Which mineral could have been deposited by black smokers on the seafloor?

calcium

silicon

iron sulfide

barium

The mineral that could have been deposited by black smokers on the seafloor is iron sulfide. Black smokers are hydrothermal vents found in the deep ocean that release hot, mineral-rich water. One of the primary minerals produced by these vents is iron sulfide, which is a combination of iron and sulfur. When the hot water released by the black smokers comes into contact with the cold seawater, the iron sulfide minerals precipitate and form chimney-like structures known as black smokers. Therefore, the correct answer is iron sulfide.