浅地层剖面测量和海底摄像联合应用确定平顶海山富钴结壳分布界线

Determining the Distribution Boundary of Cobalt-Rich Crusts of Guyot by Synchronous Application of Sub-bottom Profiling and Deep-Sea Video Recording

平顶海山富钴结壳分布上界的确定对准确估算结壳资源量至关重要.长期以来,这一问题未能有效解决.通过浅地层剖面测量和海底摄像的首次联合应用,发现浅地层剖面测量揭示的海山浅部地层结构与海山结壳的分布具有明显的相关性,沉积物分布的上界往往与结壳分布下界对应.通过对浅剖测量结果的分析,并对比海底摄像资料,可以确定沉积物分布的下界,进而推断结壳分布的上界,据此判断西太平洋某海山结壳分布的上界水深为1560m左右.

Determining the upper boundary of the cobalt-rich crust distribution of a guyot is important for estimating the mineral resources available, however, it has also long been an unsolved question. Correlations between the sub-bottom structure, revealed by sub-bottom profiling, and crust distribution can be revealed for the first time by the synchronous application of sub-bottom profiling and deep-sea video recording. The lower boundary of the sediment corresponds with the upper boundary of the crust. By analysis of these two kinds of data, the lower boundary of the sediment can be determined; therefore, the upper boundary of the crust distribution can be deduced. According to this method of analysis, the water depth of the upper boundary of crust distribution of a seamount in the western Pacific is about 1560 m.