Dr. Luis Somoza (l.somoza@igme.es)

Marine Geology Dv. Geological Survey of Spain (IGME)

Scientific coordinator of the extension of the Spanish Continental Shelf according United Nations Convention for

the Law of the Sea

Geoscientific infrastructure and related offshore mineral resources

investigation in Spain. Experience from IGME

Seabed: The new frontier Exploration and exploitation of

deep seabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Madrid, February 24- 26, 2010

2 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

B. Submissions of extension of Spanish Continental Shelf beyond 200 M according Art. 76 of the UNCLOS.

IGME scientific-technical activities related to UN Convention for the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS)

A.Geological seabed mapping and database of the Economic Exclusive Zones (EEZs) of Spain

3 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

A.Gulf of Cdiz (Western Europe and Northern Africa)

B.Galicia and Cantabrian (Bay of Biscay) margin

C. Deep sea research in Antarctica (Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea and Bransfield Ridge)

Marine scientific research of deep seabed

4

Contents

Geology

Tectonic

Morphology

Seabed

sedimentology

FOMAR Programme: Geological Map of the

Continental Shelf of Spain Scale 1:200.000

1987-2003

FOMAR Programme

5 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Seabed mapping of the continental margin 1:200.000

6 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

IGME geoscientific infrastructure

Geomorphological map of the continental margin 1: 1.000.000

7 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

B. Submissions of extension of Spanish Continental Shelf beyond 200 M according UNCLOS Art. 76:

Bay of Biscay and Celtic Sea

Galicia Bank margin

Canary Islands

8 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Extension of the Continental Shelf of Spain according UNCLOS

Bay of Biscay

Galicia Gulf of Cadiz

Canary Islands

9 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Bay of Biscay and Celtic Sea

Approved by CLCS in March 2009

10 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Galicia margin

Submitted in May 2009 to CLCS

11 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

West Canary Islands

Preliminary information (SPLOS/183) presented by May 2009 to CLCS

12 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

A. Gulf of Cdiz (Western Europe and Northern Africa)

Mud volcanoes

Methane-derived carbonate chimneys

Gas hydrates

Ferromanganese nodules

Research of deep seabed mineral resources

13 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Seabed mapping from international programmes: EUROMARGINS

14 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

International Programmes

ESF (European Science Foundation)-EUROCORE (European Collaborative Programme) EUROMARGINS

Projects:

MOUNDFORCE Carbonate Mounds along NW European margins

MVSEIS Mud volcanoes Seismic Images in the Gulf of Cadiz

TTR (Training through research) IOC Programme

15 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

BIO Hesprides

RV LAtalante

Cornide de Saavedra

Sarmiento de Gamboa

RV Professor Logachev

International programmes: Scientific research vessels

16 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Oceanographic research cruises

Moundforce 07

LAtalante

MVSEIS 08

Hesprides

TTR Prof. Logachev

17 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Mud volcanoes, carbonate chimneys and nodules in the Gulf of Cadiz

Ferromanganese nodules and crusts

18

Marine Mineral deposits derived from Hydrocarbon Fluid Venting

Mud volcanoes

Plio-quaternary

Hemipelagic sediments

Oceanic Basement

Miocene marls, clays and evaporites Diapirs

Mesozoic /Cenozoic carbonates and clays

Rising fluids

enriched in B, Sr, Li, Fe, Mn

Hydrates and methane-derived carbonates

12C

150C

5 Km

Deshydratation of clays Enrichment in Na

Sediment licuefaction

Movilization of Ca y Mg Brine waters

Ferromanganese Nodules

Based in Hensen et al. (2007)

19 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Cadiz Undercurrent

Channel

Seismic Chimneys

Salt/shale diapirs as source for mud volcanoes

20 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Somoza et al. (2003)

Van Rensbergen et al. (2005)

Somoza et al. (2003)

Spanish-Portuguesse margin

Morrocan margin

High-resolution seismic images

21 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Acoustic techniques for seabed exploration: backscatter

Corua

Arcos

Draga ANAS01/D19

Track 3

Track 2

Track 5

3D Backscatter & Multibeam models

2.5 Km

22 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Mud Volcanoes

1500 m water depths

350 m

3 km

23 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Gazul mud volcano Small mud volcano at Sicily

A Volcano of Gas

24 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Two volcanoes of (bubbles) of gas and mud

1200 m water depth

4 km

350 m

25 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Techniques of sampling

MVSEIS-08 cruise ESF EuroCORE-EuroMARGINS programme

(May June 2008)

onboard R/V Hesprides

26 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Resources: Sampling Gas Hydrates

Dissociation of gas hydrates

Gas hydrates TTR 10 cruise

27 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Methane-derived authigenic carbonates (MDACs) chimneys

28 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Methane-derived authigenic carbonates (MDACs) chimneys

