Federated States of Micronesia, Deepsea Minerals Survey, 1998 - 1999, Report #2

The Cooperative Study on the Deepsea Mineral Resources in Selected Offshore Areas of the SOPAC Region, 1998 to 1999, ­Sea Area of the Federated States of Micronesia .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.