Terrestrial
Hot Springs:
Sulfur Springs, St. Lucia
Sulfur Springs are
nestled within the caldera of St. Lucia's volcano thought to have erupted
40,000 yearsago. The tan 'sandy' looking areas
within the caldera are where the boiling geysers and hot springs are.
The "Pitons" are one of the distinguishing features of this
Caribbean island. They are thought to have risen as a result of the volcanic
event.
"Fizzy" Pool was one of the 20+ hot springs and pools found
at Sulfur Springs. The temperature for this hot spring was 85 C with a
pH of roughly
neutral.
Scents of sulfur waft through the tropical air!
The fluid chemistry and water characteristics could be quite dramatically
different from various hot springs. "SPX" was a clear example
shown here on the right. The darker pot on the left was approximately 80
C and pH ~6.5, whereas the pool on the right was ~60 C and pH 2! Distance
between SPX7 and SPX2 was about ten inches.
These foreign-looking chimineas formed by sulfur-laden steam precipitating.
Larry Feinberg collects samples from this 80 C hot spring known as "SP1".
Chantae Sullivan assists the on-site incubations as
we attempt to culture and understand the microbes thriving in this extreme
environment.
"SP4" was one of several sites chosen for an on-site incubation.
The temperature was recorded at 92 degrees celsius.
This short video of "SP2" gives you an idea towards the nature
of these hot springs.
