Workshop on the Establishment of a Geological Model of ...

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A road map towards a clearer scientific assessment of polymetallic nodule deposits on the deep seabed of the Equatorial North Pacific Ocean was prepared by the <strong>Workshop</strong> of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), held at Nadi, Fiji, from 13 to 20 May 2003. The project was designed to produce, over a four‐year period, a geological model for nodule deposits in the Clarion‐Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a 2,500‐mile swath of the Pacific Ocean southeast of Hawaii that contains the richest supply of those materials anywhere in the world’s oceans. The model is designed to identify the many factors – geological, chemical, physical and biological – that contribute to the creation and growth of nodules. It should assist scientists to understand the underlying processes and help prospectors to find the most valuable deposits. The <strong>Workshop</strong> recommended a work programme leading to a reliable geological model within three or four years. It would be divided into three phases, starting with data acquisition and processing, moving on to analysis, and culminating in the production of a geological model with the stated aim of improving resource assessment. A “prospector’s guide” is to accompany the model, giving descriptive explanations of nodule geology to complement the quantitative approach of the model. The guide will also provide information on all known polymetallic nodule deposits in the CCZ The model is to cover the broad range of factors that affect the two measures of greatest interest to both prospectors and scientists: abundance of nodules and their metal content. The metals of commercial interest found in polymetallic nodules are cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel. In addition to grade and abundance data that can be obtained from sampling nodule deposits, inputs to the model will consist primarily of non‐confidential data that relate to the depositional environment of nodule deposits. These include seafloor topography and geology, as well as the structure and biology of the seawater overlying nodules. During the initial phase of model development, the relationship between these data types and high grade and high abundance nodules will be tested. If it is established that quantitative links between these data and nodule grade and abundance exist, such data will be used to predict nodule grade and abundance in the CCZ. The data are to come from two sources: entities that have contracted with the Authority to explore specified areas of the deep seabed for polymetallic nodules, and public and private research institutions. As work on the model progresses, the Authority would generate maps at various scales, from selected local areas to the entire CCZ. The <strong>Workshop</strong> produced a number of specific recommendations on what the model should cover and how the work should proceed. Model components would include values of known variables such as seabed topography, sediment characteristics, tectonic and volcanic processes for the past 20 million years, water column processes and nodule types that are believed to be geologically related to the formation of nodule deposits. The model will be a geographic three‐dimensional model. Intermediate products would include a sedimentological map and an evolutionary framework for the Pacific plate underlying the CCZ, in both instances, covering the past 20 million years – the life span of the oldest nodules. Evidence would also be examined on features such as hydrothermal activity (hot springs) on the ocean floor; the <strong>Workshop</strong> was informed of a recent discovery that signs of such activity had been found at the centre of the CCZ. Material in the water column overlying the nodule fields would deal with its structure, with particular reference to two chemical layers that exist at varying depths throughout the ocean: the carbonate compensation depth (CCD), where dissolved calcium carbonate that has descended from biological activity near the ocean surface condenses on the seabed more than 4,000 metres down; and the oxygen minimum zone, also related to biological activity above. Nodules have been found to be most abundant in equatorial 11 | P age
