Red and pink streaked rock indicative of hydrothermal activity

Circular patterns in rock outcrop

A little extrusion of lava from the side of a large pillow structure.

A collapsed pillow lava

A remarkable field of pillow lavas

Circular patterns in rock outcrop with indications of hydrothermal alteration.

Baked appearance to rock surface

Crevasse cutting through pillow lavas. Murky water indicates nearby hydrothermal activity.

Pillow lavas with hundreds of dead mussel shells littering spaces between pillows. A hydrothermal vent community was here in the past but the activity has apparently ceased in this area leading to the death of the associated chemosynthetic community.

Smooth baked appearance with pink alteration along cracks.

Baked appearance to rock surface with indications of hydrothermal alteration.

A fresh lava flow of black pillow lavas overlying older pillow lavas having sediment cover. Creation in process.

Baked appearing rock with circular shatter patterns and some indication of hydrothermal alteration.

A smooth pahoehoe lava flow with a pinkish red holothurian.

Yellow and brown hydrothermal alteration

A collapsed pillow lava with the lava frozen in place after flowing out.

Yellow areas along crack possibly iron oxide staining but without sampling to verify its composition, it could also be of biological origin

Yellow areas along crack possibly iron oxide staining but without sampling to verify its composition, it could also be of biological origin. The black rim surrounding the yellow area coupled with a hint of white and gray lends credence to the possibility of its being of biological origin.

Patterns of black staining on a sand and mud bottom area. Is this material of geological or biological origin?

A burrow in the sand with a white leg (brittle star?) poking out.

White sediment material dug out of a burrow and deposited on the sea floor surface.

A large dead mussel shell indicating hydrothermal venting in this area in the past.

Black patterns on a sediment substrate. As with image expl6429, is this material of geological or biological origin?

A clam shell and mussel shells in association with pillow lavas.

Murky water, a few red shrimp seen in the foreground, and dead mussel shells to the left. Is a vent nearby?

Two more shrimp on a pillow lava. Maybe a vent is nearby.

Murky water, a deep sea fish, but little life apparent on rock surface of lava flow.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

Angular boulders of volcanic rock. A lone white squat lobster shows up in stark contrast to the dark rocks. Some pinkish bacterial material provides evidence of warm mineral laden waters seeping from the earth in this area.

Sheet flows and pillow lavas with pink biological material indicating where low- temperature hydrothermal fluid is leaking out of the crust. Cloudy water to the right is indicative of these hydrothermal fluids.

Aspect of image makes it difficult to say whether this is a vertical spire or a horizontal spur of volcanic rock jutting into a crevice. The texture of the rock surface indicates that it is lying horizontally and that it is composed of frozen lava.

Relatively new pillow lavas which have yet to accumulate much sediment. Pinkish color is caused by biological material obtaining nutrients from low-temperature hydrothermal fluids.

Appear to be looking down into a crevice. Are pink globules rising gaseous material or falling particulate matter? Three brachyuran vent crabs, possibly Bythograea thermydron, can be seen below.

A recent lava flow showing white microbial staining on the broken basaltic rocks , caused by discharge of warm hydrothermal fluids through the seafloor.

An area of angular boulders with white coating which is probably of biological origin. Two brachyuran crabs, possibly Bythograea thermydron, can be seen in lower left of image.

Two brachyuran crabs are seen on a volcanic rock column. Intense marine snow is falling in this area - possibly from surface biological material or possibly the snowflakes are minerals precipitating from nearby hydrothermal vent activity .

A large fissure in the Galapagos rift area flanked by pillow lavas on each side.

A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, a few meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor. The pink staining is a combination of biological and chemical processes.

A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, a few meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor. The pink staining is a combination of biological and chemical processes.

A rugged area of pillow lavas and a large fissure in the seafloor.

A pillow on a pedestal in a highly fissured area of seafloor apparently close to the locus of spreading along the Galapagos Rift.

Pillow lavas in a highly fissured area of seafloor apparently close to the locus of spreading along the Galapagos Rift.

Pillow lavas in a highly fissured area of seafloor apparently close to the locus of spreading along the Galapagos Rift.

Angular blocks of lava rock and vent crabs are seen through shimmering water indicating venting hydrothermal fluids.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

Pillow lavas along a large fissure on the Galapagos Rift

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.