Abstract
An efficient empirical statistical method is developed to improve the process of mineral resource estimation of seabed polymetallic nodules and is applied to analyze the abundance of seabed polymetallic nodules in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ). The newly proposed method is based on three hypotheses as the foundation for a model of “idealized nodules”, which was validated by analyzing nodule samples collected from the seabed within the Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML) exploration contract. Once validated, the “idealized nodule” model was used to deduce a set of empirical formulae for predicting the nodule resources, in terms of percentage coverage and abundance. The formulae were then applied to analyzing a total of 188 sets of nodule samples collected across the TOML areas, comprising box-core samples and towed camera images as well as other detailed box-core sample measurements from the literature. Numerical results for nodule abundance and coverage predictions were compared with field measurements, and unbiased agreement has been reached. The new method has the potential to achieve more accurate mineral resource estimation with reduced sample numbers and sizes. They may also have application in improving the efficiency of design and configuration of mining equipment.
Highlights
Polymetallic nodules are mineral particles found in many of the world’s oceans [1].A major deposit lies within the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the tropical North Pacific [2]
Nodule “abundance” is the kilograms of nodules per square metre of seabed and is used to estimate tonnage of nodules in a mineral resource estimation
The use of nodule long axis in predicting individual nodule weights has been long understood [12,13,14,15], even if application via seabed photographs is restricted to areas where the nodules are largely exposed in the host clay-ooze [4,16]
Summary
Polymetallic nodules are mineral particles found in many of the world’s oceans [1]. A major deposit lies within the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the tropical North Pacific [2]. The hypotheses made for the “idealized nodule” model are based on analyses of nodule samples collected from the seabed at CCZ. MMoouunnddss ooff ccllaayy--oooozzee wwiitthhoouutt nnoodduulleess iinn tthhee sseeaabbeedd pphhoottoo aarree ccaauusseedd bbyy bbiioottuurrbbaattiioonn. Based on the above observation, to allow mathematical modelling of seabed polymetallic nodules, the following three somewhat severe fundamental hypotheses are constructed: 1. AAnn iiddeeaalliizzeedd nnoodduullee ooff eelllliippssooiiddaall sshhaappee ((aa)) aanndd aann eexxaammppllee ffrroomm tthhee TTOOMMLL CC11 aarreeaa ((bb)). TThhee aabboovvee iiddeeaalliizzaattiioonn iiss ssuuppppoorrtteedd bbyy aannaallyyssiiss ooff nnoodduullee ddaattaa aanndd tthheeyy wweerree ffoouunndd aaccccuurraatteettoocceertratainindedgergeree.eS.pSecpieficciafilclyal,ltyh,ethheyphoytphoesthise1siasn1da2nadbo2vaebwoivllebwe ijullsbtiefiejudsutisfiinedg ruesginregssreiognreasnsiaolnysains aolfynsiosdouflneoddiumleendsiimonesnsainodnswaenidghwtseiogfhstesaobfesdeanboeddunleosdsualmespslaems ipnleSseicntSieocnti5o.n1,5w.1h, iwlehtihlee thhyephoythpeostihse3siws i3llwbiellvbaelidvaaltieddabteydAbnydAernsdoenr-sDoanr-lDinagrl“inGgo“oGdnoeosdsn-oefs-sF-iotf”tFeistt”stienstSseicntiSoenct5i.o2nu5s.i2ngusninodgunloedsuamle psalems pcolelsleccotelldecftreodmfrToOmMTLOaMreLaas.reas.
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