Tonga, Deepsea Minerals Survey, 1996, Report

The Cooperative Study on the Deepsea Mineral Resources in Selected Offshore Areas of the SOPAC Region, 1996, Sea Area of the island of Tonga­ .On the basis of the previous survey results, three seamounts, MS01, MS11, and MS12 were selected and drilling by BMS (deep sea boring system) was conducted to understand the occurrence of cobalt crust. Environmental survey was carried out to make clear the environmental characteristics of the area. The area was selected in accordance with the joint study program for deepsea
mineral resources in the EEZ of the SOPAC member countries agreed upon by the Japanese executing agency and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) on March 3,
2000. By the survey, seafloor topographic maps and acoustic reflectivity data by Multi­Narrow Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) of thirteen seamounts had been obtained, and sampling mainly by
dredging had been carried out.The purpose of the survey lies in the assessment of the potential of cobalt rich manganese crust (cobalt crust) resources and the environmental characteristic within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, a member country of SOPAC.