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By Henk van Muijen

From an interesting and intriguing scientific research topic, deep sea mining has altered into an interesting mining prospect over the last years. Ten years ago most of the focus was on geological investigations, searching for typical deep sea deposits and getting answers on where we can find them and how these deposits were formed. At this moment we know much more about the interesting deposit possibilities and with our quest for minerals, metals and other materials to feed global economic growth, answers as to the technical and economic feasibility to mine these deposits are sought. This is not a new phenomenon as we already witnessed such question late 1970?s and early 1980?s. Most of the focus was on mining manganese nodules and brines in the Red Sea driven by the report of the Club of Rome that predicted shortages in near future at that time. Development went different, but later in the 1990?s a rival of interest could be noticed for mining deep sea deposits.

Jan 1, 2010

By Arturo Carranza Edwards

One hundred ninety nine beach face sand samples from an equal number of beaches from the Mexican Pacific were studied. Based on petrological and chemical analysis some locations have been studied in more detail. Black sands from the following areas are discussed: (1) west Baja California Peninsula, where black sands rich in magnetite and ilmenite have maximum values of 50% iron and 14% titanium in the very fine sand fraction; (2) east Gulf of California, in its northern portion, the black sands show maximum values of 43% iron and 5% titanium in the fraction 2 to 4 0;-(3) the south Mexican Pacific, characterized mainly by medium sands, moderately well sorted, show that the fine sand fractions reach values of 35% iron and 41% titanium. X-ray fluorescence applied on selected samples constituted by feldsarenites and lithic feldsarenties, showed the presence of rare elements in some of the studied samples.

Jan 1, 1994

By John Parianos

"Seafloor mining provides significant potential economic benefits for many Pacific nations that may be “land poor” but “coastline rich,” meaning they have the potential to utilize and profit from the mineral wealth within their Exclusive Economic Zones that extend 200 nautical miles (360 km) out from their coastlines. Within international waters, mineral wealth is the “Common Heritage of Mankind” with additional benefits for sponsoring states and their people.The Solwara 1 Project build continues with significant progress over the last twelve months. The Seafloor Production Tools (SPTs), Subsea Slurry Lift Pump, riser pipe, launch and recovery systems and winches are now complete with delivery to test facilities and the vessel ongoing. Recent focus has been on submerged trials for the SPTs, but the vessel build continues to progress to schedule. Nautilus appreciates the great support thus far from our all our stakeholders.Our focus is to develop the world's first commercial high grade seafloor copper-gold project in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and to launch the deepwater seafloor resource production industry.Nautilus’s marine research continues, including a 3.5-month series of exploration cruises for Seafloor Massive Sulphides in the Bismarck Sea, as well as fabrication of purpose designed exploration equipment."

Jan 1, 2017

By Richard C. Newell

The United Kingdom marine aggregate mining industry is the second largest of its kind after Japan. Materials for the construction industry, sea defences and for many other purposes are exploited from shelf waters at depths of 30-50 metres by self-contained suction dredgers which often screen material to obtain a cargo of a particular quality. Assessment of the environmental impact of such mining activities both within the boundaries of the dredged areas, and in the zone of deposition of outwash from the dredger has in the past been mainly based on predictive models based on the settlement rates of the individual particles and assumed Gaussian diffusion principles during the settlement phase. Recent studies which we have made on both the mass balance for materials rejected during the dredging process and direct measurements of the settlement of material in the dispersing plume suggest that the zone of settlement is much less than that predicted from diffusion models. Instead of a downstream settlement plume of 10-20 km in the tidal currents of U.K waters, our measurements show that inorganic components of the dredger plume reach background levels in the water column within 880 metres.

Jan 1, 2000

By David Heydon

NAUTILUS MINERALS is a leader in the commercial exploration for and evaluation of seafloor massive sulfide (?SMS?) deposits. Nautilus has exploration licences covering 15,000 sq km of seafloor in Papua New Guinea and is evaluating other areas in the Western Pacific. The Nautilus Western Pacific Gold-Copper project is an interesting case study of the interaction of the disciplines of Science, Engineering and Environmental Science to solve and attend to the challenges of a project without precedence. The Science books of geology and marine biology with respect to seafloor massive sulfides are still being written or at best are thin volumes with recognition still we know very little at this time. Science?s early discoveries and study of these mineral processes on the seafloor provided invaluable data from which to develop an exploration strategy and the genesis of Nautilus itself. The Engineering required for development of such deposits is a combination of yet to be tested ?theory and engineering principles? and adaptation of best practice from other fields such as oil/gas and telecommunication cable laying. The Environmental guidelines for exploring these deposits, let alone mining them, is at the moment still being debated by a panel of experts chosen by the International Seabed Authority.