Carbonate chimneys formed by iron

dolomite (Ankerite) and iron oxides

(Goethite)

From Diaz del Ro et al. 2000

29 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Carbonate chimneys in the Gulf of Cadiz

From Diaz del Ro et al. 2000

30 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Ferromanganese nodules in the Gulf of Cdiz

Fe-Mn

nodules Carbonate

crust

Carbonate

chimneys

0,5 m

Fe-Mn

nodules

Fluids emission centre

Mouse like

breccia

Gonzalez et al. 2007, Episodes

31 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Ferromanganese nodules in the Gulf of Cdiz

Anastasya 01 cruise aboard RV Cornide de Saavedra

32 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Ferromanganese nodules in the Morrocan margin

Meknes mud volcano

33 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Types of ferromanganese nodules

Polinucleate nodule

Single Nodule

Binucleate nodule

34 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Features of ferromanganese nodules

Fracturation Oxidation front

Growing rings

Fluidification

textures

2 cm

2 cm

2 cm 2 cm

2 cm

2 cm

Fluidification

Burrowing?

35 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Tabular Elipsoidal Esfrica Irregular Cilndrica

Clasification of nodules

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 m a y o r

0

50

100

150

200

250

n

m u e s t r

a s

13

236

164

72

39

22

9 3 1 1

Physical parameters : Maximum diameters : 0-20 cm. Apparent average density: 2,3 g/cm3. Real average density: 3,3-3,4 g/cm3. Average porosity: 32,61%.

Gonzlez (2008)

PhD Thesis

36 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Techniques of research : ferromanganese nodules

Ms

Lm

Dt

Mo

Massive (Ms) y laminated(Lm)

leopard to dendritic (Mo)

Dendritic (Dt)

37 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Techniques for mineralogy and geochemistry of nodules

Fe

Mn

Ca

Electronic microscopy

goe

ji

goe=Goethite Mn oxides involve

concentration of:

Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, Al, Ti (Ba, Sr, B, Zn, Ni, Co, Se, REE)

High-res geochemical mapping of nodules

ji=jianshuita

38 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Composition of Gulf of Cdiz nodules vs. Oceanic nodules

0,51

3,09

1,37

1,14

0,32

0,76

0,49

0,15

0,45

0,14

0,10

1,00

10,00

Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO MnO P2O5 K2O Na2O SiO2 TiO2

Componentes Mayoritarios

Ra

tio

0,61

1,47

0,18

3,10

1,03

0,52

159,04

4,05

0,55

1,08

0,63

0,42

47,26 44,31

1,41

2,25

1,15

4,85

27,76

0,10

1,00

10,00

100,00

1000,00

Sc V Cr Co Ni Cu Zn As Br Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo I Ba Pb Th U B

Componentes Minoritarios

Rati

o

Golfo Cdiz nodules vs. Oceanic nodules

(Cu+Co+Ni)< 0.1%

trazas= 0.19%

Contents thermogenic

hydrocarbons

Fe 39%

Mn 6%

Mn/Fe= 0.16

As I

B

U

Pb Co

Mo

Br

Nodules from Golfo Cdiz vs. Continental crust

39 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Age of nodules

0,000

0,200

0,400

0,600

0,800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

mm

230

Th

xs/2

32

Th

0

10.000

20.000

30.000

40.000

50.000

60.000

70.000

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

mm

Ag

e

GR 150 mm/ma

GR 220 mm/Ma

GR 150 mm/Ma

GR 85 mm/Ma

GR = 11311 to 14246 mm/Ma

Edad 65 Ka GR = 85-220 mm/Ma

Edad 60 Ka

Nucleus

Very fast growth rates

Cobalt chrono Th/U dating

40 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Model of formation for ferromanganese nodules in the Gulf of Cdiz

1

2 3

0.5 km

Zona oxidante

Zona de

sulfato-reduccin

Zona de

Metanognesis

y AOM

xidos de Fe-Mn, aragonito, calcita

Rhodocrosita,

pirita

Siderita

Dolomita, Mg-

calcita

Costras y

ptinas

Ndulos y

agregados

Ndulos

Chimeneas y

costras

Agua ocenica

COLD SEEP ZONATION

Inactive: Carbonate chimneys

Active areas: sulphurs

Gonzlez (2008)

PhD Thesis

Gonzalez et al. submitted

41 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

B. Galicia and Cantabrian (Bay of Biscay) margin

Phosporite crusts and nodules

Cobalt-rich manganese crusts and nodules

Ferromanganese nodules

42 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Approved OCS

Exploration in the North Iberian margin

43 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Exploration of the Galicia Bank margin

Peridotite Ridge

44 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Exploration of the deep-sea seamounts

