Proceedings of the sixth session, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Committee for Co-ordination of Joint Prospecting for
Mineral Resources in South Pacific Offshore Areas
(CCOP / SOPAC)
Proceedings of the Sixth Session
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
11-17 October 1977
.
.
including
Report of the Sixth Session
of its Technical Advisory Group
and
Technical Documentation
,
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication
do not imply the expression ofany opinion whatever on the part of the Secretariat of
the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country or territory or of its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of the frontiers of any country or
territory.
The mention of any firm or licensed process does not imply endorsement by the
United Nations.
Preparedfor publication by the Science Information Division
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Wellington
for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wellington
as a contribution by the New Zealand Government to the activities of
CCOP / SOPAC
October 1978
COVER PHOTO
Mr Sione Tongilava (Superintendent of Lands, Survey,
and Natural Resources) in front of the drilling rig for
Kumimonu No.1, drilled by Webb Tonga Inc. on
Tongatapu Island, Kingdom of Tonga.
Photograph by Dr H. R. Katz. N.Z. Geological Survey
AVAILABILITY
Available from: Technical Secretariat of CCOP / SOPAC, % Mineral Resources
Division, Private Mail Bag. G.P.O., Suva, Fiji. upon receipt of remittance payable
to "CCOP / SOPAC Techsec":
This volume
US $5.00 including surface postage.
Proceedings of the Fifth Session ofCCOP / SOPAC. Rarotonga, November 1976.
US $3.00 per copy including surface postage.
Proceedings of the Fourth Session ofCCOP / SOPAC. Honiara. September 1975.
US $5.00 per copy including surface postage.
Proceedings of the Third Session of cCOP / SOPAC. Apia. September 1974.
US $6.00 per copy including surface postage.
Report of Preparatory Meeting and Proceedings of First and Second Sessions of
cCOP / SOPAe.
us $8.00 per copy including surface -postage.
Airmal postage extra, rates available on request.
CONTENTS
Preface
5
Part 1: Report of the Committee, Sixth Session
I
Organization of the session
7
II
Designation of national representatives
8
III
Consideration of the report of TAG
9
IV
Other business
9
V
Arrangements for the seventh session of CCOP / SOPAC
9
VI
Adoption of the report and closure of the session
9
VII
Summary of conclusions and recommendations
10
ANNEXES
I
Report of the Technical Advisory Group
11
II
VVorkprogramme
23
III
List of documents
31
IV
List of maps, charts and publications
35
V
Summary of Budget Covering UNDP Contribution for 1978
36
VI
Outline of project proposal 1978-81
37
Appendix I
List of participants
40
Part 2: Documentation
A. CCOP / SOPAC Agencies' activities since the Fifth Session
I. Review of the ESCAP Secretariat's
activities since the Fifth Session
2. Review of activities of the CCOP / SOPAC Technical Secretariat since the Fifth Session
43
43
B. Publications of CCOP / SOPAC
(Note on publications presented)
45
C. International meetings relating to regional studies
3. Metalliferous seafloor deposits specialist group report
45
4. Conclusions and recommendations of the ad hoc meeting of specialists
on the geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau
47
D. Data management
(Note on details in other documents)
49
E. Advances made in training and new proposals
5. Report on training programme in offshore mineral prospecting techniques
49
6. South Pacific regional training course: Basic earth science
50
F. Technology of offshore mining
7. Economic feasibility of offshore sand mining
50
8. GLORIA II - an improved long range side-scan sonar
50
9. Development and use of towed sea bed gamma spectrometer
51
10. Report and evaluation of the MAGNA VOX MX 1102 SATNAV demonstration in Fiji, 1977 '51
G. Status of survey activities
(Notes on results of Cook Islands and Fiji offshore surveys -
details in other documents)
53
II. Geothermal investigation in Fiji
(Note on New Zealand offshore programme report)
53
55
12. Review of activities. Papua New Guinea
(Note on Solomon Islands cruise report)
55
56
13. Survey activities in the Solomon Islands
(Notes on Tonga and Western Samoa offshore surveys reports)
56
57
14. Participation of French research organizations in the study of marine
geology-geophysics in the South Pacific 1977
(Notes on surveys by other organizations)
57
59
H. Exploration for hydrocarbons
15. Petroleum resources in CCOP I SOPAC member countries
16. Developments in hydrocarbon exploration in New Zealand and
the Southwest Pacific island region in 1976
17. Status of petroleum exploration in Fiji in 1977
I.
J.
18.
19.
20.
K.
59
59
60
Sea floor manganese nodules
(Notes on reports available elesewhere)
60
Potentials for sea-floor minerals
Possible occurrence of metalliferous sediments on the Fiji Plateau
Exploration for precious coral
Offshore exploration for land fill and construction grade sand
60
62
62
National jurisdiction over olTshore mineral resources
(Notes on three documents submitted)
63
L. Additions to the bibliography of geology and geophysics of the South Pacific
21. Fiji: 1977 additions
63
22. New Zealand: 1976-77additions
63
PREFACE
The Committee for Co-ordination of Joint
Prospecting for Mineral Resources in South
Pacific Offshore Areas (CCOP / SOPAC) is an
intergovernmental body established under the
sponsorship of the United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(ESCAP, formerly ECAFE) to develop and
promote the investigation of the mineral potentials, including petroleum, of the shelves, platforms, and ocean floor in the South Pacific
Ocean. At the time of its Sixth Session, the
member Governments of CCOP / SOPAC
were: Cook Islands, Fiji, Gilbert Islands, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, and The Kingdom of Tonga.
The need for assistance to the developing
countries of the South Pacific in this field was
first brought to the attention of ECAFE by the
representative of Fiji at the Joint (Eighth) Session of the ECAFE Working Party of Senior
Geologists and Sub-Committee on Mineral Resources Development (Bandung, Indonesia,
August 1970) because of the interest aroused in
the petroleum potentials of the submerged platform areas in the South Pacific after the discovery in 1968 of seepages of crude oil in Tonga.
The attention being given to the possibilities of
finding economic deposits of detrital heavy
minerals in beaches and nearshore areas of
some of the countries, and investigations of the
feasibility of mining manganese nodules from
the ocean floor for their metallic content, increased the needs for a co-ordinated approach
and for guidance to the South Pacific countries
which had, as yet, little or no experience in
these activities.
At the subsequent meetings of the ECAFE
Committee on Industry and Natural Resources
(Bangkok, January - February 1971) and the
Commission Session (Manila, April 1971)
further support was given by other countries in
the South Pacific region to the proposal to form
a co-ordinating committee for offshore prospecting in the South Pacific. As a result, the
secretariat convened a Preparatory Meeting at
Manila in July 1971 to arrange the establishment of the new body. The Inaugural (First)
Session of CCOP / SOPAC was held at Suva,
Fiji, in 1972; its Second Session at Nuku'alofa,
Tonga, in 1973; its Third Session at Apia,
Western Samoa, in 1974; its Fourth Session at
Honiara, Solomon Islands, in 1975; its Fifth
Session at Rarotonga, Cook Islands, in 1976;
and its Sixth Session at Port Moresby, Papua
New Guinea. in 1977.
The sessions of CCOP / SOPAC have been
attended by technical advisers provided by the
following Governments, at their own expense,
to give guidance to the Committee on the technical aspects of its activities: Australia, France, The Federal Republic of Germany,
Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Observers from Nauru, Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands, the South Pacific Bureau for
Economic Co-operation (SPEC), the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its associated Intergovernmental
Oceanographic
Commission (lOC), the University of Papua
New Guinea, and the University of the South
Pacific have attended the CCOP / SOPAC sessions.
Since the appointment of a UNDP Marine
Geologist and the establishment of a Technical
Secretariat in late 1974, CCOP / SOPAC has
been supported by many countries and international organizations.
The Technical Secretariat has its headquarters in Suva, where the Fijian Government has
generously provided accommodation at the
Mineral Resources Division. Member countries have supported the Secretariat by providing personnel, facilities (including ships),
equipment, and supplies.
Several countries have generously provided
much support to the Committee's activities including direct financial support (Australia,
New Zealand and USA); the services of nonreimbursable consultants (Australia, Japan,
and New Zealand); shipboard training (Japan
and U.S.A.); equipment gifts and loans (Japan,
Australia, and U.S.A.); and publishing and
printing costs (Australia and New Zealand).
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported the Committee
financially since its inception in September
1974.- The Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission (IOC) has assisted the Committee
by supporting the attendance of experts at
meetings to develop long-range projects in the
South Pacific and by supporting trainees from
member countries, allowing them to participate
in training courses and on survey cruises.
In recent sessions the attention of the Committee has been drawn to the results of survey
work and data reassessment on prospects of
petroleum, manganese nodules, submarine
phosphate, precious coral, metalliferous sediments, detrital gold, and submerged bauxite.
5
Results have been published in the South
Pacific Marine Geological Notes and in CCO.p /
SOPAC Technical Bulletin. Survey work has
been carried out using personnel, ships,
equipment, and facilities provided both by
member countries and UNDP through the
Technical Secretariat. Training of member
country personnel has been effective through
participation on survey cruises in member
country waters, on supporting government research vessels, and at two training courses held
in Suva, Fiji. Programme planning for work of
the Committee has been greatly assisted by the
joint CCOP / SOPAC - IOC IDOE International Workshop and the joint CCOP / SOPAC
- University of Hawaii - IOC sponsored Ad
Hoc
Meeting
of Specialists
on the
Geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau. To carry out
work in the region the Committee now has a
total of 57 country projects and 20 regional
projects in its work programme.
Part I: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, SIXTH SESSION
(Document E / ESCAP / L.1O, 6 January 1978, submitted to the thirty-fourth session of the United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 7-17 March 1978, Bangkok.)
I.
Organization of the session
..
.
1. Th~ sl?'th sess!on of the ~ommItt~e for
Co-ordination of Joint Pro.spectlng for Mineral
Resources In South Pacific Offshore Areas
(CCOP / SOPA<;:) was held at Port Moresby,
Papua New Gu~nea, from II t~ 17 Octo.ber
1977.' and the sixth session of ItS Techmcal
Advisory Group from 11 to 15 October 1977.
Attendance
~. The session wa~ attended by repre~entatives of the following member .~.ountnes of
CCOP / SOPAC: Co<?kIslands, FIJI, New Zealand, Papua New GUinea, Samoa, Solomon I.slands, and Tonga. Representatives of the GIlbert Islands ~ere una~le to attend but Informed
the secretariat of their keen Interest IIICCOP /
SOPAC.
"
.
3. Technical advisers whose services had
been provided by the Governments of Australia (I), France (2), Japan (I), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (3),
and United States of America (2) also attended.
4. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was represented by the Regional Representative for the South Pacific Regional Office, by his assistant, by the Resident
Representative for Papua New Guinea, and by
a consultant from New York. The Intergovernmental
Oceanographic
Commission
(IOC) and the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) were represented by the Deputy Secretary ofIOC. Observers on behalf of the South
Pacific Bureau .for ~conomic Co-operation
(SPEC), the University of South Pacific, and
the University of Papua New Guinea also attended.