Jan 1, 2005

By Tao Chunhui

The seabed deposits type and distribution are very complex at the hydrothermal field. In this paper, we provided an approach to study the seabed deposits classification at the Precious Stone Mountain hydrothermal field (PSMHF) using MultiBeam sonar data . The PSMHF was found in the Galapogas microplate at the Leg 3 of the Chinese COMRA 21st Cruise. Using this approach, the seabed deposits at the PSMHF are mainly classified into three types, which are rock, breccia and sediment, respectively. We can find the distribution of the three types of seabed deposits according to the sonar backscatter data. The rocks are mostly distributed around the hydrothermal vent. The breccia are located at the foot of the vent. Most sediments are distributed at the southwest to the vent due to bottom current. Combining with seabed video, TV-Grab sample and the backscatter data, we draw the map of the seabed deposits distribution at the PSMHF.

Sep 14, 2011

By J. R. Hein

East Diamante is a submarine volcano in the southern Mariana arc that is a complex caldera about 10 km x 5 km (elongated ENE-WSW), and breached on its northern and southwestern sectors. A large field of barite-sulfide mounds was discovered in June 2009 and revisited in July 2010 aboard the R.V. Natsushima using the Hyper-dolphin ROV. The mound field occurs on the NE flank of a cluster of resurgent domes inside the caldera. The mound field extends for more than 100 m long and is about 30 m wide, and is aligned along a NE-SW rift valley. A sample of dacite yielded a 40Ar/39Ar age of 20,000±400 years. Individual mounds are typically 1-3 m tall and 0.5-2 m wide, with lengths from about 3 to more than 5 m. The mounds are composed of barite-dominant layers interbedded with Zn-sulfide-rich barite layers. Rare inactive spires and chimneys cap some mounds. Fe and Mn oxides are currently forming small (<1 m diameter, ~0.5 m tall) subsidiary mounds on the top of some of the sulfate/sulfide mounds and drape the flanks of others. Both diffuse- and focused-flow fluids emanate from the subsidiary oxide mounds. Ages of the basal sulfate/sulfide mounds cluster around 4,000 years old based on 226Ba/Ba, whereas the oxides are less than 5 years old based on 228Th/228Ra. Most mound and chimney samples are dominated by barite and amorphous silica; sulfides occur in variable amounts that in decreasing order of abundance include sphalerite, galena, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. Anglesite, cerrusite, and a Pb phosphate occur as late-stage interstitial phases. Some mound samples have fragmental textures; layered clasts composed of chalcopyrite and pyrite may have been derived from collapsed chimneys. Despite the abundance of barite, samples contain high concentrations of Zn (to 23 Wt.%), Pb (to 13 wt.%), Ag (to 500 ppm), and Au (to 15 ppm). Copper is enriched in a few mounds samples, up to 3 wt.%, but is typically <1 wt.%. Other significant metal enrichments include Sb (to 1320 ppm), Cd (to 1180 ppm), and Hg (to 55 ppm).

Jan 1, 2011

By Peter E. Halbach

The Central Indian Ridge (CIR), the boundary between the African and Indian plates, forms a SSE trending mid-oceanic accretionary system in the equatorial Indian Ocean (Fig. 1), extending to the northerly Carlsberg Ridge spreading center, and terminating at the Rodrigues Triple Junction (RTJ; 25°30&apos;S, 70°06&apos;E) by intersection with the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) and the Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR). Crustal divergence of the CIR proceeds at intermediate rates; a progressive increase of ocean floor accretion towards the south is documented: the present half spreading rate and ridge trend change from 1.80 cm/a and N142° at the equator to 2.73 cm/a and N152° north of the triple point. The topography of the central rift zone is rather smooth compared to slow spreading analogues such as the SWIR, but slightly more rugged than the SEIR. The rift valley is 500-800 m deep, 10-15 km wide and usually well defined. The inner floor, 2-4 km in width, is relatively flat along the axis and more variable in cross section, and lies at 2700-3200 m depth. Off set fracture zones striking generally N60° . in southern portions of the CIR and laterally displacing median valleys by as much as 8 km are often bent, uplifting crustal sequences up to several hundred meters. The length of individual spreading segments varies between a few and several tens of kilometers. The vertical displacement on normal faults are larger while lineaments are shorter than those of the faster spreading SEIR. The direction of lineaments measured on the southwestern and northeastern flanks of the southern CIR are N154° and

