PROSPECTING AND EXPLORATION OF DEEP WATER POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

On October 9, 2012, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation and ISA signed a 15-year contract for exploration of polymetallic sulphides, which opened a new stage in Russian surveys of deepwater polymetallic sulfides. PMGE is the principal contractor of these works on behalf of the Russian Federation.

The project envisages the study of specific features of geological and geomorphological structure of the area of the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge within the boundaries of 100 units of the Russian exploration area and identification of possible occurrences of deep-sea polymetallic sulphides (DSPS).

RUSSIAN EXPLORATION AREA (REA):
It is located in the central part of the Atlantic Ocean in the axial zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, between 12°48'36"and 20°54'36" of northern latitude
It includes 100 blocks of 10x10 km with area of maximum 100 sq. km each

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Study of specific features of geological and geomorphological structure of the area of the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge within the boundaries of 100 units of the Russian exploration area
Identify the possible DSPS ore occurrences at the work performance site, assess the geotechnical conditions in occurrence of the ore bodies
Study the main ecosystems within the Russian exploration area
To study the material composition and perform the engineering surveys of DSPS ores in the purposes of development of the optimal models for its enrichment and metallurgical processing

THE EXPLORATIONS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED IN THREE STAGES:

1-st stage - 2013–2018 гг. - 6 years
2-nd stage - 2019–2023 гг. - 5 years
3-rd stage - 2024–2027 гг. - 4 years.

PROJECT STAGES

PMGE examined 82 of 100 blocks of the Russian exploration area, where 12 ore sites with the forecast resources of evaluated 104.8 million tons of copper zinc and copper-pyrite specialization
According to the geologists of PMGE, the ore in these sites contains 3 949.5 thous. tons of copper, 738.4 thous. tons of zinc, 119 tons of gold and 1 679.7 tons of silver
The geologists identified the characteristics of geological and morphological structure of the rift valley section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge within the blocks of the Russian exploration area
They described the characteristics of the identified ore occurrences within 82 blocks, and provided the substantiation for its selection; The experts identified the promising blocks for further surveys
They assessed the engineering-geological conditions in locations of the ore occurrences
The specialists studied the ecosystems within the Russian exploration area
They studied the material composition and performed the engineering surveys of DSPS ores in the purposes of development of the optimal models for its enrichment and metallurgical processing
The works completed in the fields ensured the performance of the contractual obligations with respect to the International Seabed Authority within the framework of the program of activities in the Russian DSPS exploration area at the present stage