Opening addresses
5. Mr K. Kitchens, Minister for Minerals and
Energy, welcomed the members of the Conference on behalf of the Government of Papua
New Guinea. His country hoped to contribute
to the activities of the organization and assist
other member countries, particularly through
...
New GUinea recogmzed that mineral resources
should be developed wisely with due regard to
the possible effects on the environment. ~is
country was also a member ofCCOP (Committee for the Co-ordination of Joint Prospecting
for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Area),
the activities of which had encouraged mineral
exploration in the Asian region. He hoped that
CCOP / SOPAC would playa similar role in the
South Pacific area.
6. In his message to the meeting, Mr J. B. P.
Maramis, Executive Secretary of ESCAP,
thanked the Government of Papua New Guinea
for its hospitality in providing facilities for the
sixth session. Despite the administrative and
financial difficulties which had been encountered in 1977, the meeting marked a turning
point in the programme of the Committee, with
the prospect of sufficient resources to support a
start to the major programme in 1978. An allocation of $250 000 from UNDP was assured,
and ESCAP was still trying for a larger allocation. It was hoped that additional funds for ship
charter would be made available from New
Zealand's non-convertible currency contributions to UNDP. Further support would be available from Australia and, it was hope~, from
Japan and the United States of America. Although the budget was still somewhat lower
than had originally been envisaged, the Executive Secretary was confident that the Committee would make the best use of the available
funds.
7. The Resident Representative ofUNDPfor
Papua New Guinea, Mr T. M. Unwin, stated
that he was pleased to report that for 1977
UNDP had been able to increase its financial
support ofCCOP / SOPAC to $250000. Of that
total, $150000 consisted of New Zealand nonconvertible currency pledged to UNDP which
was to pay for a marine geologist's post, the
chartering of the survey vessel, and various
items of equipment. He wished to thank all the
countries and organizations represented at the
session which had continued to provide most
timely contributions both in cash and in kind.
They had proved invaluable, and he hoped they
the medium of technical co-operation. Papua would continue.
7
8. The representative of UNESCO and IOC,
the Deputy Secretary ofIOC, Dr G: Giermann,
conveyed the best wishes of the DIrector General of UNESCO and of the Secretary ofIOC to
the Committee. The co-operation between IOC
and CCOP / SOPAC had proved particularly
successful and had allowed the member countries to participate as equal partners in the various research programmes. He went on to say
~hat IqC. ~ow envisaged adding a fu.rt~er arm to
Its actrvities, namely a ne~ s.ubsldlary body
(WESTPAC) forthe co-ordination of all manne
research in the Western Pacific. He hoped that
CCOP / SOPAC would view WESTPAC
favourably, as it would provide a continuity of
co-operation between the two organizations.
Election of office~s
.
9. Mr N. Agonia, DIrector of the Office of
Minerals and Energy (Papua New Guinea), was
elected Chairman, and Mr R. Richmond (Fiji),
Vice-Chairman. The Committee appointed Mr
1. W. Brodie (New Zealand) to serve as Chairman of the sixth session of the Committee's
Technical Advisory Group (TAG). Mr J. E.
Wright (United Kingdom) was appointed Rapporteur.
Adoption
10.
I.
of the agenda
9.
Data management.
CCOP I SOPAC
10.
ub!ications.
p
II.
Training: programmes and requirements.
12.
Work programme for 1978 In the context of the
five-year programme.
13.
Reports on developments in related areas of activitiy
(a) Energy
(b) Law of'the sea,
(c) Environmental aspects.
14.
Adoption of the report of TAG
.
Plenary
15.
Consideration of the report of TAG
16.
Other business
17
Ar
.
venth sessi
rangements for the se enth session
18. Adoption of the report
.
.
19. Closing of the session
11. Items 5 to 14 were considered by the
Committee's Technical Advisory Group.
12. The Report of TAG is attached as Annex
I, the work programme as Annex II, the list of
documents as Annex III, and the list of maps,
charts, and publications as Annex IV.
The following agenda was adopted:
Opening addresses.
2.
Election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
3.
Adoption of the agenda.
4.
Appointment of the Chairman of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
II.
Designation of national representatives
Cook Islands Mr G. H. Sawtell (Secretary of the Premier's
Department)
Fiji Mr R. N. Richmond (Director of Mineral Develop-
TAG session
5.
6.
7.
(a)
a Ad vances
velopment
(b) Notes on
ment)
. tec h no Iogy for
In
or exnlorati
exp oration an d d eof offshore minerals.
the five-year project document.
Review of activities since the fifth session of
I'
(a ) CCOP I SOPAC t ec hni
ruca secretanat,
(b) ESCAP secretariat.
·
f
. ..
d
ul
Review
0 survey actrvities: progress an
res ts
(a) Activities in the CCOP I SOPAC work programme,
(b) Administrative procedures,
(c) Other activities.
Gilbert d)Islands (Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Inustry
New Zealand Dr D. Kear (Assistant Director General, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research)
..
.
Papua New Guinea Mr N. Agonia (DIrector of Minerals and
Energy)
Samoa Mr P. D. Muller (Chairman, Public Service Com. . )
mISSIOn
Solomon Islands Dr B. Hackman (Principal Geologist,
Geological Divison, Ministry of Natural Resources)
Tonga Mr S. L. Tongilava (Superintendent of Lands, Sur-
8. Evaluation of resources and their significance.
8
vey and Natural Resources)
III.
Consideration of the report of the
Technical Advisory Group
13. The Committee adopted the report and
recommendations of TAG, including the recommended work programme for 1978, and
endorsed the draft project document for 1978
-1982. It expressed its appreciation to the
Chairman and members of the Group for their
advice and guidance and its gratitude to the
Governments of Australia, France, Japan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, and United States of America for providing the services of their experts and to UNESCO and IOC for their interest in and support
of the Committees' activities. The report of
TAG is annexed to the present report.
IV.
.
Other busmess
14. In connexion with the project document it
was, suggested that, if it w~re possible, .use
should be made of the services of associate
experts in conjunction with staff funded by
UNDP.
15. .It was. also suggested that separate .submissions might be. made to UNDP for projects
such as lOvestigatl?n of corals and <?fsand and
wave!. However, I.twas noted t~a~ I~would be
difficult. to reconcile such subdivision at this
state With the concept of an integrated survey
programme.
16. The Committee was informed that the
Europea!1 Develop~ent Fund ofthe Europ~an
E~onomlc C~mmumty (EEC) had fund.s which
might be available for that type of ~roJect and
rec?mmended that ESCAP take action to seek
assistance from that source.
17. I,:,view ofthe. increased work-load of the
Technical Secretanat .and. the need for speedy
delivery of co~mumcatl~ns
the Co~mltt.ee
endorsed the action taken m consultation With
the then Chairman to establish a cable address
and telex number for the Technical Secretariat.
19. The Committee felt that information from
the Manganese Nodule Sy~pos1Um to be held
in New York would be of Importance and requested the UNDP consultant from headquarters, who would be attending the meet~ng, to
provide a copy of the report, along with the
relevant documents, to the Technical Secretariat and ESCAP.
V.
Arrangements for the seventh session of
CCOP / SOPAC
20 The Committee accepted with gratitude
th; offer of the New Zealand Government to
host the seventh session.
21. The Committee agreed that the date ofthe
session should be determined by the secretariat
taking into account the dates of the CCOP and
other relevant meetings but suggested that it
might be held early in November 1978.
VI.
Adoption of the report and closure ofthe
session
22. The gratitude of the Committee was expressed to the Prime Minister, Mr Michael Somare, and to his Government, particularly to
the Honourable Mr Kitchens, Minister for
Minerals and Energy, and his staff, and also to
the people of Papua New Guinea ~or the excellent facilities and services provided for the
meeting and the generous hospitality extended
in many ways.
24. The Committee expressed its deep appreciation to the UNDP representatives from
Suva and Port Moresby, to the IOC/UNESCO
representative,
to Dr C. Y. Li, to Dr L.
Kroenke, and to Mr J. Brodie. Special thanks
were extended to Dr A. G. Obermuller, the
representative of France on the Technical Advisory Group, who had rend.ere.d val~able assistance to the Group from ItS inception, and
who would be retiring from this position after
the meeting.
18. The Committee agreed that a symposium
on some aspect of marine mineral resources
prospecting, such as "Prospecting for marine
phosphorites", should be arranged for a duration of two or three days before the next session
25. The Committee was also pleased to have
at the session representatives of the University
of Papua New Guinea, the University of the
South Pacific, and the South Pacific Bureauof
Economic Co-operation, whose attendance mdicated their growing interest in the affairs of
ofCCOP/SOPAC.
CCOP/SOPAC.
9
VII.
26.
Summary of conclusions and recommendations
.
The Committee:
1. Adopted the report and recommendations
of TAG, including the work programme for
1978, and endorsed the draft five-year project
document (para 13).
2. Suggested that, ifpossible, use be made of
associate experts (para. 14).
3. Recommended that funds be sought from
the European Development Fund ofEEC (para
16).
10
4. Endorsed the action of the then Chairman
and the Technical Secretariat in establishing a
cable address and telex number (para. 17).
5. Agreed that a symposium on some aspect
of marine mineral resources prospecting
should be arranged before the start of the next
session (para. 18).
6. Agreed to accept the offer of the New Z~aland Government to host the seventh session
(para. 20).
.
7. Agreed that t~e date for the next .ses~lOn
should be determined by ESCAP, taking into
account the dates of other relevant meetings,
but suggested that it might be held early in
November 1978 (para. 21).
ANNEX I
REPORT OF THE TECHNICAL
Organization Of The Session
1. The sixth session of the Technical
Advisory Group (TAG), the holding of which
was approved by CCOP / SOPAC, was held at
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from 11 to
15 Octber 1977 under the chairmanship ofMr J.
W. Brodie (New Zealand).
Advances In Technology For Exploration And
Development Of Off-Shore Minerals
2. The Technical Advisory Group was
informed of developments in the United
Kingdom concerning a long-range geological
sonar
and a towed
sea-bed
gamma
spectrometer. The Institute of Oceanographic
Sciences had developed a smaller and more
effective v~rsion .of its long-range geological
sonar, Gloria, which was capable of p~ovldmg
broad-scale inclined sonar records With slant
rang~s of up to about 20 km: The new m~d~l
provided coverage on both Sides of the ship s
track and could be handled by a smaller crew
from a less specialized vessel. The towed
sea-bed gamma spectrometer
had been
developed by the Institute of Geological
Sciences in conjunction with the Atomic
Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, The
spectrometer
was capable .of c:o~tmuous
recording
of sea-bed radioactivity
and.
radioelement (U, Th, K) concentrations and
had been used to discriminate between
different types of bedrock and superficial
sediments. Current developments included the
use of neutron activation techniques and
improvements in the detection system.
.
.
3. The G~oup was informed about techniques
of exploration for precious coral and the results
of recent research and development of that
resource. The need for an expert consultant to
advise member countries on the potential ofthe
resource was discussed, and the Group
requested the Technical Secretariat (Techsec)
to seek the services of an expert.