Jan 1, 1994

By Peter E. Halbach, Andreas Jahn

Co-rich hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts are typical marine interface products of growth processes taking place on sediment-free substrate rocks on the seafloor. They grow very slowly and preferentially in water depths below the oxygen-minimum zone (OMZ) and have so far been found even in water depths of up to more than 5000 m, i.e. also below the calcite compensation depth (CCD); these deep ferromanganese crusts are particularly rich in Fe. It is assumed that the O2-minimum zone is the most important source layer of dissolved manganese, the decomposition of fecal pellets here also contributes to this Mn-budget. The process of hydrogenetic precipitation is basically an inorganic colloidal-chemical as well as a surface-chemical mechanism. Microbial mediations can be assumed, in particular since steps of redox-reactions are involved. The two main components of the hydrogenetic substance are hydrated d-MnO2 (vernadite) and x-ray amorphous Fe-oxyhydroxide, both of which are intimately intergrown with each other forming the extremely fine-grained hydrous oxidic material. In seawater, elements occur as dissolved hydrated ions or as inorganic as well as organic complexes which, in general, have either a positive or a negative surface charge depending on the pH of the respective marine environment. These complexes form hydrated colloids that interact with each other or with other dissolved hydrous metal ions. The main agent to oxidize the dissolved Mn2+ ions is oxygen, transported upwards from deeper water by turbulent eddy diffusion and turbulent rise processes at seamount slopes.

Jan 1, 2017

By Usui Akira

Mode of occurrence and compositional variations of iron-manganese deposits from seamounts around the NW Pacific submarine island-arc area are described on the basis of on-site description during the Moana Wave Cruise MW9507 and other Japanese cruises, as well as geochemical and mineralogical analyses and dating on collected samples. Hydrogenetic and hydrothermal iron-manganese crusts occur at more than 80 sites out of 150 dredge hauls within a small area of 200x 200 km in the back arc region. The hydrogenetic crusts may have grown continuously at slow rates, but 2-3 times faster than those from the Central Pacific, associated with depletion of Co, Cu, and Ni contents. The site-maximum thickness of the hydrogenetic deposits trends to increase with the increase of distance from the active volcanic chain or the age of substrate volcanic rocks. Also the observed great local variations in thickness within single sites and on small scales may be resulted from post-depositional geological activity at the seamounts such as calcareous sedimentation, collapse of volcanic body and mass wasting,. On the other hand, the rapid hydrothermal manganese mineralization has occurred in place and time during arc volcanism and rifting and is still in progress at modern active areas. The ninety ICP/ES chemical plus XRD analysis show that these deposits are of distinct composition by origin or topographic provinces, but small-scale variation of the deposits of each origin and micro-scale depth variation are not clear.

Jan 1, 2000

By Timothy F. McConachy

Magmatic-hydrothermal activity in the South-West Pacific and SE Asian island arcs during the Tertiary has created a premier copper-gold province with numerous, commercially attractive base and precious metal deposits. This activity continues to the present day, especially in submarine sectors of those arcs where modern technologies enable direct observation of ore-forming processes in action. Until recently, however, the volcanic island arcs of Indonesia escaped such attention. The Indonesia-Australia Survey for Submarine Hydrothermal Activity (IASSHA), involved three cruises with KR Baruna Jaya VIII, focused particularly on the Sangihe arc; Tomini Bay, Sulawesi, including the vicinity of isolated Colo volcano; and the Sunda Strait including the neighborhood of Krakatau volcano. IASSHA 2001 and 2003 cruises studied the arc and behind-arc sectors of the Sangihe volcanic island chain extending northwards from Quaternary volcanoes on the northeastern tip of Sulawesi, near Manado, to the Kawio Islands near the border with the Philippines (Fig. 1). This chain lies above a west-dipping Wadati-Benioff seismic zone whose subduction trench is obscured by accreted sediments and mélange, forming the Talaud-Mayu ridge. West of the main active chain and extending northwards from Manado there is a subparallel ridge (The Manado Line) surmounted by a number of high (>2000 m) seamounts of uncertain age.

