hydrothermal
adj.adj. relating to water that is very hot and under high pressure. This usually happens deep under the Earth's surface or near volcanoes.
adj. relating to or caused by the action of hot water under high pressure, typically in the Earth's crust. Often describes the formation of mineral deposits or the activity of deep-sea vents.
The miners found gold in a hydrothermal vein.
Scientists study hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor because they support unique life forms that do not rely on sunlight.
The formation of the ore body was facilitated by hydrothermal fluids that leached metals from the surrounding rock and deposited them as the water cooled and lost pressure.
From hydro- + thermal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated June 22, 2026