PROSPECTING AND EXPLORATION OF DEEP WATER POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

Activities performed
  • Hydrophysical profiling
  • Geological testing by box-corer (or bottom sampler) and rock dredge
  • Television profiling of identified anomalous zones
  • Benthic sonar profiling with electroprospecting along the regular network of profiles
  • Engineering geological surveys
  • Geological sampling with a telegrab, oceanographic and baseline environmental studies
  • Laboratory and desktop works
  • Region
    Atlantic Ocean
  • Year
    ongoing project
  • Type
    Geological surveys, foreign contract
  • Contractor
    • Yuzhmorgeologiya
      Region
      Southern federal district
      Contacts
      • 353461, Gelendzhik, Krymskaya st., 20
      • (86141)5-62-67
      • (86141)5-62-66
      • postmaster@ymg.ru

On October 9, 2012, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation and ISA signed a 15-year contract for exploration of polymetallic sulphides, which opened a new stage in Russian surveys of deepwater polymetallic sulfides. PMGE is the principal contractor of these works on behalf of the Russian Federation.

The project envisages the study of specific features of geological and geomorphological structure of the area of the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge within the boundaries of 100 units of the Russian exploration area and identification of possible occurrences of deep-sea polymetallic sulphides (DSPS).

RUSSIAN EXPLORATION AREA (REA):
  • It is located in the central part of the Atlantic Ocean in the axial zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, between 12°48'36"and 20°54'36" of northern latitude
  • It includes 100 blocks of 10x10 km with area of maximum 100 sq. km each

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

  1. Study of specific features of geological and geomorphological structure of the area of the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge within the boundaries of 100 units of the Russian exploration area
  2. Identify the possible DSPS ore occurrences at the work performance site, assess the geotechnical conditions in occurrence of the ore bodies
  3. Study the main ecosystems within the Russian exploration area
  4. To study the material composition and perform the engineering surveys of DSPS ores in the purposes of development of the optimal models for its enrichment and metallurgical processing


THE EXPLORATIONS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED IN THREE STAGES:
1-st stage - 2013–2018 гг. - 6 years
2-nd stage - 2019–2023 гг. - 5 years
3-rd stage - 2024–2027 гг. - 4 years.

PROJECT STAGES

  • PMGE examined 82 of 100 blocks of the Russian exploration area, where 12 ore sites with the forecast resources of evaluated 104.8 million tons of copper zinc and copper-pyrite specialization
  • According to the geologists of PMGE, the ore in these sites contains 3 949.5 thous. tons of copper, 738.4 thous. tons of zinc, 119 tons of gold and 1 679.7 tons of silver
  • The geologists identified the characteristics of geological and morphological structure of the rift valley section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge within the blocks of the Russian exploration area
  • They described the characteristics of the identified ore occurrences within 82 blocks, and provided the substantiation for its selection; The experts identified the promising blocks for further surveys
  • They assessed the engineering-geological conditions in locations of the ore occurrences
  • The specialists studied the ecosystems within the Russian exploration area
  • They studied the material composition and performed the engineering surveys of DSPS ores in the purposes of development of the optimal models for its enrichment and metallurgical processing
  • The works completed in the fields ensured the performance of the contractual obligations with respect to the International Seabed Authority within the framework of the program of activities in the Russian DSPS exploration area at the present stage