Jan 1, 2005

The Brothers hydrothermal system is host to two very contrasting vent fields and to date, is the only known example of this kind for any submarine arc volcano in the world. Firstly, there is the NW caldera field. It is perched on the caldera walls and is up to 1,200 years old, and represents a more ?mature? system dominated by water/rock interactions, though there is also evidence for magmatic contributions to the hydrothermal fluids. It is host to relatively high temperature (~300°C), focused venting of metal-rich fluids. Large Cu- and Zn-rich sulfide chimneys occur at this site, with high concentrations (up to 90 ppm) Au apparent in some chimneys. Vent fluids of the NW caldera site show sub-seafloor phase separation is occurring at this site. Silica concentrations in these vent fluids are consistent with the vent fluid temperatures. Secondly, there is the cone vent field that is much younger, and which sits atop the summits of a main cone (the Upper cone) and an adjacent satellite cone (the Lower cone) that occur inside the caldera, near the southern caldera walls. This field is dominated by S-rich vents with vent fluids more diffuse, lower in temperature (<120°C), very gassy and acidic (to pH 1.9), and relatively metal-poor. Fluids of the cone site have Mg and SO4 concentrations higher than seawater values, indicating these ions have been added to the hydrothermal fluid and are not being depleted via normal water/rock interactions. Variability occurs between the two cone vent fields, with the diffuse discharge observed at the Upper cone volumetrically small and chemically different from the Lower cone. For example, from the vent fluid Mn, Li, Rb, and Cs concentrations, it is apparent that the Lower cone has experienced a lower degree of water/rock interaction (i.e., more reaction) than the Upper cone. Vent fluid pH is higher for Lower cone, consistent with more reaction and neutralization of acidic gases. Fe/Mn is lower at the Lower cone due to decreased Fe solubility at the higher pH. The lowest pH sample (1.9) is from the Upper cone that has 39.4 mmol/kg of SO4, consistent with input of magmatic SO2 and disproportionation to sulfuric acid and S or H2S. Thus, the Upper cone site could be interpreted to have a shorter reaction path and residence time between the point of magmatic degassing and the seafloor venting than the Lower cone site. Isotopic compositions of the NW caldera and cone vent fluids show evidence for magmatic water with negative dD and d180 values, while 3He/4He values show the Brothers hydrothermal system has shifted towards more magmatic conditions over the past several years with both sites affected by magmatic events. Similarly, vent fluid sulfide d34S values and those for sulfide minerals from NE caldera chimneys also indicate disproportionation reactions involving magmatic SO2. Minerals such as chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covelllite and euhedral grains of hematite occurring in high temperature chimneys from the NW caldera site are consistent with a more oxidizing, magmatic fluid, while bulk sulfide geochemistry data show evidence for a higher temperature suite of elements (e,g., Mo, Co, Se) associated with Cu-rich chimneys. Gold mineralization occurs in these high temperature chimneys and is associated with the most recent deposition of high concentrations of Cu, where d34S values are most negative. Geophysical evidence suggests that the top of a magma chamber occurs ~2.5 km below the caldera floor, beneath the cone site in the SSE quadrant of the volcano. Very low velocities of <1 km-2 are seen in the seismic data between the magma and the seafloor, and are indicative of gas release. Harmonic tremor data provide evidence for a 500 m pipe-like ?conduit? located above the magma chamber (and below the cone), linking it with the overlying hydrothermal system, providing a mechanism for magma-derived metals to enter the hydrothermal system under the cone site. The NW caldera and cone sites are considered to represent stages along a continuum between magmatic-hydrothermal and water/rock-dominated end-members.

Jan 1, 2010

By Peter M. Bartlett

The Republic of South Africa ranks among the world leaders in both reserves and production of numerous land-based mineral commodities. Over the last three decades, however, South Africa has also identified several commodities that may exist in commercial quantities in the marine environment. The major targets include 1) placer diamonds; 2) titanium- and zirconium-rich beach sands; 3) sedimentary and concretionary phosphorite and glauconite deposits; 4) manganese nodules; and 5) hydrocarbons. South Africa ranks second in world reserves of diamonds and has potentially enormous sea resources. Diamonds are currently recovered on the Atlantic side from ancient beach gravels in the Northwest Cape Province and from the seabed south of the Orange River to Lamberts Bay. Approximately 100,000 carats (or just 1% of South Africa&apos;s total annual production) are produced each year from offshore operations. DeBeers is investing approximately $5 million per year on sea prospecting activities and currently operates three vessels in offshore recovery operations. Diamonds recovered at sea will remain a small percentage of total production because of huge land-based reserves that are mined at a fraction of the cost of seabed operations.

