COBALT-RICH FERROMANGANESE CRUSTS
44
• metal grade analysis can be estimated on board the explo-
ration vessel and later verified at land-based laboratories;
• carrying out geotechnical studies to assess the physical,
chemical, and mechanical properties of the crusts and their
environment will feed into both the environmental baseline
studies as well as the engineering design studies for mining
technology development, in particular the design of a cutter
head capable of recovering the crust without acquiring any of
the substrate rock;
• calculating the size and grade of the resource;
• carrying out environmental baseline studies; and
• measuring in situ the detailed distribution of crust thick-
nesses. While this technology is not yet developed, it may
involve either a multi-spectral seismic instrument or a gamma-
radiation detector.
Figure 15 Multibeam bathymetry
of the Brothers seamounts, South West
Pacific (source NIWA).