4. With regard to hydrocarbon exploration,
members were told of the need first to
determine the thermal history of areas thought
favourable
for
the
entrapment
and
ADVISORY GROUP
accumulation of those minerals. It had recently
been demonstrated that aeromagnetic data
could be used to estimate the depth ofthe Curie
isotherm, which could be an indicator of the
temperatures to which the sediments in a basin
had been subjected.
5. The Group was informed of a small,
portable ocean sand mining system using a
suction probe, the submarine sand recovery
system. Fea~ibility stu~ies had shown that the
system functioned well m seas up to SIXfeet and
could be operated amidst flourishing coral reefs
with few detrimental effects to the environment. The capability of the system could ~e
extended to deeper waters and to g~e~ter distances from the shore by usmg an alr~lft and a
barge for transportation of the matenal.
6. The Group was presented with a summary
of equipment used during previous CCOP /
SOPAC surveys and equipment requirements
for implementation of the CCOP / SOPAC
work programme during the coming year.
Notes On The Five-Year Project Document
7. The Group discussed the need for updating
the fice-year project document in conformity
. ..
11
With stated pnonties. ~t~as agreed that a s~a
working party compnsm~ the Acting Project
Manager, a. representative of ESCAP, and
representatives
of two member countnes
should be set ~p ~o produce a revised draft of
the document m time for discussion under Item
12 of the agenda. The working party was
authorized to co-opt other members as
necessary.
Review Of The Activities Of the
CCOP / SOPAC Technical Secretariat
8. The Technical Advisory Group was informed of the activities of Techsec since the
fifth session. The Secretariat was staffed by
only one technical expert, with additional professional personnel provided on a short-term
non-reimbursable basis by New Zealand and
11
the United Kingdom until July 1977, when .two
experts were recruited by the United Nations
using UNDP funds.
9. Off-shore surveys were carried out suecessfully in waters off Fiji and the Solomon
Islands using member country vessels and with
the assistance
of technical
personnel
and
equipment provided by supporting countries.
10. The m.v. Acheron was chartered
with
UNDP non-convertible
New Zealand funds
and surveys were carried out in the waters off
Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga during
the period between June. ,!-~d October 1977.
Although the start of the initial crUl~e .was ?elayed considerably
because of administrative
difficulties, the survey ~nl1ses were all complt:ted .successfully, and It was reported th'!-t the
objectives were achieved. It was. also pointed
out that the charter had been possible thanks to
the assistance ofthe New Zealand Government
in the selection of.the vessel an~ in facilitating
the negotiatrons with the owners 10 many ways.
.
.
11. The Group was .u~forme~ that a t~aInee
from Samoa had participated
10 the cruise of
the Japa':1ese survey ve~s~l Hakurei Maru ~nd
had received further trammg at th~ Geological
Survey of Japan, and that the subsistence during this training exercise had been provided by
IOC.
12. CCOP
last session
/ SOPAC publications
since the
were as folows: four issues of
South Pacific Marine Geological Notes. (vol.
1, Nos 3 - 6); one Technical Bulletin (No.2);
Proceedings of the fifth session of CCOP /
SOPAC; and the Proceedings of the ECOR /
IOC-CCOP / SOPAC Symposium on Ocean
Thermal Energy Conversion.
The Marine Geologist had attended t~e ad
hoc Meeting of Specialists on the Dynamics of
the Fiji Plateau convened jointly by CCOP /
SOPAC and IOC during the period 22 - 24
August at Honolulu, Hawaii.
13.
Japan. Appreciation
~as expressed
to. !he
Government of FIJI for Its continued yr~)vlslOn
of accommodation
and other facilities for
Techsec.
.,
.
15. The Group expressed Its appreciation to
the staff of Techsec, who had carried .out the
planned projects admirably under p~rtIcularly
difficult administrative
and financial conditions.
Review Of Activities Of The ESCAP Secretariat
16. The Group was informed that the activities of the ESCAP Secretariat since the fifth
session had been largely directed
towards
submitting proposals and securing funds for
project activities,
and arranging for recrl.;ll~ment of personnel, ship charter, and acquisition of equipment.
17. It was reported that just before the fifth
session, a budget plan for the expenditure
of
the $100000 allocated to the project for 1977
was submitted to New York. After the suggestion that non-convertible
New Zealand funds
might be used for ship charter, advice o~ this
possibility was sought by the UNDP Regional
Office in Suva. and the secretariat was advised
in December i976 that this would be possible.
A revised project submission including the use
of New Zealand non-convertible
funds was
submitted to New York in February 1977, and a
draft agreement for ship charter in March .. A
further
revised
charter
agreement,
WIth
modifications arising from observations
made
by UNDP New York and from further ~oQsultations with the shipowners, was submitted to
New York in May 1977.
18. The Group was advised that the fact thCl;t
the project was not officially approved until
June was the principal factor in the subsequent
difficulties over formal agreement on ship charter which resulted in a delay of about two
weeks in the start of the planned field programme.
14. The Group expressed its appreciation to
the Governments
of Japan, New Zealand, and
the United Kingdom for providing experts on a
non-reimbursable
basis during various phases
of the projects. The work carried out by those
experts was highly appreciated,
and hope was
expressed that those and other Governments
would contmue their support 10 future. The
Group was also gratified to learn that an oscil-
19. In conjunction with funds available for
the project in 1978, it was reported that a figure
of $200 000 was suggested in April 1977 for
convertible funds. A proposed project budget
for UNDP contributions
over the five-year
period 1978-82wassubmittedinJuly,inv<:,lving an expenditure of $297 900 of convertible
funds
and $170 125 of New Zealand non-
loscope had been donated to the project by
conv~rtible funds for ship charter and related
12
exp~nditures
for 1978. I.n August 1977 UNDP
advised that the allocation for 1978 would be
$250 000; no advice was given regarding the
allocation
of New Zealand non-convertible
funds. Efforts were being made to increase the
amount of the allocation.
20. The Group was informed that a meeting of
the managers of the ESCAP projects related to
mineral resources development
would be held
twice annually, and that the first session would
be convened at Bangkok in November 1977.
21. The Group expressed its deep gratitude to
the Australian Government for the gift of$A50
000 which had made possible the start of the
programme for 1977.
Administrative
Procedures
22. The Group discussed the administrative
problems which had occurred during 1977 concerning the use ofUNDP non-convertible
New
Zealand funds. The representatives
of Cook
Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, and Tonga spoke in
support of a recommendation
to streamline
administrative
procedures.
The Group urged
strongly that the following recommendation
be
adopted by the Committee:
The Committee
recalling the extreme
..
.
.'
.
..
administrative
dlfficultl~s under wh!ch this
project has operated hltherto~ partlcul~rly
over the last SIX months
which have impaired the efficiency of op~rations and have
led in certain cases to direct financial losses
to the project, urges all participating organs
of the United Nations
to conduct
immediately a thorough review of existing procedures and strongly recommends
that the
earliest possible consideration
be given to
streamlining
and greatly improving
these
procedures
through:
1. Full delegation of executing authority
from the United Nations Office of Technical
Co-operation
(OTC) to ESCAP,
which
should be designated sole executing agency;
items of expenditure
up to amounts
determined by the parties concerned.
to be
Review Of Survey Activities: Progress and Resuits
.
23. Brief statements were made on the pnncipal points of interest as summarized below:
24. The UNDP charter vessel Acheron had
carried out 1000 miles of survey in August 1977
around the lower Cook Islands,
between
Rarotonga
and Takutea,
Mitiaro,
Mauke,
Aitutaki, and Manuae. Continuous echo soundings were recorded,
and eight stations were
occupied.
Bottom
samples
were obtained
south-east of Mauke, and bottom photographs
were obtained
of Astronomer
Bank. The
bathymetry of the latter area showed it to be a
seamount rather than a bank.
25. In Fiji waters a collaborative
cruise had
been made in January in the north Koro Sea
and in Bligh Water. Seismic profiles and bottom samples had been obtained. In March a
cruise to Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau was used for
evaluation of the Magnavox model 1102 Satnav. Results indicated that some islands had
been charted up to 2~ miles out of position.
The Magnavox Satnav has now been purchased by Mineral Resources
Divison, Fiji. In
J
th
A h
made a cruise to the
une
e m. v. c e!on
Yasaw.a T~ough, taking free fall cores and shallow seIsmIc. profiles In water depthsup
to 4.8
km. AnalYSIS of the cores was now In hand.
,.
.
26. Work on New Zealand s nat!onal proJ~cts
had continued and expanded. Thirteen cr~llses
aboard r. v. Tangaroa Included some baSIC r~connaissance
of th~ bathymetry,
surface sediments, and geological struc~ure on the continental shelf and slope. Work Included geophysical studies of several sedimentary
basins on
the eastern side of New Zealand and on the
Campbell Plateau.
2. A review of the existing arrangements
for the use of non-convertible
currencies allocated to the project with a view to decentralizing authority for their disbursement·
,
3: . Delegation of f~lI managerial resp0!1sibility by the executing agency to the project
manager; this should. include financial ~u-
27. Sid~-sca~
sonar
surveys
~nd hydrodynamic studies had been made of Iron sands
on the western shelf and of near-shore sands
and gravels around North Island. There was a
further cruise to determine the nature and extent of phosphorite
deposits on the Chatham
Rise. New Zealand personnel had also been
involved in several regional projects. Samples
thonty to expend project funds on specific
of encrusted rock and basin sediments had
13
been collected from the Lau Ridge on a combined New Zealand and Fiji cruise on the LV.
Tangaroa in July 1977.
2
..
.
.
8. C~rrent activity 10 P~pua New GU1~ea
was ~amly: land-based and included ge?loglcal
mappmg dlrecte~ to .mmeral exploration and
~ssessment, engmeermg and water supply projects, .and, work o~ ~eatflow and geothermal
IOvestlg~tlOns. Existing geophysical and vulcanological observatory networks had been extended. I.n.the coastal area south of Lae th~re
was .a drilling programJ?e to ass~ss chrornitebe~n~g beach sands. Oil cornparues had made
seismic surveys offshore and had defined a
prospective target 10 the western. part. of the
Gulf of Papua. The Kusa well dnlled 10 1977
had terminated at 11 265 feet in Jurassic strata.
A further well would be drilled on land in 1978.
Papua New Guinea would shortly review its
off-shore data with the object Of defining
economic off-shore projects. Those could be
co-ordinated into the over-all SOPAC work
programme where appropriate.
small corals were collected which were currently being identified.
31. The second Samoa survey had been carried out from July to August 1977 to extend the
initial survey into deeper water and to sample
more extensively for precious corals. Twelve
days had been spent at sea, during which the
areas to the north and north-east of the main
islands were covered, as well as part of the area
to the south of Upolu. Although no evidence
had been obtained of the occurrence of manganese nodule deposits and sea-bed phosphorites, several sediment and coral samples were
recovered. The extensive bathymetric data obtained by the cruises had considerably improved the understanding of the submarine to0 ra h
of the area
p g p y
.
,
32.. Dunng the .early part of 1977a two-month
manne geophysical I?rogramme on LV. V~ma
had been compl~t~d 10 the south-west Pacific.
