Chinese scientists have discovered a large, high-quality seabed mineral deposit during an 18-day ocean mission in the western Pacific in August.
Using independently developed equipment, the scientific expedition team identified the ore field in the Western Pacific containing ore bodies with exceptionally high gold and silver concentrations, preliminarily confirming its potential for large-scale polymetallic sulfide resources.
"We conducted a large-scale preliminary exploration with an autonomous [underwater] vehicle, and then used our self-developed deep-sea controllable visual sampler for detailed exploration and precise sampling," said Song Shiji, deputy director of the Institute for Ocean Engineering of Tsinghua University.
Song said that team members had carried out more than 10 preliminary explorations in this sea area and found dozens of high-temperature hydrothermal vents before this expedition. These vents lie at depths of about 700 to 1,500 meters, and the fluid at the vent orifices reaches a maximum temperature of over 315 degrees Celsius, indicating highly active hydrothermal activity.
Based on the previous investigation, the team precisely identified a new and large-scale seabed hydrothermal field within the basin through meticulous investigation and in-situ sampling. The associated hydrothermal sulfide deposits consist of three large conical ore bodies.
Preliminary testing and analysis by the shipborne laboratory show that the ore body is mainly composed of important economic minerals such as chalcopyrite, pyrite, and sphalerite. The highest associated gold content reaches 15.4 ppm, while the highest associated silver content reaches 1,271 ppm. Their average concentrations are significantly higher than those of terrestrial deposits.
"A concentration of 15.4 ppm is equivalent to 15.4 grams of gold per ton of ore. Likewise, the silver concentration reaches 1,271 ppm, which is equivalent to 1,271 grams of silver per ton. This gives the deposit extremely high extraction value and remarkable economic significance. Meanwhile, there are also biological communities and genetic resources in the extreme seabed environment, which are of great scientific importance for studying life processes in extreme environments," said Song.
China discovers high-grade gold and silver seafloor mineral deposit in Pacific