5100 m water depth

Gps location for sampling

GALICIA BANK

Iberia Abyssal Plain

ERGAP & ZEE Projects Extension of the Continental Shelf of Spain

DIVA ARTABRIA II Cruise aboard RV Sarmiento de Gamboa

45 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Exploration of the deep-sea seamounts

Diva-Artabria II cruise aboard Sarmiento de Gamboa

46 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Living deep-water coral reefs (>1000 m)

Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata

47 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Phosphate nodules and crusts Mineralogy: fluor-apatite carbonates Fe-Mn ox. P2O5>25% Locally rich in Fe, Ti, Mn, Co and REE

Phosphate crust fragment

DIVA-ARTABRIA Cruise (2009)

R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa

Recent discoveries in the Galicia Margin: preliminary results

2 cm

48 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Recent discoveries in the Galicia Margin: preliminary results

Co-rich Manganese nodules Mineralogy: Ba-rich Mn ox. MnO>50% FeO

49 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Manganese crusts Thickness: Up to 3 cm Covering phosphate nodules and crusts Mineralogy: Mn ox. MnO= 22-23% FeO= 14-19% Co and Ni (up to 1%)

Recent discoveries in the Galicia Margin: preliminary results

15 cm

50 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

C. Deep-sea marine research in Antarctica and Scotia Sea (the Area)

Ferromanganese crusts (Scotia Sea and Weddell Sea)

Recent hydrothermal activity (Bransfield Ridge)

51 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Deep Sea Research in Antarctica

A natural laboratory of Global Changes and Extreme Deep Sea environments

SCAN 2008 cruise

52 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

RESEARCH IN ANTARCTICA

Malvinas/Falklands I.

South America

Antarctic Peninsula

Orkneys I.

Weddell Sea

Scotia Sea Dove Ridge

Bransfield Ridge

53 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Scientific cruises from 1992

54 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Antarctic plate Scotia plate

SouthAmerica plate

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Weddell Sea Scotia Sea

Scotia subduction arc

Activities on Antarctica: mapping, seismic and sampling

55

Oceanic Ridges mapping

Extincted Phoenix Ridge

Shackleton fracture zone

Somoza & Bohoyo et al. Press

IGME International Polar Year Book Phoenix extinct ridge

56 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Climate changes related to Antarctic circulation

Project GLOBANT 2008-2011

Spanish agency for Science and Technology

57 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Working areas and oceanic circulation in Antarctica

(Tomado de Hernndez-Molina et al., 2006b)

58 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Circumpolar antarctic undercurrent Weddell Sea deep current

Manganese crusts areas

ANTARCTICA SOUTH AMERICA

Ferromanganese crusts areas

60 S

59 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Extreme microbial associated life ?

SCAN2007 Cruise

2000 m water depth

Ferromanganese crusts in Scotia Sea

60 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Ferromanganese crusts in Scotia Sea

0,00

5,00

10,00

15,00

20,00

25,00

30,00

%

Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO MnO P2O5 K2O Na2O SiO2 TiO2

Oxides

20% Fe

23% Mn Mn/Fe= 1.15

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

ppm

V Cr Co Ni Cu Zn As Sr Zr Mo Ba Pb Th U B Li

Elements

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

0 5 10 15 20 25

mm

Ag

e (

Ma)

GR = 0.78

mm/Ma

GR = 1.16 mm/Ma

GR = 2.06

mm/Ma

Co

Age of crusts (Co Chrono)

Ba

Growth rate= 1.62 mm/Ma

Estimated Age 13.5 Ma

GR= 0.68/Cow1.67

Ni

Composition

61 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Geochemical proxies of palaeoceanographic changes

Global O18 isotopic data

Cold

Age

Last basalt oceanic ridge

Warm

Ferromanganese crusts

Mn

Fe

Si

Ca

Ce

First cold

periods

Begin generalised cold in Earth

3.2

7.2

2.4

8 8.9 11.2

12 Ma 8 Ma 4 Ma

3.8

62 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Deception Island: Active hydrothermalism Bransfield Ridge

Offshore-onshore 3d view of Deception Island

63

Geochemical mapping of hydrothermal deposits

Somoza et al. 2003

Mar. Geol.

64 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

65 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

2002 2003 2004 2004

2005 2008 2008 2007

IGME Formation in marine scientific research: PhDs and

masters

66

A) Promote international and multidisciplinary collaboration in marine scientific research and its interaction with other issues:

Past Global Changes in Oceanic Circulation (derived from nodules and crusts) Ferromanganese nodules related to hydrocarbon seeps or gas hydrates Biogenetic resources related to Chemosythetic Ecosystems (e.g. hydrothermal vents, methane seeps and gas hydrates) Research in Polar deep waters

B) Impulse relationship with EU: Raw Materials Initiative (Brussels COM 2008- 699)

Summary remarks

67 Exploration and exploitation of deepseabed mineral resources in the Area: Challenges for the International Community

Gracias

Thank you