The work was a~olOt venture between Lamont
Doherty Geol~glcal Observatory (New York),
Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) (Australia), and ORSTOM (Office de la recherche
scientifique et technique outre-mer) (Noumea),
The cruises concentrated on the Coral Sea, the
New Hebrides, and the South Fiji Basins.
Seismic profiling, magnetics, gravity coring,
and dredging had been undertaken. The most
important results of the cruise were the delineation of sea floor spreading anomalies in all three
basins. The results ofthat work would be published in the nearfuture. At BMR the interpretation of the Australian continental margin survey has continued.
29. A preliminary assessment of potential
hydrocarbon occurrences in the Solomon Islands was carried out by CCOP / SOPAC Techsec. It was concluded that in the area of Manning Strait and north-western Santa Isabel the
geological setting was favourable for the accumulation, migration and entrapment of hydrocarbons. It was suggested that further investigations were warranted. A survey of Lake Te
Nggano, Rennell Island and the Indispensable'
Reef was made by Techsec, using support
facilities provided by the Geological Division
of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the
Solomon Islands to investigate the possible oc33.. In 1977the ORSTOM programme had .occurrence of bauxite deposits developed as the
cupled.220 days a.nd used three research S~lpS.
result of biogenic degradation of volcanic ash . In con~unctl,?n ':"lth CNEX9 (Centre national
sediments in shallow-water lagoonal environpour I exploitation des Oceans) 105 free-fall
ments. No bauxitic sediments were found in grab drops were made north of the Cook Isthe Indispensable Reef, and it was considered
lands to supplement the Cook Islands. and
unlikely that such sediments could occur there.
SOPAC sU1."eys. At the request of the national
Grey bauxitic mud was found to occur in pock- representative of the Government of Tonga
ets on the floor of Lake Te Nggano
seven stations were occupied east of the Tonga
.
Trench. Several cruises were made around
.
Tonga and the New Hebrides as part of the
30. An off-shor~ survey had been carried out ORSTOM research programme on island arcs.
by m.v. Acheron 10 Tonga waters ~nSeptember
A specialist from Tonga participated in the
1977.. Approximately 2000 nautical miles of work. The programme was carried out partly in
soundings h~d been t,aken, and 23 stations had conjunction with the Universities of Cornell
been occupied. Sediment samples had been and Texas. The 1976 grid of seismic reflection
collected from the actl~e volcanic area 10 e~st- profiles was complemented by refraction
em Tonga (Tofu~ Ridge) ~nd were bem~ profiles obtained with a 5-litre airgun, exploanalysed for. met~lhferous enrichment. Expensives, ocean bottom seismographs, and on-
ence was gamed m coral dredging, and several
14
shore seismic recording stations. In the New
Hebrides area the surveys were made in conjunction with the Geological Survey and the
Mining Service of the New Hebrides Condominium.
Data obtained in the vicinity of
member countries has been communicated
to
them.
34. The Geological Survey of Japan was continuing two major research projects using r. v.
Hakurei Maru . Those projects were marine
geological investigations
on the continental
shelf and slope around Japan and investigations
into deep-sea manganese nodule deposits. The
Geological Survey was also investigating bottom sediments and deposits of sand and gravel
in near-shore
areas around Japan. The manganese nodule project had been carried out
mainly in the Central Pacific Basin. In 1977 a
new thr.ee-year project on the sedimentation
mechanism of pollut~d. bottom sediments ~as
commenced.
A specialist ~rom the geologlcal
Survey of Ja~an took part In the cruise of m. v.
Acher?,: carried out between the Cook Island
and FIJI.
35. There had been continuing technical cooperation by the United Kingdom with Fiji, the
Solomon Islands, and the New Hebrides Condominium. In addition to the marine geologist
seconded to Fiji, an electronics technician from
the Institute of Geological Sciences spent two
months in Fiji working on geophysical equipment and taking part in a Mineral Resources
Division cruise in Fiji waters. Dr D. S. Cronan
of Imperial College, London, had carried out
analysis of 250 sediment samples from sites
throughout the region, and the preliminary resuits would be published shortly. With the help
of IOC funds Dr Cronan had also participated
in the m.v. Acheron cruise to the Yasawa
Trough and would be responsible
for the
analysis of cores collected on that cruise. The
Geological Survey of the New Hebrides Condominium had completed
the reconnaisance
mapping of the New Hebrides.
All but two
~aps(at
1:100000) had been published or were
In press. Completion of the accompanying
reports was anticipated by mid-I978. Other activities during the year had included collaboration
with
various
research
bodies
on
paleomagnetic
and geochemical
studies. The
Survey had also agreed in principle with Dr
Cronan to initiate a programme of marine sediment collection in or around areas of hydrothermal activity.
. "
36. Activity by the United States of America
in the SOPAC region included co-operative
projects by Cornell University, in conjunction
with ORSTOM, investigating the seismicity of
the New Hebrides area, especially with regard
to the prediction of earthquakes.
Cornell University was also assisting the Mineral Resources Division, Fiji, in the development
of a
seismic network for Fiji, and the Tonga Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Re~ources in
the development of a similar network In Tonga.
37. Preparations
were in progress for the
Circum-Pacific
Conference
on Energy and
Mineral Resources to be held at Honolulu from
30 July to 4 August 1978. TAG was warned of
the need for early registration.
It was recornmended that Techsec be represented
at that
conference.
38. In the Circum-Pacific
Map Project, the
geographic and base maps (I: 10 million) were
in process of publication and should be compie ted by early 1978. The geological maps of
land areas were practically complete for four
areas and work was in progress on the southwest quadrant. The tectonic, energy, and mineral resou!'ces maps. were less ~dv:;tnced. The
lates.t available COPI~S of coml?llatJOns would
~e displayed at the Circum-Pacific Conference
In 1978.
~9. The .United. States Geological. Survey ~as
!nvolved In studle~ of sea-floor mineralization
In the north Pacific, and In comprehensive
geological - geophysical studies of hydrocarbon assessment
and possible
geological
hazards for are~s of the outer continental shelf
around the United States.
40. An ad hoc meeting of specialists on the
geodynamics
of the Fiji Plateau, sponsored
jointly by JOC and CCOP I SOPAC and hosted
by the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics.
was
convened on 22 August 1977 at the University
of Hawaii in Honolulu. The meeting had its inception in the CCOP I SOPAC - IOC IIDOE
International
Workshop of Geology, Mineral
Resources and Geophysics of the South Pacific
at Suva in Fiji in September 1975. Recent high
levels of seismic activity both on and marginal
to the Fiji Plateau had provided the impetus to
convene the meeting at this time.
41. The terms of reference for the Honolulu
meeting were drawn from one special project
and three specific field projects recommended
by the Suva Workshop:
Special Projects 2-2,
Energy Release and Seismicity; Field Project
1-2, Active Basins, Study of the North Fiji
15
Basin (Fiji Plateau); Field Project 2-4,
Melanesian Borderland; and Field Project 2-5,
Evolution of the Fiji Platform. Recommendations of the Honolulu meeting called for the
formulation of specific proposals emphasizing
seismicity studies with oCt;an. bottom .seismomete~s and paleomagnetic mvestIgatl~ns,
along with petrological and geochronological
studies and conventional geophysical surveys
across the FIJI Plateau.
42. The Group noted with interest and appreciation the progress reported by participating countries for 1977. The efforts of the
member countries were considerable, and it
was also important to record the value to the
project of the services in the field of technical
experts such as those supplied by Japan and
New Zealand.
43. With regard to equipment provided on
loan to the project, the Group expressed its
appreciation to the Government of Fiji for the
loan ofa Shipek sampler; to the Government of
the United States of America for the loan of a
bathythermograph recorder and XBTS; and to
the Government of Australia for the loan of an
EG & G sparker system for more than two
years .. The sparker system was returned to
BMR m September 1977.
44. From the progress reports for 1977 the
Group noted that there were a numl;>erof topics
which, although. not connected directly with
mineral exploration, were Important to Pacific
island communities and could usefully be discussed under the auspices ofCCOP / SOPAC.
45. The Group expressed its appreciation of
the work ofMr C. W. Landmesser, the UNDP
marine geologist up to June 1977, who had
guided the progress of the project in a difficult
initial phase.
region, which would probably be divided into
three subregions covering the northern Pacific,
the CCOP region, and the CCOP / SOPAC region respectively.
47. The Group was assured that WESTPAC
would not duplicate current activities but
would ensure that international scientific cooperation remained effective under the new regime which was to be adopted by the United
Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.
Countries from outside the WESTPAC region
would be invited to co-operate, on the conditions that they assist in the implementation of
specific projects and that cruises were announced in advance and were open to participants from member countries.
48. The IOC representative therefore invited
the Group to consider close co-operation with
WESTPAC and suggested that ajoint group of
WESTPAC and CCOP / SOPAC might be established to co-ordinate marine geological and
geophysical research in the SOPAC region. He
invited representatives of the Group to make its
views clear at the IOC Assembly.
Recommendation Concerning WESTPAC
49. The Group considered a statement by the
UNESCO / IOC representative on the proposed establishment of the IOC subsidiary body,
WESTPAC. It made the recommendation that
CCOP / SOPAC'
.
Having been informed that IOC at the tenth
session of its assembly this year would be
requested to establish an IOC subsidiary
body for the Western Pacific regi?n
(WES~PAq WhICh would also deal WIth
co-ordination of manne geological and
geophysical programmes and related activities in the Western Pacific;
46. The IOC representative informed the
Group that IOC was considering the establishment of a new intergovernmental subsidiary
body in the western part of the Pacific that
might be called WESTPAC. Draft terms of reference and a draft programme had been developed and would be submitted to the JOC
Assembly in October - November 1977. The
ne~ ~ody would co-ordinate all marine
Draws the attention of IOC to the fact that
CCOP / SOPAC, which is the competent
body for the co-ordination of marine re~ource investigations and related activities
m.the South Pacific re~lOn, has co-operated
with IOC and other international and national ag~ncles dealing wI~h m~~ne resources In the past and IS willing to
co-o~erate closely WIth the new WESTPAC
body,
Recommends that IOC include in the resolution adopting the establishment of a new
scientific research and related services for the
WESTPAC body the following paragraph:
Setting up of WEST PAC
16
"IOC welcomes the suggestion ofCCOP /
SOPAC to co-operate closely with WESTPAC in the fields of marine geology and
geophysics and related activities in the
CCOP /SOPAC region through a joint
mechanism."
Evaluation
54. The Group again expressed its gratitude
to Dr H. R. Katz. of the New Zealand Geological Survey, for collating recent data on the
exploration and development of petroleum resources in the SOPAC region and requested
that he might carry out this valuable service for
1978. It noted with particular interest that future wells planned in the Great South Basin of
New Zealand would be drilled in over 600
metres depth of water.
of Resources and Their Significance
50. Techsec informed the meeting that reconnaissance inventories in coastal areas of
Oahu, Hawaii, had revealed sand bodies in
depths of water between 60 and 300 feet, which
were estimated to contain approximately 270
million cubic yards of sand. In view of similar
offshore environments
in many CCOP /
SOPAC countries, such sand bodies could be
considered as a large resource potential in the
South Pacific.