Jan 1, 1986

By P. C. Hollick

Two marine diamond deposits on concession 2b off Namaqualand along the South African Coast, have been systematically mined over the past year by the mv Moonstar. The two deposits, Smith?s Ulcer and Wedge Point Basin, are comparable in morphology, straddled the same water depths and have similar geology yet have given very different recoveries when compared to their respective grade models. These differences are best ascribed to the different style of mineralisation observed within the two deposits which has been directly controlled by the bedrock morphology. The smith?s Ulcer deposit has been formed in a metagreywacke bedrock displaying a strong north-south trending foliation which dips steeply to the west. Consequently the mineralisation is confined to narrow north-south linear trends with limited lateral extent (less than 5m) making extraction extremely difficult and somewhat variable. RE factors (recovered grade versus estimated grade) for this deposit range from 0.5 to 1.1. The Wedge Point Basin deposit is formed in a micaceous metaquartzite with a conjugate southwest northwest joint set, the southwest lineation being the more prominent, and structural foliation dipping gently to the west. The resultant style of mineralisation is confined to basinal features defined by topographical lows and is fairly lateral in extent (in order of 50m). Extraction of the mineralisation from this deposit is less arduous with recoveries more uniform, RE factors are frequently in the range 2 - 3. This style of mineralisation is more in line with what is to be expected from marine alluvial deposits, the nugget effect of diamond concentration being responsible for the high RE factor. The long narrow linear trends observed in Smith?s Ulcer demonstrably require a specialised approach in successfully sampling, modeling and ultimately mining.

Jan 1, 1998

By Mikhail P. Torokhov

Typical coastal placers leave no doubt that placer accumulation can result in significant concentration of heavy minerals in marine shallow water environment. However, the same situation is quite predictable for guyot?s slopes at stages of submarine volcano formation and later submersion of guyots to a depth of up to 3-4 km. Where these placers could be found is also clear ? in coastal facies (as typical coastal placers), and in morphological traps down guyot slopes in zones of active submarine currents. The latter could be cracks in rocks, shallow depressions, spurs, and structures, such as coral reefs, stromatholiths, and even ferromanganese crusts. The last of these have been studied carefully by the author in the Magellan Seamounts and on the Mid-Pacific Rise: tens of minerals, including mineral forms of PGE, REE, Mo, W, Te, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, &Zn were identified as a xenogenic (trash) minerals. The detailed study of polished epoxydized sections, showed that interstitial spaces of Fe-Mn botryoids are enriched in heavy minerals (predominantly titanomagnetite). Taking into account the irregular character of crust surfaces and their position in active water environment, we can definitely state that they are the ideal traps for placer minerals. Study of guyot basaltic matter showed the presence of similar REE, PGE minerals that are in the crusts, and the same (mostly) micron sizes of minerals. High content of PGE in some basaltic varieties (up to 1 ppm) suggests that this is a reasonable source of these elements in the crusts, rather than the water column (which is normally considered to be the case by most marine scientists). Predominance of Pt in hydrogenous (?) crusts is interpreted as due to the better stability of Pt mineral forms during weathering and transportation (these are isoferroplatinum, and silicides). Comparison of 143Nd/144Nd values in bulk crusts, heavy fraction of crusts, basalts, and water column supports the author?s idea, that a significant part of REE also comes from basaltic matter (in form of monazite, CeO2 etc.).

