Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority
Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority
Dr. Herzig informed participants that for appraisal of large seabed areas, the system required is a research vessel with a multi beam echo sounder system for mapping the sea floor and producing a bathymetric map. He described the bathymetric map as a basic requirement for future work because such a map is the basis for further detailed study including sampling and mapping small areas. Dr. Herzig said that modern multi-beam echo sounding systems are able to map the seafloor down to several thousand metres depth. The systems are also able to map a swath width of more than three times the water depth along the vessel’s track. Computers on the vessel are able to print maps of the seafloor at 5 m contour intervals. In addition, Dr. Herzig said that there are several ways to display the data, including display a three-dimensional view of bathymetry. Dr. Herzig said that a side scan sonar system used with the echo sounder system provides information about the reflectivity of the seafloor. The echo sounder system as described by Dr. Herzig, helps researchers to identify sediment areas, and to distinguish between larva flows (hard reflector) and sediment ponds (soft reflector). Dr. Herzig said that reflectivity information could be translated into tectonic maps that help investigators to find, for example, fractures and other features at the seafloor. Dr. Herzig showed an illustration of a deep towed video camera system that he said provides online observations of the seafloor. These systems, he pointed out, are attached to the research vessel with coaxial or fibre optic cables. He also illustrated several TV guided grabs, which he described as excellent mapping and sampling tools. Dr. Herzig introduced participants to a CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth) system and told them that other water samplers could be added to it. Dr Herzig showed participants some pictures of German oceanographic research vessels. These included the R.V.Sonne, the Meteor and Polarstein. He described the RV Sonne, equipped with the Hydrosweep system (a multibeam hydrographic surveying system) as the flagship of the German fleet. Previously used in polymetallic nodule prospecting and exploration, Dr. Herzig informed participants that this vessel would be decommissioned in 2008. INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 318
With regard to the Meteor research vessel, Dr. Herzig told the workshop that it is also equipped with the Hydro sweep system to map the seafloor. Finally, with regard to the Polarstein, Dr. Herzig said that it is a German icebreaker used primarily for research in the Antarctic region. This vessel, according to Dr. Herzig is equipped with the Hydrosweep system as well. With a picture of the British ocean survey side scan sonar, GLORIA, Dr. Herzig told participants how this system, developed nearly thirty years ago has been instrumental in mapping ocean ridges. He said that the system could map 20,000 sq/km per day. Starting with the rosette water sampler, Dr. Herzig explained how the appraisal of large regions of the seabed could be undertaken using different techniques and tools to identify hydrothermal vent sites. The rosette water samplers described by Dr. Herzig, is equipped with 24 thirty-litre bottles with a probe for measuring conductivity, temperature, depth and pressure. He said that other sensors could be attached to it. As an example, he said that an oxygen sensor attached to it could be used to map the oxygen minimum zone. Because the bottles can be closed individually, Dr. Herzig said that the water column could be sampled at different depths. He explained that this capability of the system is invaluable since a major tool in the search for hydrothermal vents is through the measurement of trace metals in the water column. Dr. Herzig said that the two most useful elements are manganese and methane. Dr. Herzig said that the most powerful pathfinder element for finding hydrothermal vents is manganese because it provides the largest halo around hydrothermal sites, and therefore around black smoker complexes. Dr. Herzig said that the other powerful pathfinder component for hydrothermal vents is methane. He explained that black smokers emit methane and that methane remains in seawater and thus the water column. He also explained that methane, like manganese, provides a large halo and is therefore another excellent pathfinder element for searching for active hydrothermal sites. Dr. Herzig described manganese and methane as direct geochemical signals in the INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 319
- Page 276 and 277: In relation to mining technology, o
- Page 278 and 279: On the most promising sites for cru
- Page 280 and 281: In addition to the International Se
- Page 282 and 283: 1. Introduction Plant life is impos
- Page 284 and 285: Table 1 Potential microbial metabol
- Page 286 and 287: Figure 2 Simplified representation
- Page 288 and 289: Figure 3 Major components of a gene
- Page 290 and 291: the mussel's nutrition. When experi
- Page 292 and 293: Reasons for this do not appear to b
- Page 294 and 295: egions, one study pointed out that
- Page 296 and 297: very widespread, supporting microbi
- Page 298 and 299: Studies of the rapid colonisation o
- Page 300 and 301: y mining, which is expected to be v
- Page 302 and 303: 2. J. B. Corliss, J. Dymond, L. Gor
- Page 304 and 305: 19. V. Tunnicliffe, A.G. McArthur a
- Page 306 and 307: SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION AND DIS
- Page 308 and 309: together with mucus that is secrete
- Page 310 and 311: close to neutral ph conditions, it
- Page 312 and 313: France, Germany, the United Kingdom
- Page 314 and 315: of the sedimentary column, whereas
- Page 316 and 317: Table 2: Research Submersibles and
- Page 318 and 319: 4. Technical Requirements For resea
- Page 320 and 321: 5. Processing Technologies The phys
- Page 322 and 323: grow on substrate rocks because of
- Page 324 and 325: 5. M.D. Hannington, A.G. Galley, P.
