Hydrothermal-vent chimney.
Hydrothermal Vent Chimney
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas. Download larger version (jpg, 1.9 MB).

Hydrothermal vent chimney seen during the 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas expedition. In the center of the photo, you can see the vent fluid which appears like dark smoke due to the high levels of minerals and sulfides contained in the fluid. Look closely, and you will also see the chimney is crawling with Chorocaris shrimp and Austinograea wiliamsi crabs.

Learn more