日本富钴结壳大比例尺填图对西太平洋勘探的启示

国际海底管理局对国际海底区域内富钴铁锰结壳探矿和勘探出台了新规章,同时对海洋生态环境予以保护。富钴结壳拥有着比多金属结核更大的经济价值潜力,而西太平洋海山和陆缘的富钴铁锰结壳国际勘探呈现出新动向和新的技术趋势。当前,中日俄在西太平洋底呈现三足鼎立之势。中国有必要充分借鉴国外技术,取长补短,方能立于不败之地。日本在密克罗尼西亚海山综合采用物探、钻采、成像3大技术群进行大比例尺填图的技术策略对于我国在西太平洋的富钴铁锰结壳勘探具有重要的借鉴意义。具体来讲,日本的先进海底探测技术体现在以下4个方面:①充分重视地质资料的运用;②科学部署高密度采样点;③地形地貌与吨位品位评价密切结合;④在评价中科学区分各种地震反射区,以期更加准确地反映海底资源状况。

IMPLICATIONS OF JAPANESE LARGE-SCALE MAPPING ON COBALT-RICH CRUSTS FOR EXPLORATION IN WESTERN PACIFIC

The International Seabed Authority recently issued some regulations for exploration of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and concerned environmental problems in the international seabed. Cobalt-rich crusts have great economic significance as data prove and attracted great attention from many countries. In the past years, the international exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts on the western Pacific seamounts and continental margin has been getting more active with some new technological trends. China, Japan and Russia are the three countries which have devoted much to the exploration in the Western Pacific. It is necessity for China to learn more about the technology from other countries to improve its exploration activities. The Japanese exploration at the Micronesia seamount has provided an important case in the exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the western Pacific region. The combination of geophysical survey, drilling and imaging technology for detailed mapping has been proven a useful technology for research of the cobalt-rich crusts. The advanced Japanese undersea detection technology, which includes the full use of geological data, high density sampling, close corporation of resource evaluation with topography, and effective distinguishing various seismic reflection areas for more accurate seabed resources estimates, is also valuable for reference.