marine hydrothermal vent white smoker 2013-10-06T19:57:22Z A hydrothermal vent found on the ocean floor which emits lighter-hued minerals, such as those containing barium, calcium and silicon. These alkaline hydrothermal vents also continuously generate acetyl thioesters, providing both the starting point for more complex organic molecules and the energy needed to produce them. ENVO ENVO:01000257 ORCID:0000-0002-4366-3088