GRANVILLE — The Ronneberg Endowment at Denison University welcomes Cindy Lee Van Dover, director of the Duke University Marine Lab, who will deliver a lecture on “Mining Gold in the Deep Sea: Feasibility, Environmental Risks, and Benefits” at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, in the Burton D. Morgan Center Lecture Hall (150 Ridge Road). This event is free and open to the public.

Deep-sea hot springs (also known as hydrothermal vents) are the sites of massive sulfide deposits on the seafloor. While similar formations on land often host commercial ore deposits for copper, zinc, gold and silver, the exploration of submarine sulfide deposits for commercial mining is a new target of emerging industries. In addition to mineral deposits, the deep-sea hot springs are also home to unusual and vibrant communities of microorganisms and invertebrates adapted to the extreme conditions found near vents.

The discovery of these hydrothermal vent communities fundamentally changed the way we view the extremes to which life on this and other planets can adapt. Van Dover’s lecture will explore questions like, what risks does deep-sea gold mining pose to these communities and biodiversity? What benefits might be gained from such mining?

The Ronneberg Lectureship series was endowed in 1981 by Conrad E. Ronneberg, professor of chemistry at Denison. The Ronneberg Endowment brings leading scientists to speak on a variety of topics, from well-known issues for larger audiences to more specialized interests often linked with specific courses.

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CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville—The Ronneberg Endowment welcomes Cindy Lee Van Dover from Duke University Marine Lab, who will deliver a lecture on “Mining Gold in the Deep Sea: Feasibility, Environmental Risks, and Benefits” at 7:30 p.m. on Tues., March 24, in the Burton D. Morgan Center Lecture Hall (150 Ridge Road). This event is free and open to the public.