First steps of understanding the rocks from DeepInsight23
The DeepInsight 2023 expedition left the EMINENT project with a generous number of data and samples now being analysed.
The DeepInsight 2023 expedition left the EMINENT project with a generous number of samples - both geological and biological/microbiological. The biological and microbiological samples are already handed out to the relevant partners for processing and interpretation. The rock samples and cores are of utmost importance to understand the geological evolution of the Mohns Ridge, and the formation of hydrothermal systems.
To best utilize the geological sample collection, we held a ‘sample party’ in Stavanger where the partners from the exploration and processing group met to look at the material collected this spring and decided on the next steps and best sampling procedure. Attendants included: University of Bergen (UiB), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), University of Tromsø (UiT), ReSiTec (Future Materials Catapult Centre), GeoProvider and Adepth. Additionally, we were pleased to include the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) as observer to our meeting and to view the samples.
The sample party started off with a summary of the Deep Insight 23 expedition, followed by discussions related to the way forward for the samples collected. Thereafter, the time had come to look at rock samples and rock core samples retrieved from the Mohns Ridge. This encouraged a lot of good discussions and exchange of knowledge between our partners. As a result of the party all crystalline samples were cut and distributed to University of Bergen, where a master student will perform various geochemical analysis. The rest of the samples will be distributed to UiT, NTNU, UiB and ReSiTec for further analysis for understanding the geology and how these rocks can be processed, as soon as non-destructive testing is completed.
The goal of the EMINENT project is to establish the basis for an integrated value chain for deep sea minerals with far smaller environmental footprint than current mining operations. In that regard the project itself is divided into four work packages covering environment, exploration, processing, and production. While exploration and processing are separate work packages, they share common interest in sample characterization and as such work closely together until the geologic sample characterization process is complete.
