Cruise explores hydrothermal vents of the Manus Basin

A joint Japanese‐French program (New STARMER) sampled active hydrothermal sites near the New Britain active subduction zone in the South Pacific from October 16 to November 13, 1995. Using the R/V Yokosuka and the submersible Shinkai 6500, researchers made a number of surprising findings about magmatic, tectonic, and hydrothermal activity at the central and northeastern ridges of the Manus Basin spreading system. Fifteen dives by the submersible revealed a spectrum of hydrothermal processes, ranging from shimmering waters to black smokers. For the first time, highly acidic fluids rich in H2S and low in temperature (87–118°C) were sampled in the eastern part of the Manus Basin.