.
51. Techsec a~so noted that sediment cores
from areas of high heat flow, suspected to be
near spre~~Ing ~entres, had bee.n collected by
the ~~wall Institute of Geophysics (HIG) from
the FIJIPlateau. Although the c.ores had not yet
been analysed, should analysis reveal metal~ifer?us e~richmen~ then investigations involvmg reflection pro.filIng m~thods would be warranted to ~scertaIn the thickness and extent of
the deposits.
52. With regard to petroleum exploration in
Tonga, Techsec was aware of further interest
from the private sector. A vibroseis survey by
Delta Exploration on behalf of Webb-Tonga
had indicated structures thought favourable for
petroleum accumulation. Drilling equipment
had now been obtained and the drilling of exploratory wells was anticipated for late 1977 or
early 1978.
53. The Group was informed of investigations
carried out by Techsec in collaboration with
member countries and others, published in
South Pacific Marine Geological Notes. These
had included, in Solomon Islands, evaluation
of potential hydrocarbon occurrences; a preliminary investigation for bauxite in shallow
water environments;
and a near-shore
bottom-sampling programme for gold-bearing
sediments. In off-shore areas of the Cook Islands studies of the extensive field of manganese nodules located in the south Penrhyn
Basin was continuing.
55. The Group was pleased to receive a report
on metalliferous seafloor deposits prepared by
the specialist group formed at the CCOP /
SOPAC Workshop at Suva in 1975. In the field
of manganese nodules the group had decided
that the most important problem to be tested
was the role of biological productivity and
transport in controlling the abundance and
metal contents of the nodules. With regard to
metalliferous sediments, 250 samples had been
obtained from sites throughout the region and
had been analysed for eight elements. The resuIts had been presented at the International
Symposium on Geodynamics in the SouthWest Pacific held at Noumea in 1976. The activities of the specialist group had also included
a valuable review paper by Dr G. P. Glasby on
manganese nodules in the South Pacific.
56. A provisional reconnaissance programme
for off-shore work was presented by the Mineral Resources Division of Fiji. Immediate objectives would be orientated towards shallow
shelf areas where proven resources would be
within currently exploitable depths. Possible
resources might include hydrocarbons, phosphorites, sand and gravel, precious corals, sulphur, bauxite, and detrital minerals. With regard to commercial hydrocarbon exploration in
Fiji waters, activity had been initiated by
Dakota Exploration in August 1977. A $180 000
seismic exploration programme was planned
for the first year, to be followed in the next two
years by a $2.5 million drilling operation.
.
57. Two r~ports on recent r~search In the
Central PacIfic. had been received from the
Japanese technical advIser: Although the reports covered areas not of dlrec~ concern to the
members, they nevertheless wished to record
their deep appreciation of the Interest shown by
the Japanese Government In CCOP / SOPAC.
58. Consideration was given to a proposal
from the French technical advisers that work
should be carried out on Island arcs. The Group
17
recommended strongly that, with reference to
the structure of active island arcs, highly accurate surveys be undertaken in bathym~try,
seismic
reflection,
seismic
refraction,
gravimetry, magnetism, heat flow, and seismology, startmg with research on land andin
shallow water, 10 order to explore the potential
of mineral and hydrocarbon resources. This
activity should be complemented where pOSSIble by exploration drilling. This proposal was in
agreement with the draft objectives defined by
the ad hoc group for WESTPAC.
Data Management
59: Acting 0t? the request of CCOP / SOPAC
at Its fifth seSSIOn,the New Zealand Oceanoghie Institute had continued during the year
~ap I
.
f
h
ItS efforts ~o collate geophysical data rom t e
South Pacific. The In~tItute had found that the
d~ta could be stored 10 a vanety of ways, provided they were cross-referenced for typ~ of
geographical area. Storage under a project
number by Techsec would be the most appropriate future solution.
. .
f
60. It ~as proposed thatthe ongm~t~r 0 each
new project should supply both a bibliography
of relevant publications and a plot of data on
hand. It was further proposed that a plot of data
collected annually for each project be supplied
at each session to Techsec. Until facilities became available at Techsec the data would be
collated at the Institute.
The Group was informed of an offer by
RIG to microfilm and process CCOP / SOPAC
data into a computer compatible format.
Non-confidential data could be archived at
RIG and forwarded to world data centres and
would be available to CCOP / SOPAC users at
nominal cost. It was accepted that such data
would also be available to researchers outside
the regron.
61.
62. The Technical Advisory Group noted
with appreciation the offer of RIG to submit a
proposal to obtain funds for the microfilming
and computer storage of bathymetric and
geophysical data from CCOP / SOPAC. It was
gratifying !o note that RIG. would be able to
provide ~nnt-out and graphic plots of the data
at a nominal cost.
63. The Group agreed that it would be advantageous for CCOP / SOPAC data to be sent to
18
Hawaii by Techsec and that non-confidential
data could usefully be forwarded to world data
centres.
64. An updated bibliography of publications
for Fiji and a bibliography of New Zealand
marine geology were received by the Group as
valuable contributions to the knowledge of the
region.
65. The Group was pleased to note the continued progress on the Circum-Pacific Map Project: Southwest Quadrant. It was hoped to
complete the relevant maps in draft form for
presentation at th~ Circum-Pacific C;onference
on Energy and Mineral Resources 10 1978.
Alth
h ESCAP and WC had not yet
.
oug.
d
had consultations .on data systems as re9l;1este
at the fifth session these were anticipated
shortly. The Group requested that the results of
the consultations be communicated to member
countries as soon as they could be made available
.
.,
.
67. The Group accepted Wlt~ apprecIa~lOn
the offer of New Zealand to contmue meantime
the system of plotting tracks to show the
t
d I tion of data available within
amoun. an oca
the region.
66
CCOP / SOPAC Publications
68. The Group expressed its appreciation to
the Government of New Zealand for publication of a further issue of the South Pacific
Marine Geological Notes and CCOP / SOPAC
Proceedings of the Fifth Session and noted
with pleasure its offer to provide similar services in the coming year.
69. It was noted with regret that selected
documentation had been omitted from the
CCOP / SOPAC Proceedings of the Fifth Session. The Group requested that ESCAP and
Techsec make a selection of documents
presented to the sixth session for publication in
the Proceedings of that session.
70. The Group noted with satisfaction that, of
fi ve papers for the South Pacific Marine
Geological Notes in preparation at the time of
thefifth session, four had since been published.
Seven papers were currently being prepared
for publication in that series. The Group noted
also that financial
for the publication
Notes in 1978.
provision would be needed
of eight Marine Geological
71. The Group was informed of the need to
provide detailed bathymetric maps for planning
and implementation
of the work programme in
member countries. It was agreed that Techsec
be encouraged
to make compilations
of
bathymetric
data and produce
detailed
bathymetric map~ which could be published in
existmg map senes. The Group also encouraged. Techsec to r~view th~ requirements
for
detailed bathymetnc
maps m member country
areas and if necessary to consider the production of a CCOP / SOPAC map series to fulfil
these requirements.
72. The Group noted with appreciation
the
offer of New Zealand to collaborate in the publication of bathymetric charts at a scale of 1:200
000.
Training:
Programmes
and Requirements
73. The Group recognized that limitations of
funds for travel would restrict the possibility of
short training seminars
being provided
by
Techsec.
It endorsed
the suggestion
that
member countries
should take advantage of
existing
training
courses,
including
those
offered by CCOP. It also noted that the ESCAP
secretariat
could disseminate
information on
the availability
of courses.
The Group
endorsed
the desirability
of short training
seminars for the future. It recommended
that
Techsec should acquire suitable training films
for general use in the CCOP / SOPAC region. It
further
endorsed
the suggestion
that a
three-day semi~ar on a suitable subject would
be a useful adjunct to the annual session of
CCOP / SOPAC.
74. The Group welcomed
with thanks the
offers of places for trainees on research cruises
to be undertaken
by Japan,
France
(ORSTOM),
and possibly
by Australia
in
conjunction
with the Federal
Republic
of
Germany.
It also expressed
its thanks to
UNESCO and 19C for the offer offunding for
travel and subsistence
which might be made
available to trainees from member countries of
10C.
75. The
exposition
University
Group
noted
with interest
by a representative
of
the
the
of Papua New Guinea of the
four-year degree course in geology offered by
the University.
It welcomed the information
that high-school
students
from the South
Pacific countries were generally able to enter
the first year of the course. The Group thanked
the representative
of the University
for his
presentation.
76. The Group
noted
with interest
the
information presented by a representative
of
the University
of the South Pacific on the
training courses available and on the setting up
of a Marine Resources
Centre to study the
living and non-living resources of the region. It
welcomed the information that 16-18 students
from the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Hebrides,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands,
and Tonga, would attend a 16-week basic geology course starting in November
1977. The
Group expressed its warm thanks to the University authorities for their prompt reaction to
proposals on training put forward by CCOP /
SOPAC.
77. In order to meet a need for better
communications
and interchange
between
electronics
technicians
involved
with the
project, the Group urged, t~at s.teps should be
taken to enable th,e technicians m the region to
me.et for dlSc,usslOn and, mutu~l mstruction.
This was pa~lcularly
desirable m the cU,rrent
penod of rapid change tn equipment design,
.
Reports on Developm~n!S III Related Areas of
Activity
7
8. ~ paper
devoted,
to g~othermal
mvestigatrons
currently being carried out by
the Mineral Resources
Division of Fiji was
noted WIth interest. It was hoped that the data
obtained would enable the selection of sites for
drill holes to be made and would allow
~ssess!lle~t of the potential for future detailed
mvesugations.
79. The Group was particularly interested to
receive
an unofficial
map prepared
by
ORSTOM and made available by the South
Pacific.
Commis~i~n
delineating
t~e
approximate outer limits of proposed 200-mIle
exclusive economic zones in the South Pacific.
It was noted that these zones covered nearly all
the waters of the region.
80.
The
Group
took
note
of a document
relating to the results of the Third United
19
Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea,
prepared by the CCOP secretariat, and a
document describing an examination by New
Zealand of the criterion for determining the
oceanic - continental boundary.
International Geological Correlation Project
81. The Group viewed with interest an
. forrnati
b ' d b the IGCP
10 ormat~on
note .su rrutte
y
Secretariat. Of particular relevance to CCOP /.
SOPAC was IGCP Project No. 110: Evolution
f S th-we t Pacific Plate Boundaries.
o ou
s
Recommended Work Programme For 1978
82. The meeting discussed in great detail the
work programme for 1978.
83. The Group was pleased to note with
thanks that the New Zealand Government had
agreed to provide the project with a technician
and a marine geoscientist each for one
man-month in 1978. It also appreciated an offer
by ORSTOM to collect samples whilst working
in Cook Islands waters.
84. The Government of the Gilbert Islands,
although not represented at the sixth session,
had expressed a continuing interest in CCOP /
SOPAC activities. The Group recom~e~ded
th.at a member of Techsec be asked to VISitthe
Gilbert Islands during the corrung year to
discuss the possibility of initiating local
projects in 1979.
