IOC/B-50 (2) -6- 



APPEilDIX A 

 Examples of T^'^pes of Proposals Beini^ Considered by the U.S.A. 

 GEOLOGY x'\i'ID NOn-LIVING BESOURCES 



1. Objectives of the expanded program for non-livinc resources should be to 

 provide the basic information and the framework of knowledge that will allow 

 mure effective developraent, conservation, and management; to select scientific 

 prograns designed to increase the basic understending of the earth and the sea; 

 to improve the means and the efficiency of acquiring cjid utilizing inform^ 

 r.tion fr^:.. tno lavo^tis^'-tious.j and: to psisvi de basic engineering information 

 necessary for more efficient operation on and vrithin the ocean. 



2. Marine mineral resources of chief interest are oil and gas, sulfur, sand 

 and gravel, the heavy minerals — gold, tin, platinum, the liglit heavy 

 minerals — ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite, and gems — mainly diamonds. 

 The continental shelves will be the chief sources of economic resources in the 

 near future, althougii several decades from now oil and gas will be produced 

 from the continental slopes and rises. Fnosphorite will probably not be 

 commercially attractive for several decades except for special situations, 



3. The manganese nodules of the deep sea are of interest primarily for their 

 content of nickctL end copper, with subsidiary interest for cobalt, chromium, 

 molybdenum end manganese. Deposits such as the Red Sea hot brines that at 

 intermediate depths contain zinc, copi^er and lead, may have commercial 

 significance. 



k. Because of the regions of greatest potential for commercial recovery 

 of geologic resources for tlie next several decades are the continental shelves, 

 the search for mineral resources initially should be focused on the continental 

 margins. Scientific investigations of tiie deep oceans for mineral resources 

 are required to gain an understanding of what processes are acting to 

 concentrate minerals on and within the sea floor, 



5. It is recommended that underway surveys be nade to provide a reconnaissance 

 of the continental margins. These surveys should include: bathymetry, 



re flection /re fraction seisnography; magnetic and gravity recordings, and side 

 scanning sonar wnere feasible. Physical sampling should include bottom 

 surface sediment and overlying water for suspended solids and chemical 

 composition. These initial sui-veys will establish areas where additional 

 geologic information is needed. Such surveys will include grab samples, 

 canyon dredging, visual observations, and coring. Geologic maps and sections 

 can be provided from the combined observations and surveys. 



6. Because of the international nature of the work, it is necessary that 

 instruments be standardized, calibrated, and compared (para. 10, basic 1 tr) . 

 The manner of data presentation and map preparations should be coordinated 

 so that uniform method, scales, mid jirojections are used. 



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