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Figure 6. (A) Palm worm (P) in vent faunal grab collected by 

 submersible. Three forms of mucus are visible: (1) 

 branchiae are coated in transparent mucus; (2) upper and 

 lower body segments are coated in an iron oxide rich, orange 

 colored mucus; and (3) gray mucus, laden with mineral 

 particles, is wrapped around the worm's midsection. 

 Quantities of shed gray mucus (m) adhere to vestimentif eran 

 tubes in the sample. (B) Aggregate of chalcopyrite 

 crystals occluded in shed mucus. 



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