85. The Group heard from the representative
of Papua New Guinea that his Government had
not as yet systematically initiated any of its
country projects and was unlikely to do so in
1978. Ho~ever, he int~nded those pr?jects to
be recast 10 terms of his Government' s future
needs, ,and on the sam~ baSIS an in-house
evaluation would be caITI~d out to assess new
and relevant off-s~ore proJ~cts for subsequent
consideration. With that 10 mind he would
welcome. diSCUSSIOnswith Tec.h~ec ~nth~ near
future directed towards parucipation 10 the
CCOP / SOPAC work programme in 1979.
region in late 1978. Active participation in
those ~ruises would be sought with SOPAC
countnes.
87. The Group noted that ORSTOM cruises
in the region would be in collaboration with the
Universities of Cornell and Texas. The work
programme
would
include
seismic,
gravimetric, and magnetic profiling, heat flow
measurements, and studi~s of seismology .
CNEXO, HIG, and Techmsche Hochschule,
Aachen (Federal Republic of Germany) to.
'.
gether with ORSTqM, were planmng cruises
to stU?~ polymetallic n,odul~s. OR~TO~ was
organizmg a manne biological cruise 10 late
1977 in Samoan waters and would attempt to
include a sampling programme for nodules.
ORSTOM also hoped to take samples in 1978 of
nodules in areas to be requested by the
representatives of Samoa and Tonga.
88. The Group asked that Techsec be
empowered to liaise, when requested, with the
appropriate
authorities
and international
agencies concerned with earthquake hazards
and related engineering problems. It further
urged ESCAP to seek the relevant assistance
for the Governments of Samoa and Tonga in
the event of such hazards arising.
89. The Group expressed great concern at the
lack of up-to-date information on the state of
progress of many of the regional projects. The
Group recommended that Techsec collaborate
with the appropriate technical advisers in the
preparation of a suitable report complemented
by a locality map at a scale of at least 1:20
million for presentation to the members before
the seventh session.
Project Document For The Expanded Programme 1978 - 82
90. The Group had before it a draft project
document for the expanded programme of
CCOP / SOPAC for the period 1978 _ 82. The
document was prepared by a working group
established by the Committee for the purpose.
The Group expressed its appreciation to the
working group of its efforts in that regard.
86. The meeting was informed that two
cruises by r. v. Sonne. sponsored by the
Governments of the Federal Republic of
91. The consultant to UNDP headquarters
and the consultant to Techsec were asked to
review the document and stated that they were
very impressed by the genuine interest expressed by the member countries during the meet-
Germany and Australia, were planned for the
ing; they also congratulated the working group
20
on the formulation of what they considered a
well-prepared document.
.
f
92. They had comments on severa I points 0
the document, including a suggestion that its
title be changed to "Investigation of mineral
potential in the South Pacific region".
sources discussed. It also urged ESCAP to expedite the forwarding of the document to
UNDP.
93. The Group noted that most of the comments and amendments proposed by the consultants were valid and very helpful for formulating the final document and expressed its
gratitude for their efforts.
Statement Of The Regional Repr~sentative of
UNDP for the South Pacific
94. The Group agreed to the suggested
change in the title of the document.
95. In view of the large work-load for national
and regional projects of CCOP / SOPAC, the
group agreed that approximately $4 million
would be necessary during the period 1978 82 to meet the needs of the member countries.
96. The Group noted that the Special Fund of
the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) had provided $20 million for
projects supported by UNDP, and it strongly
urged the Committee to adopt the following
recommendation:
.
The Committee strongl~ recommends that
ESCAP an.d UNDP Regional Office for t~e
South Pacific make every effort to obtain
UNpP / OPEC funds for CCOP / SOPAC
projects.
97. It was noted that there were three possible sources of UNDP funds which might be
made available to the project:
Convertible funds from country contributions to UNDP (see Annex V for summary
of budget proposal for 1978);
.
..
(b) Convertible f~nds from contributions .by
OPEC countnes (see Annex VI for outline
of budget proposals for 1978 - 81);
(c) Non-convertible
funds from New
Zealand's contribution to UNDP (see
Annex V).
99. The Regional Representative of UNDP
for the South Pacific, Mr Garth ap Rees,
reconfirmed the continuing interest of UNDP
~nCCOP / ~OPAC, as evidenced by.the size.of
Its delegation to the session and ItS definite
commitment to continued support for the project.
.
.
.
100 ". However, he did caution that It was not
possible to confirm that the .large amount of
funding requested for the project could be provided by UNDP and urged other interested international organizations and Governments to
consider mcreasmg their c~ntnbutlO~s to
ccor / SOPAC, at t~e same tlll~e d~awmg attention to the '!lost t.lmely contribution of $50
000 by Australia dunng 1977.
101. He noted the strong recommendations
that ESCAP be designated the executing
agency and that full managerial authority be
delegated to the Project Manager, and reminded the meeting that the first recommendation conformed with the South Pacific's desire
for increased ESCAP involvement in the region, as expressed by the Eighth South Pacific
Forum, the Seventeenth South Pacific Commission Conference, and the Thirty-third session of ESCAP.
(a)
98. The Group agreed that the draft project
document prepared by the working group generally met the requirements for implementing
the projects planned and recommended that
ESCAP prepare a revised budget taking into
account the alternatives ·suggested and the
funds that might be available from the three
102. The Technical Advisory Group thanked
the Regional Representative of UNDP for his
clear demonstration of the interest and support
manifested by UNDP in CCOP / SOPAC. Its
efforts on behalf of the progress of the work
programme in 1977 had been much appreciated.
Adoption Of The Report Of The
Technical Advisory Group
103. The Group adopted its report including
the recommended work programme on 15 October 1977.
'
21
Summary of Conc!u~ions and
Recommendations
104.
The Technical Advisory Group:
II.
Agreed that Techsec be encouraged to make
bathymetric compilations at appropriate scales and to
review the requirements for detailed bathymetric
maps among the member countries (para. 71).
12.
Endorsed the suggestion t~at. mem?~r countries
should take advantage of existing training courses,
including those offered by CCOP (para. 73).
13. E norse,
d
d as a POSSIIlly
ibili fort h e f uture, t he d esira
. bili.
f h
. .
.
b
id db T
ity 0 s ort training seminars to e provi e y echsec (para. 73).
I.
Emphasized the value to the project of the services at
sea of experts from supporting countries and .expressed
the hope that that type of support could continue (para.
14)
.
2.
Recommended
that all .,participating United. Nations
14.
.
.
organs give early consideration to streamlining and
.
. existmg
..
Improving
a drnini
mirustratrve proce d ures t h roug h :
(a) Designating ESCAP as sole executing agency:
15.
(b) Decentralizing authority for disbursement of nonconvertible currencies;
"CCOp
(c) Delegating full managerial responsibility, including
authority for expenditure of project funds. 10 the
16.
project manager (para. 22).
Recommen d e d t h at T ec h sec s h0 u1d acqUire
. suita
. bIe
..
fil
73)
trairung ms (para.
.
3.
Recom mended that CCOP / SOPAC should co-operate
closely through a joint mechanism with the proposed
new subsidiary body of IOC, WESTPAC (paras 46 _
9).
Suggested that a 3-day seminar on a suitable subject
would be a useful adjunct to the annual session of
/SOPAC (para. 73).
.
Urged that steps should be taken to enable electronics
tech~icians involved with the project to meet for discussion and mutual instruction (para. 77).
17 R
.
ecommend that a member of Tech sec visit the Gilbert Islands to discuss a country programme for 1979
(para. 84).
4.
Requested that Dr H. R. Katz be asked to continue for
1978 his valuable service to the Committee in collating
recent data on the exploration and development of
petroleum resources in the SOPAC region (para. 54).
18. Requested that Techsec be empowered to liaise as
necessary with the appropriate agencies on behalf of
member countries regarding earthquake hazards
(para. 88).
5.
Recommended strongly that extensive and accurate
studies be made of island.arcs to explore their mineral
and hydrocarbon potential (para. 58).
19. Recommended that Techsec collaborate with the
technical advisers in the preparation of an explanatory report on the progress of the regional projects.
This should be circulated before the seventh session
6.
Requested that plots of data be supplied annually to
(para. 89).
Techsec (para. 60).
Agreed that non-proprietary data held by CCOP /
SOPAC be microfilmed and be processed by the
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, and that such data
could be forwarded to World Data Centres (paras 61
- 3).
8. Requested that the results of consultations on data
systems to be held between ESCAP and JOC be
communicated to member countries as soon as possible (para. 66).
20.
22.
Recommended strongly that ESCAP and UNDP
make every effort to obtain UNDP / OPEC funds for
the CCOP / SOPAC programme (para. 96).
9.
Requested that ESCAP and Techsec make a selection
of documents presented to the sixth session for publication in the Proceedings (para. 69).
23.
Recommended that ESCAP prepare a revised budget
for the programme taking into account the alternatives suggested (para. 98).
10.
Called to the attention of Techsec the fact that
financial provision for eight Marine GeoLogicaLNotes
would be needed for 1978 (para. 70).
24. Urged ESCAP to expedite the forwarding of the document to UNDP (para. 98).
7.
22
21.
Agreed that the title of the draft project document for
the expanded programme be changed (paras 92 and
94).
Agreed that approximately $4 million would be requi red to meet the needs of the member countries
(para. 95).
ANNEX
II
WORK PROGRAMME
COOK ISLANDS
FIJI
Sea-bed investigation for manganese nodules in oceanic areas adjoining Cook
Islands (Priority A).
CSSP-I fCK./:
Stratigraphic
test drilling,
northern margin of Fiji Shelf (Priority C).
CCSP-I/FJ./:
(P
a)
d
ropose:
(a)
Proposed: TAG-II.
(b)
Field operations: project partly filled by project
CCSP-I/REG.7, by NZOI cruise to Samoa Passage
1976, by CCOP I SOPAC cruises 1976 and 1977, and
by ORSTOM cruises 1977.
CCSP-I/FJ.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR I CCOP I SOPAC (3) I CR.
NZ. I 2', SOPAC (5) ICR.22· • SOPAC(6) I CIt II and
CR .21.
(b)
(b)
.
CCSP - I fCK .:2 R econnaissance
c
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(d)
Field operations: Project partly filled by CCOP /
SOPACsurveycruises
1976and 1977. Further survey
worked planned for 1978.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR / CCOP I SOPAC(5) I CR.22,
Investigation for precious coral
in the near-shore waters surrounding the Cook
Islands (Priority B).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-V.
(d)
Field operations: project partly filled by CCOP
SOPAC survey cruise 1977. Further survey work
planned for 1978 in conjunction with CCSP-II CK.2.
()
P
li
.
'NR/CCOP/SOPAC(6)/CR
Island,
.' as an Important marginal
., position
. 0f'the
Planning:
the Fii
FIJI
.
h d I'irrutation
..
f F····
Group. 0 f Importance
to tee
0
IJI S
200-mile economic zone. Viwa Island should be ineluded in the proposed CCSP-I/FJ .15 project.
Location: Great Sea Reef,
north of Vanua Levu (Priority A).
