Azores sea: Seafloor hydrothermal systems, VMS deposits and new exploration targets

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), south of the Azores islands, hosts active seafloor hydrothermal systems both in enriched basalts (Menez Gwen, Lucky Strike) and serpentinized peridotites (Rainbow). These Cu and Zn-rich hydrothermal systems inherited their particular geochemistry from their host rocks that, in turn, is influenced by the Azores plume. The Terceira Rift (TR) in the Azores is an ultraslow spreading ridge with active volcanism, melting anomalies and permanent tectonic activity making it a promising and potential target for the exploration of seafloor hydrothermal systems, capable of forming massive sulfide deposits.