones of altered rock called halos. Seven angled exploratory drill holes from the area were examined in this study. These cores were logged using high resolution photographs from a geological perspective for the first time. Samples were taken for petrographic and mineralogical analysis including X-ray diffraction analysis and for X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Leapfrog was used to display the spatial relationship of these results. The aim of this study was to determine the volcanic geology and alteration origins of this project. This was achieved by identifying facies as well as their spatial distribution, determining the mineralogical properties of the facies and their variations down-hole, as well as identifying the style and spatial extent of alteration.
Eight new facies were identified which are hosted in andesitic rock. Three of the facies were based on visible crystal concentration which ranged from, 3% – 65% and occurred throughout the core. Fresh samples were dominated by plagioclase, with relatively minor amounts of quartz and pyroxenes and altered samples comprised of calcite+quartz assemblages with various suits of sulfides and oxides, predominantly pyrite and magnetite. The mineral assemblages and their abundances are comparable to the Waipupu Formation andesite with vast similarities to active andesite volcanoes and Late Archean examples. The rocks exhibit seriate porphyritic textures and glomeroporphyritic clots that are consistent with polybaric fractionation. The textures resulted in the host rocks innate high porosity and permeability which increases with each propagation of hydrothermal fluid. While the common resorption of quartz indicates magma mingling occurring in the magma chamber, these same resorption features as well as observed swallowtail plagioclase microlites also reflect degassing processes within the magma during ascent. Four breccia facies were described based on the concentration and orientation of breccia clasts. These facies occurred dominantly around the edge of alteration zones, which can be attributed to their relatively higher porosity. While some breccia display properties of auto breccia, hydrothermal breccia’s are dominant with all breccia likely altered to some degree. Finally, an irregular facies was described and relates to hydrothermal alteration processes exclusive to moderate and high alteration zones. Using the mineralogy data, in conjunction with stratigraphic logs, zones of alteration could be identified and designated based on intensity, describing two zones of high intensity alteration separated by a zone of moderate alteration and low alteration occurring closer to the surface. These zones give an insight into the flow of paleo fluid during alteration and can hint at the location of Au bearing veins.

text: Subsurface andesite geology and hydrothermal alteration at an exploration prospect north of Waihi The Coromandel Volcanic Zone hosts the Hauraki Goldfield in the North Island of New Zealand. The goldfield consists of approximately 50 low sulphidation Au-Ag deposits. Situated in Coromandel Group rocks, which host 95% of the gold production in the region, the area of focus of this study is a prospect located 4 km north of the world class Martha Hill Mine. Such epithermal deposits are characterised by zones of altered rock called halos. Seven angled exploratory drill holes from the area were examined in this study. These cores were logged using high resolution photographs from a geological perspective for the first time. Samples were taken for petrographic and mineralogical analysis including X-ray diffraction analysis and for X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Leapfrog was used to display the spatial relationship of these results. The aim of this study was to determine the volcanic geology and alteration origins of this project. This was achieved by identifying facies as well as their spatial distribution, determining the mineralogical properties of the facies and their variations down-hole, as well as identifying the style and spatial extent of alteration.
Eight new facies were identified which are hosted in andesitic rock. Three of the facies were based on visible crystal concentration which ranged from, 3% – 65% and occurred throughout the core. Fresh samples were dominated by plagioclase, with relatively minor amounts of quartz and pyroxenes and altered samples comprised of calcite+quartz assemblages with various suits of sulfides and oxides, predominantly pyrite and magnetite. The mineral assemblages and their abundances are comparable to the Waipupu Formation andesite with vast similarities to active andesite volcanoes and Late Archean examples. The rocks exhibit seriate porphyritic textures and glomeroporphyritic clots that are consistent with polybaric fractionation. The textures resulted in the host rocks innate high porosity and permeability which increases with each propagation of hydrothermal fluid. While the common resorption of quartz indicates magma mingling occurring in the magma chamber, these same resorption features as well as observed swallowtail plagioclase microlites also reflect degassing processes within the magma during ascent. Four breccia facies were described based on the concentration and orientation of breccia clasts. These facies occurred dominantly around the edge of alteration zones, which can be attributed to their relatively higher porosity. While some breccia display properties of auto breccia, hydrothermal breccia’s are dominant with all breccia likely altered to some degree. Finally, an irregular facies was described and relates to hydrothermal alteration processes exclusive to moderate and high alteration zones. Using the mineralogy data, in conjunction with stratigraphic logs, zones of alteration could be identified and designated based on intensity, describing two zones of high intensity alteration separated by a zone of moderate alteration and low alteration occurring closer to the surface. These zones give an insight into the flow of paleo fluid during alteration and can hint at the location of Au bearing veins.

year: 2022

title: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Addressing the recruitment and retention of Maori students in tertiary education institutions: A literature review

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori students

abstract: To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
To achieve this end, a review of relevant literature was undertaken to provide a
framework to understand the patterns that arose from the information that we
collected as part of this evaluation.
The review of literature is presented in this technical report.

text: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Addressing the recruitment and retention of Maori students in tertiary education institutions: A literature review To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
To achieve this end, a review of relevant literature was undertaken to provide a
framework to understand the patterns that arose from the information that we
collected as part of this evaluation.
The review of literature is presented in this technical report.

year: 2002-05-01