PIanntng:
.
i In
. direate d present Iyon
t he Great Sea Ree f IS
charts as 'position approximate'. Its location will be a
priority aim of MRD (off shore) operations under
CCSP-I/FJ.6.
CCSP - IfF'] .:3
CCSP-J/CK.3:
re tmtnary reports,
Viwa
CCSP-I/FJ.IB:
(b)
NR I CCOP I SOPAC(6) / CR. II.
e
Planning: to be relative to projected oil company test
hole planned for 1978 off eastern Viti Levu.
I A: Location:
Yasawa Group (Priority A).
.
lor economic
mineralization in the off-shore and near-shore
waters surrounding the Cook Islands (Priority
A).
G
TA -I.
II
..
R e-eva Iua t'Ion 0f seisrmc
sei
an d
other data available on relinquished petroleum
concessions west of the Yasawa Group (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
(b) Planning: no further work in 1978. but intended to be
reclassified and studied possibly with the assistance
of a CCOP/SOPAC hydrocarbon consultant.
Sea-bed sampling off the north
coast of Viti Levu (Priority B).
CCSP-I/FJ.4:
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
<;:CSP-I fCK.4: (new project): Reconnaissance
(b)
Inventory of near-shore and off-shore sand In
Rarotonga for landfill and construction purposes together with determination of beachsand sources and migration patterns (Priority
Planning: discussions in progress because ofrenewed
oil company interest in the Bligh Water petroleum
concession.
(d)
Field operations: sampling and some shallow seismic
traversing was undertaken by MRD (0) and CCOP I
SOPAC from HMFS Kiro in Bligh Water.
(e)
Preliminary report: CCOP I SOPAC Technical Sec-
A).
(a)
Proposed: T AG-VI.
(d) Field operations: survey cruise planned for 1978.
retariat Project Report No.7.
23
Sea-bed sampling for phosphorites in the Lau Group (Priority B).
CCSP-IIFJ.5:
(a)
Proposed: TAG- I.
(d)
Field Operations: The Royal Society of New Zealand
in June-july 1977 ran a multi-disciplinary cruise on
r.v. Tang aroa between Suva and the Lau Group.
Ocean bed cores and dredge samples were taken at a
CCSP - IIF.'] .:6
N ear-s hore surveys
areas. beach to reef (Priority A).
(b)
Preliminary reports: CCOP / SOPAC Technical Secretariat Project Report No.7 and MRD (OJ, Fiji. File
AW9/M xA-47.
Marine geological
and
geophysical surveys south and south-west of
Viti Levu (Priority A).
CCSP-JlFJ.13:
number of sites. though phosphorites were not recovered. Malfunction of the airgun precluded extensive
seismic profiling.
(a)
(e)
0f
coas t a I
Proposed: TAG-II.
.
Planning:
surveys of beaches, reefs, cays, banks .and
..
Islets, are planned In Phase I and Phase II operations
( 1978- 88) 0f teo
h MRD ( ff sore
h)
vesse I programme
(see item 7b). Boreholes with a land-drill rig are projected.
Seismic refraction survey, Viti
Levu and Vanua Levu (Priority B).
CCSP-IIFJ.9:
()
a
P
d: TAG-II
ropose.
.
(b)
Planning: preliminary studies in 1978 with reflected
phases from earth uakes.
q
CCSP-JlFJ.II:
Marine
geological
and
~geophysical investigation of the northern mar.
f h F" PI f
(Priorit A)
gm 0 t e IJI at orm
IOn y
.
(a)
Proposed: TAG-III.
(b)
Planning: the greater part of projected Phase I and
Phase II shelf reconnaissance surveys (1978-88) of the
MRD (0) vessel, presently under construction, are
planned to investigate the Yasawaand Round IslandYadua shelves.
(c)
Preparations: as Fiji report under Item 7b.
(d)
Field operations: MRD (0) and CCOP / SOPAC joint
cruises 77-1 (Bligh Water) and 77-3 (Yasawa Trough).
(e)
Preliminaryreports:CCOP/SOPACTechnicaISecretariat project reports nos 7 and 9.
(a)
Proposed: T AG-l V.
(b)
Planning: no progress expected in 1978.
Interpretation
aeromagnetic data (Priority B).
CCSP-I/FJ.14:
(a)
Proposed: TAG-V.
(b)
Planning:
re-interpretation
of Bligh Water
aeromagnetic data by an oil company in collaboration
. h MRD F'"
. procee dimg With aa vi
WIt.
IJI. IS
view to th
. e
...
.
.
re-occupation of the 011concession In Bligh Water.
CC SP-I IFJ .15: (new project): Relocation of
selected points throughout the Fiji Group by
multiple-pass satellite fixes. (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI: correct the charted positions of
the islands of Fiji in co-operation with the RFN Hydrographic Section.
(b)
PI'
I ifi
II'
anntng: mu tt IX sate ite programme at up to
twenty selected sites ISplanned from October 1977 to
April 1978.
(c)
Preparations:
two-channel land satnav WIllbe used In
October 1977 while on demonstration for multipass
fixes at Nadi and Suva. The MRD (0) single-channel
MX 1102satnav should be obtained by the end of 1977
and will be available for multipass fixes before installation on the MRD (0) vessel in April 1978.
Marine geological, geological,
and geophysical investigation of the southern
Koro Sea between Viti Levu Kadavu and
Moala islands (Priority B).'
,
.
.
..
(d) Field operations: multipass fixes were obtained during MRD cruise 77-2 on HMFS Ruve at Suva, Vatoa.
and Ono-i-Lau.
(f)
CCSP-JlFJ./2:
of detailed
Preliminary reports: MRD File AW9/MxA-47 (see
paper submitted to the 6th Session as Fiji Technical
Report.)
(new project): Geochemical
and associated geological, investigations ofthe
sea-floor spreading axes of the Fiji Plateau west
and north of Fiji (Priority A).
.,
CCSP-IIFJ.16:
(a)
(a)
Proposed: TAG-III.
(d)
Field operations: 1977 work was concentrated in immediately adjacent sea areas: in the northern Koro
Sea from HMFSKiro using bottom samples and seismics (cruise MRD 77-1), and to the south-east about
Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau on HMFS Ruve on hydrog-
Proposed: TAG-VI: studies to locate possible metalliferous muds or brine pools associated with ridge
axes.
.
Preparations: Dr D.S. Cronan, lmpenal College,
London, is to study the core samples obtained from
the Yasawa and Yadua troughs and the Braemar
Ridge on MRD Cruise 77-3 by m.v. Acheron. The
deployment of sea-bed seismographs and the taking of
heat-flow measurements by visiting research vessels
raphic and navigational studies (cruise MRD 77-2).
to supplement data obtained is desirable.
,
24
(b)
(c)
Field operations: work from Fiji on this project was
started by the joint CCOP/ SOPAC-MRD(O) cruise of
m.v. Acheron in June 1977.
(e)
(d)
Preliminary reports: CCOP / SOPAC Technical Secretariat Project Report No. 9.
CC~P-/ INZ.2: Studies of the southern
rr~t',Z). of the Tonga-Kermadec
Trench
(a)
Preliminary reports: NZJ CCOP / SOPAC(3) / CR.NZ
/ I and NZJ3, NR / CCOP / SOPAC(5) / CR.9.
ter.mi(Prior-
Proposed: TAG-Jl.
(b) Planning: no cruises planned for 1978.
GILBERT ISLANDS
(d)
CCSP-/ IG./: Assessment
of possibilities
for
the occurrence of off-shore phosphate deposits
in the Gilbert Islands region (Priority A).
(e)
'TAG-IV
()a
P ropose. d
(b)
Planning: no progress expected in 1978.
.
CCSP-/IG.2:
Investigation
of the occurrence
of manganese nodules in the Gilbert Islands
region (Priority B)
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(b)
Planning: no progress expected in 1978.
.
.
CCSP:JlNZ.3:
Te~toOlc history and structure
of sedimentary basins off-shore from New Zealand (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-Ill.
(b)
Planning: continuing synthesis and interpretation
CC SP-/ IG.3: In vestigation for precious coral
in the near-shore waters surrounding the Gilbert Islands(Priority
A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-V.
CCSP-/ INZ./: Morphologic, sedimentary, and
structural features of the New Zealand shelf
and slope (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-II.
(b)
Planning:
(d)
Field operations:
thirteen cruises aboard r. v.
Tangaroa have included basic reconnaissance of New
Zealand's
continental
terrace. Comprehensive
geophysical studies have been made of the continental plateau and the East Cape area. Structure, surface
sediments, and microfauna have been studied in two
cruises to the Bounty Trough. Shelf sediments in
Wanganui Bight, Cook Strait, Foveaux Strait, and
Hawke
Bay have been
mapped
with
Sid
h
b
d side-scan sonar.
ice-scan . sona~ as. ee~ us~ . also from small
launches, In conjunction with diving, to survey the
sediments and submerged geomorphology in har-
.
.
.
programme
Includes
cruises by NZOI
.
,.
.
,
(UDSIR),.Geophyslcs DIVISIOn(DSIR), and Walkato
mversity.
bours and sheltered waters.
of
well-log and .geoph~sical data at ~etroleum ~ection,
NZGS. Additional information will be provided by
cruise to the Southern end of the Lord Howe Rise by
Geophysics Division.
(d
Field operations: Seven cruises aboard r. v. Tangaroa
have included the collection of geophysical data on
offshore structure. All have been to the eastern side of
New Zealand: Northland, East Cape (2), Chatham
Rise, Bounty Trough, and Campbell Plateau (2).
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR / CCOP / SOPAC(5)/CR.9.
(b) Planning: no progress expected in 1978.
NEW ZEALAND
Field operations: two cruises (NZOI and Geophysics
Di~ision) ~ave studied allied facets of the trench and
adjacent ridges.
Preliminary reports: preliminary reports published,
further
reports
in press.
NR / CCOP /
SOPAC(5)/CR.9.
. .
CCSP-/INZ.4:
(new project): Study of mafic
sands on the western shelf (Priority B).
(a)
Proposed: T AG- VI: to determine the extent and
thi ICk ness 0 f magne titI e- an d titI anomagnetlte-nc
..
h
sands on the western shelf of New Zealand.
(b) Planning: further sampling, high-resolution seismic,
and side-scan sonar surveys are planned by NZOI. It
is proposed to include vibracoring of large, maficsand ridges in future cruises.
(d) Field operations: side-scan sonar and high-resolution
seismic work in Wanganui Bight. Surface sediments
and cores were collected from the north Taranaki
Bight and from off South Island (NZOI).
(e) P re I'tmtnary
.
repor t s: repo rt s pu bliIShe d ,In. press, an d
in preparation.
(g)
Evaluation and interpretation: Dr K.B. Lewis is in-
terpreting the concentration of mafic sands in western
25
(h)
Cook Strait by storm-generated currents. Dr L. Carter is evaluating the effect of all hydraulic processes
on the dispersal of western shelf ironsands.
.
..
..
Wider application: the survey techniques, analytical
methods, and hydraulic interpretations developed for
(h)
the New Zealand mafic san~s may have application in
other CCOP I SOPAC projects, e.g., CCSP-IIPN2,
cCSP I SI 5.