waters, where biological activity is highest; deposits are concentrated near the CCD. Ocean currents will also be brought into this picture as one of the factors. The <strong>Workshop</strong> envisaged the prospective model as offering the best possible resource assessment of polymetallic nodule deposits in the CCZ, along with a summary of factors that would help in evaluating existing mining claims and in selecting areas for new claims. In general, it would provide an authoritative description of an important oceanic regime, integrating geological processes with those on the seabed and the waters above. The model would not attempt to gauge what abundance and metal grades would be sufficient to support seabed mining, given the unpredictability of future mining costs and land‐based mineral prices that has so far inhibited commercial activity. 1. Background for a Geological Model Motivating the Authority’s effort to generate a geological model for deep‐sea polymetallic nodules has been the need to assess the resources in areas reserved for eventual exploitation by the Authority. While the Authority has a general mandate to administer and control deep‐sea mineral resources in all ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction, it has a special role to play in certain parts of the seabed in the Central Pacific and the Central Indian Ocean. Acting within rules established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Authority, in 2001, signed contracts with seven nationally‐sponsored enterprises, giving them exclusive rights to explore specified areas for polymetallic nodules. The contracts conform to regulations, which the Authority adopted in 2000, constituting an exploration code for these nodules, based on an elaboration of provisions in the Convention. Between 1987 and 2001, these seven contractors had been designated as “pioneer investors”. In that capacity, they had each registered claims for two seabed areas of equal estimated commercial value, one of which was later reserved for use by the Authority. The pioneers were initially accorded exploration areas of up to 150,000 square kilometres, on the understanding that, over the course of a decade, they would relinquish to the Authority enough of these areas to bring their claims down to 75,000 square kilometres. These relinquishments have now been accomplished. As part of this process, these entities have turned over to the Authority data and information they had collected on the reserved areas, including the abundance and metal content of nodules in these areas. However, there was no requirement that they submit any information on the relinquished areas. The model is to be used by the Authority to assess the metals of commercial interest in the reserved areas and to serve as a predictive model for poorly surveyed sectors of the CCZ. It is also expected to serve a broader audience, including contractors active in their assigned areas and independent scientific institutions working on nodule resource development issues. Moreover, <strong>Workshop</strong> participants have suggested that, while primarily applicable to the CCZ, the model could help clarify issues surrounding nodule formation elsewhere in the Pacific and in other oceans, in both international waters and those under the national jurisdiction of coastal States. Land‐based miners have long used models to identify the most favourable locales for prospecting. Such models attempt to predict where the richest ore deposits or petroleum fields occur on the basis of the surrounding topography and sub‐surface formations. A model for nodules should prove even more challenging, as it must also take account of many biological determinants of nodule growth that do not figure in land‐based assessments. Moreover, the CCZ model will cover a much larger area – about 4.5 million square kilometres – than the local models usually prepared for land‐based mineral prospectors. 12 | P age
Page 1 and 2: Establishment of a Geological Model
Page 3 and 4: The designations employed and the p
Page 5 and 6: PART II Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter
Page 7 and 8: FOREWORD Welcoming remarks and addr
Page 9 and 10: Introductory remarks by His Excelle
Page 11 and 12: PARTICIPANTS Mrs. Naomi Atauea, Min
Page 13: South Pacific Applied Geoscience Co
Page 17 and 18: At the Workshop, R
Page 19 and 20: the results of resource assessment
Page 21 and 22: deposits in the CCZ, illustrating t
Page 23 and 24: soft and hard. This transparent lay
Page 25 and 26: athed by cold water, around 4 degre
Page 27 and 28: export productivity - the part of t
Page 29 and 30: activity in the CCZ, seabed topogra
Page 31 and 32: CHAPTER 2 THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED
Page 33 and 34: eserved area and for their individu
Page 35 and 36: station, that is, nickel, copper, c
Page 37 and 38: Figure 9 illustrates the different
Page 39 and 40: Pioneer investors also provided bat
Page 41 and 42: order to identify possible discrepa
Page 43 and 44: Utilizing these statistics, Mr. de
Page 45 and 46: CHAPTER 3 A RESOURCE MODEL FOR DEEP
Page 47 and 48: The reserved areas are delimited by
Page 49 and 50: Figure 5: Bathymetric map of Blocks
Page 51 and 52: Considering the available data sets
Page 53 and 54: 3,200 million tonnes of nodules (av
Page 55 and 56: Table 1 Global resource model resul
Page 57 and 58: 22 23 Figure 18: Resource model sho
Page 59 and 60: unlikely that major decisions will
Page 61 and 62: geological model (Figure 19) to be,
Page 63 and 64: Recalling Mr. de Souza’s presenta
Page 65 and 66:
The Resource Model • Array of cel
Page 67 and 68:
