When was the first underwater vent chimney discovered to be built by mineral deposits?

In the late 1970s, researchers studying hydrothermal vents realized that the tall chimneys around them were built from minerals deposited out of vent fluids. As hot water rises from the seafloor and meets the cold deep ocean, metals and sulfides precipitate, creating chimney-like structures. These formations can grow rapidly and become habitats for many deep-sea organisms. Their discovery helped explain how vent fields are built and how they evolve over time.