- Page 328 and 329: search for sites of hydrothermal ve
- Page 330 and 331: with such a grab. In addition to th
- Page 332 and 333: Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) D
- Page 334 and 335: equired to make sure that the ship
- Page 336 and 337: Dr. Herzig summarized the technical
- Page 338 and 339: commercial. Since confidentiality o
- Page 340 and 341: CHAPTER 8 FACTORS IN FINANCING EXPL
- Page 342 and 343: The traditional project stages that
- Page 344 and 345: there is a subset that forms in spe
- Page 346 and 347: of competing for the attention of i
- Page 348 and 349: 7. Why SMS Mines will be Lower Cost
- Page 350 and 351: 8. Modelling SMS mining offers scop
- Page 352 and 353: Because exhalative SMS deposits are
- Page 354 and 355: SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION AND DIS
- Page 356 and 357: flow to the metal markets. He also
- Page 358 and 359: shortage in the next couple of year
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- Page 362 and 363: Based on this and other considerati
- Page 364 and 365: Mr. Malnic said that the mining ope
- Page 366 and 367: and silver. Except for volcanically
- Page 368 and 369: 2.2. Major Features of the Draft Of
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- Page 372 and 373: I think the issue is not as simple
- Page 374 and 375: Table 3: Data and information requi
With regard to the Meteor research vessel, Dr. Herzig told the<br />
workshop that it is also equipped with the Hydro sweep system to map the<br />
seafloor. Finally, with regard to the Polarstein, Dr. Herzig said that it is a<br />
German icebreaker used primarily for research in the Antarctic region. This<br />
vessel, according to Dr. Herzig is equipped with the Hydrosweep system as<br />
well.<br />
With a picture of the British ocean survey side scan sonar, GLORIA,<br />
Dr. Herzig told participants how this system, developed nearly thirty years<br />
ago has been instrumental in mapping ocean ridges. He said that the system<br />
could map 20,000 sq/km per day.<br />
Starting with the rosette water sampler, Dr. Herzig explained how the<br />
appraisal of large regions of the seabed could be undertaken using different<br />
techniques and tools to identify hydrothermal vent sites.<br />
The rosette water samplers described by Dr. Herzig, is equipped with<br />
24 thirty-litre bottles with a probe for measuring conductivity, temperature,<br />
depth and pressure. He said that other sensors could be attached to it. As an<br />
example, he said that an oxygen sensor attached to it could be used to map the<br />
oxygen minimum zone. Because the bottles can be closed individually, Dr.<br />
Herzig said that the water column could be sampled at different depths. He<br />
explained that this capability of the system is invaluable since a major tool in<br />
the search for hydrothermal vents is through the measurement of trace metals<br />
in the water column. Dr. Herzig said that the two most useful elements are<br />
manganese and methane.<br />
Dr. Herzig said that the most powerful pathfinder element for finding<br />
hydrothermal vents is manganese because it provides the largest halo around<br />
hydrothermal sites, and therefore around black smoker complexes. Dr.<br />
Herzig said that the other powerful pathfinder component for hydrothermal<br />
vents is methane. He explained that black smokers emit methane and that<br />
methane remains in seawater and thus the water column. He also explained<br />
that methane, like manganese, provides a large halo and is therefore another<br />
excellent pathfinder element for searching for active hydrothermal sites. Dr.<br />
Herzig described manganese and methane as direct geochemical signals in the<br />
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 319
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