Copper grade Figure 33 Cobalt grade
Page 69 and 70:
He further said that, in land‐bas
Page 71 and 72:
lock Block 16 Block 17 Block 18 Blo
Page 73 and 74:
CHAPTER 4 REQUIREMENTS FOR DATA SUB
Page 75 and 76:
Data requirements The Authority rec
Page 77 and 78:
Quality of data to be submitted to
Page 79 and 80:
SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION Mr. Diène
Page 81 and 82:
• The programme of work and any c
Page 83 and 84:
CHAPTER 5 GEOLOGICAL MODEL INPUTS D
Page 85 and 86:
Total sediment thickness. Growth of
Page 87 and 88:
water chlorophyll concentrations as
Page 89 and 90:
een used for other spatial estimati
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prospectors, who can then provide i
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Figure 16: Benthic currents from th
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twenty million years was the limit
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comparing the raw data with the co
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CHAPTER 6 INTEGRATION OF GEOPHYSICA
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Figure 1 presents a summary chart o
Page 103 and 104:
Figure 2: This perspective view is
Page 105 and 106:
• (Strategy to access) Parameters
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Dr. Parson suggested that since the
Page 109 and 110:
CHAPTER 7 GEOLOGY OF THE CLARION‐
Page 111 and 112:
eserved areas. With regard to singl
Page 113 and 114:
asis of geological and oceanographi
Page 115 and 116:
America: the Ocean Minerals Company
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information necessary for the devel
Page 119 and 120:
Ocean floor morphology The CCZ is a
Page 121 and 122:
According to the Geostat analysis (
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Figure 12: Comparison of the reserv
Page 125 and 126:
This map is the first to emphasize
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From the earlier stages of sediment
Page 129 and 130:
However, Dr. Morgan’s sketch does
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Figure 25: Manganese and Copper As
Page 133 and 134:
Figure 29 represents a sketch map o
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Copper The copper content of the no
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Moreover, as mentioned above, there
Page 139 and 140:
As indicated by Figure 42, there is
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The following preliminary conclusio
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Halbach, P., Ozkara, M. and Rehm, E
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Yubko ,V.M. and Lygina, T.I., 2002,
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He said that within the CCZ, there
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concentrations and high‐grade nod
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It is obvious that major relief for
Page 153 and 154:
Figure 7: Local relief in the abbys
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The results of nodule research in t
Page 157 and 158:
Metal content and tectonics Mangane
Page 159 and 160:
Cobalt An analysis of the cobalt gr
Page 161 and 162:
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION Dr. Kaz
Page 163 and 164:
Dr. Kazmin said that although he co
Page 165 and 166:
deposits first and then attempt to
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The Phoenix Island exclusive econom
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maximum in the south. Thus, in keep
Page 171 and 172:
layers. Nevertheless, enough organi
Page 173 and 174:
Banerjee, R., Roy, S., Dasgupta, S.
Page 175 and 176:
Professor Cronan said that the larg
Page 177 and 178:
declining values as one went toward
Page 179 and 180:
. Figure 1: Location of survey area
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Figure 3: Schematic core diagram fo
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are indicated by I, II, and III. Th
Page 185 and 186:
The earliest nodule growth around n
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Figure 11: Size distributions of ma
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The particle flux in each zone is a
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In area SO‐25‐1 the age of the
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used as marker reflectors for the d
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If one assumes that the total area
Page 197 and 198:
needs to correlate those functions.
Page 199 and 200:
These experts should be invited by
Page 201 and 202:
of the paper for his presentation.
Page 203 and 204:
According to Professor Beiersdorf,
Page 205 and 206:
Professor Hoffert said that a compa
Page 207 and 208:
Figure 1: Location of sectors of Co
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Sediments In the eastern area, thre
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Fe > Mg > Mn to form a series of 5.
