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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Smoker
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-02
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564b
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15 lines
Vent on the ocean floor, associated with an
ocean ridge, through which hot, mineral-rich
ground water erupts into the sea, forming
thick clouds of suspended material. The
clouds may be dark or light, depending on the
mineral content, thus producing `white
smokers' or `black smokers'. Sea water
percolating through the sediments and crust
is heated in the active area beneath and
dissolves minerals from the hot rocks. As the
charged water is returned to the ocean, the
sudden cooling causes these minerals to
precipitate from solution, so forming the
suspension.