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hydrothermal vents

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Cracks in the ocean floor where tectonic plates meet. In these areas, water seeps into the molten rock below the ocean surface and become superheated. At this high temperature, it also absorbs large amounts of reduced ions. Due to it higher temperature, the water now rises, and blasts into the open ocean. Much of the ions precipiate out and form deposits around the ejection area for the water.

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