MORPHOLOGY OF CENTRAL PACIFIC SEAMOUNTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR MN-CRUST MINING

Mining of cobalt-rich manganese crusts in the upper slopes and summits of seamounts, is likely to take place in the Central \pacific Basin. The distribution, abundance and mineralogy of these deposits are influenced by their geologic setting. The mineral deposits are generally thicket on the most stable (least mobile) substrates. But they will be most readily mined on friable substrates (such as volcanic breccias). Characteristics conducive to mining include: minimum slope angles, relative absence of bathymetric obstacles (benches, fault scarps and volcanic features), absence of poorly consolidated sediments which minimise manganese crust growth, and presence of amenable substrates. On the basis of these criteria large portions of the Line Islands chain are targets for marine mining. Many of the seamounts within the Line Island group, however, are characterised by rejuvenated volcanism, which has resulted in very rugged summits and a thick mantling of the seamount with volcanoclastic rocks. In order to successfully mine crusts from the Line Islands seamounts, site specific surveys will be needed to identify sites with minimal bathymetric obstacles. Small, very mobile mining devices would be appropriate for this rugged terrain.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • "OTC '89", 21st Annual Offshore Technology Conference held Houston May 1-4 1989, Vol. 3, p.189 [12 pp., 34 ref., 6 fig.]
• Authors:
  • Keating, B
  • H
• Conference:
  • "OTC '89", 21st Annual Offshore Technology Conference
  • Location: Houston Texas, United States
  • Date: 1989-5-1 to 1989-5-4
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Geological surveying; Manganese
• Old TRIS Terms: Ocean mining
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00696051
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM