Abstract
Polymetallic sulfides have attracted more attentions, which are regarded as one of the potential seabed mineral resources for their high grade of precious metal elements such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Au, and Ag. Since 2007, there are four China dayang cruises (CDCs) with eight legs totally, which have been carried out to investigate polymetallic sulfides on the southwest Indian ridge (SWIR), and eight hydrothermal vents have been found. In 2011, the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) and International Seabed Authority (ISA) signed a 15-year contract for exploration for polymetallic sulfides located on the SWIR between 46°S and 53°S. The area allocated to the COMRA is approximately 10,000 km2. In this paper, we review the recent research advances about hydrothermal activity of the SWIR by the CDCs. As for the sulfides exploration in the future, some aspects should be emphasized, such as the controlling factors of sulfide mineralization on the SWIR, prospecting methods of inactive and buried sulfide deposits, sulfides resources assessment method, and the near-bottom sulfides exploration technology systems.
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