Marine Science Affairs 



1. The Geological Survey's marine program is directed to an analysis of 

 the seabed and underlying material on the Continental Shelf and Slope for 

 the purposes of: 



(1) appraising the undeveloped mineral, water, and energy resources 



potential on and beneath the seafloor; 



(2) studying marine geological processes to develop new insights about 



the natural occurrence of resources both on land and on the 

 ocean floor; 



(3) evaluating geological and engineering hazards related to seafloor 



and slope stability; 



(4) supplying geological data essential to the management of marine 



mineral resources and wise land-use planning ; 



(5) contributing fundamental data on the history and origin of the 



continental margins and the deep ocean basins. 

 To accomplish those objectives, the Survey has planned a scientific pro- 

 gram for: 



(a) providing maps of the Continental Shelf area at a reconnaissance 



scale (1:1,000,000), utilizing information from all cooperating 

 agencies, from private institutions, and from private industry 

 as available; 



(b) providing maps of significant areas of the Continental Shelf at an 



intermediate scale (1:250,000), incorporating measurements 

 made by all cooperating agencies ; 



(c) preparation of detailed maps (1:62,500) and analysis of selected 



areas of high economic potential to be explored in the future 



on the basis of findings from ( a ) and ( b ) . 



Data from many sources will be analyzed for geological implications. In 



addition, plans are being drawn to work in deep sea areas, initially for 



measurements and mapping of areas ofiF Hawaii and island territories, after 



priority needs under (a) and (b) are met. 



The Geological Survey currently supports research in-house, at univer- 

 sities, and at oceanographic institutions, through service contracts with in- 

 dustry, and by cooperative programs with other Federal agencies. Among 

 recent accomplishments of these programs are : 



— Reconnaissance investigations of the submerged Atlantic Continental 

 Margin from Nova Scotia to Florida indicated oil deposits on the 

 Continental Shelf and Slope, manganese and phosphate deposits 

 on the Blake Plateau, and sand and gravel off New Jersey and 

 New York. 

 — On the Continental Shelf of the Bering Sea, the petroleum potential 

 was found to be greater than previously thought, with the discovery 

 there of several large basins. 

 — In southern Alaska, a study was completed on the effects of submarine 



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