Jan 1, 2004

By David Heydon

The big money is backing both manganese nodules and manganese crusts as the most likely deep ocean mining development by 2010, but seafloor massive sulphides of copper/gold/zinc offer an alternative bet for a start-up by 2010. A study of the ?form guide? or comparison of these resources provides direction on which resources are economic candidates for commercial deep ocean mining development by 2010. This paper covers the commercial and technical issues of exploration, resource definition, drilling/sampling, sea bed mining options, mine plans, environmental issues, legal tenure and capital and operating costs (i.e., profitability) of these two mineral types. Nautilus Minerals has just completed a pre-feasibility engineering study of mining sea floor massive copper/gold/zinc sulphides at 2,000 m depth. The Nautilus study reviewed a range of mining and lifting options, settling on tracked continuous drum cutter miners to produce 2 million tons per annum of high grade ore. Capital costs are shown to be at least 30% lower than a land based copper mine of the same production capacity. Likewise 75% of world?s copper would be produced at a higher operating cost that the proposed seafloor mine. This paper then draws on the Nautilus study for comparison with earlier feasibility studies by others on manganese nodule mining to predict the likely directions in deep ocean mining to 2010.

Jan 1, 2004

By Frank Manheim

The purpose of this presentation is to review the history of offshore non- fisheries resource development since World War II, as an introduction to a planned symposium on offshore resources scheduled for the 1996 UMI Conference. After World War II the United States became the leader in offshore oil and gas production, deep ocean drilling technologies, offshore terminals, platforms and production systems, and natural gas recovery and transport. Wartime skills in acoustic profiling and antisubmarine warfare were transferred into commercially important geophysical exploration techniques. The application of ocean drilling and geophysical techniques permitted the recognition and elucidation of plate tectonics patterns, development of seafloor spreading theory, and the transformation of our knowledge of seabed and subseabed strata. After John Mero&apos;s studies and recommendations for developing marine manganese nodules in the late 1950&apos;s interest in nonfuel minerals grew rapidly. The formation of international deep sea mining consortia in the 1960&apos;s was accompanied by a flurry of ocean engineering development, minerals prospecting and associated environmental studies The Santa Barbara Oil Spill of 1969 resulted in a moratorium on both offshore energy and minerals leasing by the Depart- ment Interior, and catalyzed the development of new Federal legislation in 1972. In 1973 the offshore energy moratorium was lifted in response to the Arab oil embargo, and offshore energy activities surged for a time. Minerals were reopened to leasing following President Reagan&apos;s 1983 executive order implementing a 200 mile EEZ. Although interest was spurred by

Jan 1, 1995

By Igor E. Mikhaltsev

The goal of investigation of the midwaters and of the bottom of the world - ocean versus technological possibilities. Manned vehicles and maximum depth decision. The methods of solving of the problem. The science and technology alloy. Mutual venture of Academy of Sciences of the USSR and, Rauma-Repola Oy of Finland. MIR-1 and MIR-2 - as twins. No reasons of copy "Sea Cliff" and "Nautilus". Six landmarks of specificity of "MIR"-type submersibles. The manned spheres and three ballast spheres are made of maraging steel; the electric power resource (100 kwh) and maximum underwater speed (5 knots) is two times more than of the analogous vehicles while the batteries are of NiFe type; the MIR submersibles have the seawater ballast (and trim) system which means practically unlimited vertical manoeuvrability ; and the weight in air is equal to "Nautilus" - 18,6 tons (in case of equal energy resource the weight of MIR-1 or MIR-2 would be 17 tons). Some remarks on standard life support (248 man-hours) safety systems and specificity of launch & recovery system.

Jan 1, 1988

By Tetsuo Yamazaki

Deep-sea rare-earth element-rich mud (REE Mud) distributes in pelagic clayey sediment column on ocean seafloor at 4,000-6,000 m deep. The thickness ranges 5-80 m and the burial depth 0-100 m. The REE content ranges 600-2,250 ppm in Pacific and one of the richest, maximum 6,500ppm, has been found in Marcus Is. exclusive economic zone. By applying a conventional hydraulic excavation and lifting methods, the economy of REE Mud mining around Marcus Is. is preliminary examined. Because the waste content in REE Mud is high and the disposal cost in Japan is very expensive, the mining is recognized far away from economy.

Sep 14, 2011

By T. Schoening

The exploration of the seafloor regarding the abundances of poly-metallic nodules has received growing attention recently. Image-based exploration using cameraequipped deep-sea observation systems has been introduced successfully to increase spatial resolution in the exploration process but the evaluation and interpretation of the huge amount of image data creates a serious bottleneck. In this paper we present a new software solution to the problem of automatic detection and segmentation of poly-metallic nodules in underwater images, which is not only accurate but so fast that real time image analysis is definitely in reach. Thus, an application on an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) seems possible in the near future.

Sep 14, 2011