Jegen, Marion (2015) Poseidon Bericht Cruise No. POS483, Palinuro Volcanic Complex, Tyrrhenian Sea - EMPAL: Electromagnetic investigation of sedimented Massive Sulphide deposits on the Palinuro Volcanic Complex in the Tyrrhenian Sea, 28.3.2015 - 15.04.2015, Malaga - Dubrovnik. . GEOMAR, Kiel, 52 pp. DOI 10.3289/CR_POS_483.

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Abstract

Investigations of submarine massive sulfides (SMS) are, at present, strongly limited due to the
technologies available. Conventional detection of SMS deposits relies on water column plume
detection of seafloor hydrothermal venting and seafloor morphological observations. These
methods are generally confined to known regions where SMS are currently forming and where
these deposits have a surface expression. Within this cruise we aim to test existing and new
electromagnetic instrumentation, which detects and characterizes SMS deposits based on their
associated electrical conductivity anomaly. This technology will allow us to detect sedimented
deposits and potentially much larger SMS deposits which have completed their formation cycle,
but have no surface expression. We tested the technologies on partially sedimented SMS deposits
on the Palinuro volcanic complex situated in the Marsili back-arc basin. This region has been
mapped in detail, SMS deposits have been drilled and drill cores are available at Geomar such that
electrical conductivity of the particular units may be determined. The geological background
information thus allows us to calibrate and ground truth the electromagnetic measurements. The
development of the technology we are testing is funded through the funded EU proposal ‘Blue
Mining’ and scheduled to be used on the TAG SMS deposit on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26°N in
2016 as an example for resource assessment technology.

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