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Distribution of the genetic types o
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A gradual increase in contribution
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increases (from 10.3 to 46.8 per ce
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are found. The general north‐sout
Page 221 and 222:
that IOM had been granted pioneer i
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Kotliński, the hydrogenetic, small
Page 225 and 226:
CHAPTER 13 REGIONAL AND LOCAL TREND
Page 227 and 228:
The types of regional zoning made a
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Figure 8b: Scheme of ore accumulati
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other from the north to the south a
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Figure 15: Geomorphological scheme
Page 235 and 236:
Figure 20: Buried downcuttings, str
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topographic feature in the south, w
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测站数 180 160 140 120 100 80
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(a) Large amounts of basic volcanic
Page 243 and 244:
Professor Lu identified the main co
Page 245 and 246:
suggest that the organic matter con
Page 247 and 248:
Prospecting criteria Prospecting cr
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According to Dr. Verlaan, the start
Page 251 and 252:
The final element discussed by Dr.
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EXAMPLES OF LOW RATES - - infaunal
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- Very high local species diversity
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Extrapolation yields an estimated 1
Page 259 and 260:
Apparent ranges of polychaete speci
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In addition to studying the three f
Page 263 and 264:
‐ Distribution and diversity of m
Page 265 and 266:
Because deep‐sea benthos are food
Page 267 and 268:
Megafauna, NW Atlantic slope: (a) X
Page 269 and 270:
“Macrofauna” = animals retained
Page 271 and 272:
Characteristics of Deep Seafloor -
Page 273 and 274:
disturbance, from being inundated b
Page 275 and 276:
ought back in samples from the Paci
Page 277 and 278:
Dr. Smith said there were additiona
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CHAPTER 17 POLYMETALLIC NODULES RES
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Bathymetric and nodule distribution
Page 283 and 284:
Resources A resource evaluation was
Page 285 and 286:
He showed the generalized bathymetr
Page 287 and 288:
Dr. Kodagali said that, for the net
Page 289 and 290:
CHAPTER 18 THE CHINA OCEAN MINERAL
Page 291 and 292:
Deposit: Ore: distribution and cove
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Ni‐equivalent abundance The Ni‐
Page 295 and 296:
Result Based on the data and inform
Page 297 and 298:
Table 1: Tonnage and tonnage per un
Page 299 and 300:
Table 6 Resource amount in blocks o
Page 301 and 302:
Compared with other areas in the CC
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CHAPTER 19 POLYMETALLIC NODULE RESO
Page 305 and 306:
3. The Manihiki Plateau, in the nor
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environments and their impact on oc
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Figure 6: Submarine geomorphologic
Page 311 and 312:
The Cook Islands nodules and those
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Table 1 Comparison of the Cook Isla
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structure and large spiral loops Hi
Page 317 and 318:
Glasby, G.P. et.al., 1986, “Geolo
Page 319 and 320:
the major topographic feature of th
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In conclusion, Dr. Clark stressed t
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The group viewed the carbonate comp
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interpretation and analysis of the
Page 327 and 328:
the geological model. In particular
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In terms of nodule data, let me jus
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very intense, and the waters are ne
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• Complete documentation of metho
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young oceanic plate, with the crust
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Volcanic Activity The general struc
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Data Sources Data sources to be inc
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‐ Transparent‐layer materials a
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• Universities and Institutions
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‐ An evaluation of palaeo to rece
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• Distance of seafloor from CCD
Page 349 and 350:
• Collaborate on a regular basis
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Improved resource assessment The im
Page 353 and 354:
With regard to the programme of wor
Page 355 and 356:
group thinking about how it wanted
Page 357 and 358:
perhaps elsewhere; it could also pr
Page 359 and 360:
processes with geological and benth
Page 361 and 362:
Alf Simpson Director SOPAC Secretar
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