Seabed Assessment 



This program seeks to increase our understanding of geo- 

 logic processes along continental margins, mid-ocean ridges, 

 and deep ocean basins. These processes generate rock and 

 mineral materials. Their study should help resource geologists 

 predict the location of metallic and hydrocarbon accumulations. 

 The studies, which do not duplicate the efforts by oil and 

 mining companies, are broadly grouped as Continental Margin 

 Studies, Plate Tectonics and Metallogenesis, and Manganese 

 Nodules. The investigated phenomena cannot be rigidly sepa- 

 rated or classified and include such phenomena as fracture 

 zones and seismic ridges. 



Projects supported by IDOE are, whenever possible, based 

 on recommendations prepared by participants in scientific 

 workshops sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic 

 Commission (IOC). Scientists from universities, government, 



and industry, who are investigating the phenomena of interest, 

 are invited to participate in the workshops. Objectives are to 

 determine the present status of knowledge within the related 

 scientific discipline, to identify major gaps in that knowledge, 

 to recommend the needed research, and develop a strategy for 

 conducting the studies. International cooperation and participa- 

 tion is emphasized. Exchange of personnel among countries 

 is encouraged, but each country is expected to bear its own 

 share of the cost. 



Continental Margin Studies 



These studies are conducted to gain better knowledge 

 about the origin and evolution of continental margins and to 

 assess their potential as future petroleum and mineral provinces 



MANGANESE NODULES OF 

 ABYSSAL PLAINS (Ni.Cu.Co ETC. 



HEAVY MINERAL DEPOSITS 

 ON ANCIENT STRAND LINES 



OIL & GAS PROVINCES ON 

 THE CONTINENTAL MARGINS 



HEAVY MINERAL 

 CONCENTRATION ALONG 

 RIFT VALLEYS 



Seabed sources of raw materials. 



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