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The Okinawa Trough is a back-arc basin behind the Ryukyu trench-arc system and located along the eastern margin of the Eurasian continent. Sulfide and sulfate mineralization associated with hydrothermal activity has been recognized in ten hydrothermal fields in the Okinawa Trough. Hydrothermal mineralization recognized in these fields is commonly represented by coexisting occurrence of zinc-and lead-enriched polymetallic sulfides and abundant sulfate minerals. The mineralogy and geochemical signatures present has led researchers to suggest these areas may be a modern analogue for the formation of ancient Kuroko-type volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. Recent seafloor drilling during IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program) Expedition 331 documented the subseafloor structure of a hydrothermal system at the Iheya North Knoll. Mineral textures and hydrothermal assemblages present in the drilled cores obtained from a hydrothermal mound in the proximal area are consistent with Kuroko-type mineralization. Based on geochemical studies, the intra-field diversity of mineralization commonly recognized in the Okinawa Trough can be explained by subseafloor phase separation of the hydrothermal fluid, which reflects shallow water depth (from 700 to 1,600 m). The subseafloor phase separation may. play an important role to accumulate metal elements beneath the seafloor. Based on geophysical and geological studies, the Okinawa Trough is considered a back-arc basin in the rifting stage. Such a tectonic setting is characterized by development of normal faulting in brittle continental crust and frequent intrusion of a magma, which can be expected to provide favorable environment for development of a hydrothermal system Keywords

SummaryTo extend knowledge of subseafloor microbial communities within the oceanic crust, the abundance, diversity and composition of microbial communities in crustal fluids at back-arc hydrothermal fields of the Southern Mariana Trough (SMT) were investigated using culture-independent molecular techniques based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Seafloor drilling was carried out at two hydrothermal fields, on-and off-ridge of the back-arc spreading centre of the SMT. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries for bacterial and archaeal communities were constructed from the fluid samples collected from the boreholes. Phylotypes related to Thiomicrospira in the Gammaproteobacteria (putative sulfide-oxidizers) and Mariprofundus in the Zetaproteobacteria (putative iron-oxidizers) were recovered from the fluid samples. A number of unique archaeal phylotypes were also recovered. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis indicated the presence of active bacterial and archaeal populations in the fluids. The Zetaproteobacteria accounted for up to 32% of the total prokaryotic cell number as shown by FISH analysis using a specific probe designed in this study. Our results lead to the hypothesis that the Zetaproteobacteria play a role in iron oxidation within the oceanic crust.