CCSP-l /NZ. 7: (new project): Distribution of
gold in shelf di ents (Priority C).
. se rm
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI: To investigate the dispersal and
concentration of gold in shelf sediments off South
Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
(b)
Planning: tentative plans for cruise to the shelf off
South Otago and to eastern Foveaux Strait.
CCSP-l/NZ.5: (new project): Survey of nearshore detrital sands and gravels (Priority B).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI: to determine the extent, thickness, and composition of shelf sands and gravels,
particularly adjacent to those centres where there is
deficiency of aggregate.
(b)
Planning: Combined sampling, diving, and side-scan
sonar surveys of the entrance to Wellington Harbour
and of eastern Foveaux Strait are planned for late
1978. A programme of monitoring the movement of
near-shore sands and gravels during storms will continue (NZOI).
(d)
(e)
(h)
Field operations: Preliminary surveys by NZOI were
made of gravel deposits in northern Hawke Bay. Detaile~ sampling and seismic work of gravels ?ffN.orthland IS being evaluated by Canterbury University.
Wider application: the detailed study of the Chatham
Rise phosphorite has applications in the search for
other marine phosphorite deposits in the South
Pacific, e.g., CCSP-I/Fl 5, CCSP-I/G1, CCSP-I/SI 6,
CCSP/TG 2 CCSP-I/WSI
CCSP-l/REG II.
'
,
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
CC SP-l /PN.l:
Regional
reconnaissance
geological mapping, particularly of the outlying
islands (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
Preliminary reports: Reports in press and in preparation.
CCSP-l/PN.2: Preliminary appraisal to determine areas favourable for accumulation of detrital heayy !J1inerals in coastal and near-shore
areas (Priority A).
Wider application: survey techniques and hydraulic
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
interpretations have application in the search for
aggregate and road metalling, in the building of harbours and sewer outfalls, and in the laying of pipes
and cables.
(b)
Planning: no progress expected in 1978.
CCSP-l/PN 3' C tIt
d f
t
P
a
.
"
.ru~ a s u y 0 eas em apu
New Guinea (Priority A).
CCSP-l/NZ.6: (new project): Investigation of
phosphorit~ and glauconite deposits on the
Chatham Rise (Priority A).
(a)
(d)
(a)
Proposed: (TAG-VI: to determine the extent, composition, and thickness of phosphorite and glauconite
deposits on the crest of the Chatham Rise.
CCSP-l/PN.4: In-shore and near-shore marine
surveys around Papua New Guinea (Priority
Planning: no further cruises are planned at present,
pending the acquisition of deep-towed,
high-.
resolution seismic equipment.
(a)
(b)
(d)
. .
.
..
Preliminary reports: review report pubhshed. Field
report in preparation NR I CCOP I SOPAC(5) I CR.26.
(g)
Evaluation and reinterpretation: Dr Cullen is at present evaluating all available information on Chatham
Rise phosphorites.
26
A).
Proposed: TAG-IV.
.
(b) Planning: no progress expected In 1978.
Field operations: studies by Dr D.l. Cullen outlined in
fifth session (CCOP I SOPAC(5) I CR.26) are continuing. There has been one further cruise to determine
the nature and extent of phospate deposition in the
central part of the rise.
(e)
Proposed: TAG-I.
F" ld
'.
fi TAG III
te operations: re er
-.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
~CCSP-l/SI.l:
Coastal survey, Choiseul
Santa Isabel Islands (Priority B).
to
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
(e)
Progress report: maps of raw data are available, no
further work is planned for 1978.
\j
CCSP-JIS/.2: Transverse seismic profiling of
the Slot area (Priority A).
( a)
Propose:d TAG - I .
(b)
.
..
.
Planning: no progress In 1977 but IS anticipated to be
initiated concurrently with long term UNDP project.
Investigation into the lagoonal
sediments of the Indispensable Atoll, Solomon
Islands (Priority A).
CCSP-IISI.9:
(a)
Proposed: TAG-V.
(d)
Field operations: completed by survey May 1977.
b
(e)
Preliminary report: NR / CCOP / SOPAC(6) / CR.8.
(b)
Field operations: partially completed by Feburary
1976 survey.
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI.
(d)
(e)
Preliminary report: follow up work recommended.
Published as South Pacific Marine Gelogical Notes.
Vol. I, No.4 (1977).
Field operations: partially completed by data evaluation of April 1977.
(e)
Preliminary report: So uth Pacific Marine Geological
Notes Vol. I, No.5 (/977).
CCSP - liS/ .:4
ti
ti
I nves Iga IOn
f
h 11
s a ow su merged plateaus in Manning Strait and south....
west of Choiseul. (Priority B).
" . CCs,P-JISI./O. (new project): E~aluatlOn of po"-J tential hydrocarbon occurrence In the Solomon
(a) Proposed: TAG-III.
Islands (Priority A).
0
CCSP-IIS/.5:
Investigation of detrital heavy
mineral deposits, including gold, in near-shore
areas off central north Guadalcanal (Priority
A).
.
(~ew project). Bathymetry,
geophysical profiling, a~d bott~m-sa~~IIng In
the area north of Manning Strait (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI.
(d)
Field operations: partially completed by CCOP /
SOPAC survey cruise, November 1975. Further work
proposed in 1978.
(b)
(e)
Preliminary reports: published as South Pacific
Marine Geological Notes Vol. I No.4 (1977).
Planning: project arising out of report in South
Pacific Marine Geological Notes, Vol. I, No.5 (1977)
and expected to be incorporated into CCOP/ SO PAC
expanded Project. Field operations proposed for
1978.
CCSP-I (S/.II.
.'
. .
CCSP-/ISI.6: Investigation of the phosphate
potential of submerged se~mounts, p~rtl~ularly
the oon,e situated approximately 10 30 S and
15945 E (Priority B),
(new project): Bathymetry,
geophysical profiling, and bottom-sampling in
the region of the Pocklington Trough and the
area south of Guadalcanal to investigate the
possible occurrence of manganese nodules
(Priority B).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI.
(b)
Planning: no progress expected in 1978.
(b)
Planning: to be carried out as part of the CCOP /
SOPAC expanded project, possibly in 1979.
CCSP-JIS/.12:
.
CCSP-I lSI. 7: Investigations
into discharge
from submarine volcanoes in the Solomon Islands (Priority C).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
CCSP-JlSI.13: (new project): Bathymetry,
geophysical profiling, and sampling in the region of the Rennel arc (Priority B).
(b)
Planning: Professors Dash and Diamond of Oregon
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI.
State University are planning studies.
(b)
Planning: to be carried out as part of the CCOP /
SOPAC expanded project. Fieldwork proposed for
1979.
Investigations into metal dispersions in marine sediments around Vella Lavella
and in other selected areas in the Solomon Islands. (Priority C).
CCSP-IIS/.8:
TONGA
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
CCS P- IITG .:I Sea- b e d imvestigations
..
for man-
(b)
Planning: Professors Dash and Diamond of Oregon
State University are planning studies which could be
ganese nodules on the deep submarine terrace
on the east side of the Tonga Platform, on the
west side of the Tonga Trench (Priority B),
carried out concurrently with SI.7.
27
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by CCOP I SOPAC
survey cruise in April 1976 and September 1977.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NRI CCOPI SOPAC(5)I CR.21.
WESTERN SAMOA
. . ..
CCSP-/ IWS./: Assessment of pos~IbIhtIes for
occurrence of sea-bed phosphorites on the
slopes of the Western Samoa platform (Priority
B).
CCSP-I/TG.2: Assessment of possibilities of
occurrence of sea~be? phosphorites on the
Tonga Platform (Priority B).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by CCOP I SOPAC
survey cruise in March 1976 and July-August 1977.
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR I CCOP I SOPAC(5) I CR.20
(b)
Planning: survey cruise planned for 1977.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by CCOP I SOPAC
survey cruise in April 1976 and September 1977.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NRI CCOPI SOPAC(5)I CR.2J.
and NR I CCOP I SOPAC(6) / CR.7.
.
..
CCS P- / IW S.2: ~e~-bed investigatrons
for
manganese deposits 10 oceamc areas surrounding Western Samoa (Priority B).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
CCSP-/ITG.3: Survey of near-shore areas for
precious coral occurrence (Priority A).
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by CCOP I SO PAC
survey cruise in March 1976 and July-August 1977.
(a)
Proposed: TAG- V: to determine the possible occurrence of precious coral on the upper flanks of the
Tonga Ridge and island slopes.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR I CCOP I SOPAC(5) I CR.20
and NR I CCOP I SOPAC(6) I CR.7.
(b)
Planning: partially filled by CCOP I SO PAC survey
cruise in September 1977.
CCSP- / IWS.3: Reconnaissance
survey for
possible manganese deposits on the Western
Samoa platform and off-shore areas (Priority
CCSP-JITG.4:Survey
for zones of metalliferous
enrichment in active volcanic area (northern
Tofua Ridge) of Tonga Platform (Priority A).
(a)
(d)
Proposed: TAG-V: to determine the possible occurrence of base metal sulphides of hydrothermal origin
.
along the Tofua RIdge.
A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(d)
. Id operations:
.
. IIy fill
Fie
partra
ley d b CCOP I SOPAC
survey cruise in March 1976 and July-August 1977.
. .
NR I CCOP I SOPAC(5) I CR 20
Preliminary reports:
.
and NR I CCOP I SOPAC(6) I CR.7.
(e)
Field operations: partially filled by CCOP I SOPAC
survey cruise in September 1977.
C.CSP-/ITG.5: (new project): Seismic refl~cnon survey of the Tonga platform to determine
sediment thickness and basement structure
with particular reference to oil-production protential (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI.
(b)
Planning: cruise plannd for 1978.
CCSP-I/WS.4: Investigation of deeper flanks
of island slope for precious coral (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-V.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by CCOP I SOPAC
survey cruise in July-August 1977.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NRI CCOPI SOPAC(6)I CR.7.
CCSP-/IWS.5: (new project): Off-shore and
near-shore surveys for landfill, construction
materials, and harbour surveys before dredging, using shallow water reflection profiling to
determine thickness and extent of sand and
other structures (Priority A).
CCSP-I/TG.6: (new project): Reconnaissance
inventory of near-shore and off-shore sand for
landfill and construction purposes along with
determination of beach-sand sources and migration patterns (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-VI.
(a)
Proposed: TAG- VI.
(b)
(b)
Planning: to start in 1978.
Planning: Apia Observatory and Department of Public Works Western Samoa in conjunction with Techsec staff for 1978.
28
REGIONAL
PROJECTS
CCSP-J IREG. J: Marine geologic and geophys-
ical inve.sti~ations in the Solomon and Coral
Seas (Pnonty B).
CCSP-J IREG.5: Marine geologic and geophys-
ical investigations of the Lau Basin (Priority
B).
(a)
b)
Planning: ORSTOM cruise planned for 1978.
« a) Proposed: TAG-I.
(b)
(d)
Proposed: TAG-I.
.
..
.
Plan~mg: J~mt Federal Repubhc of Germany and Austrahan cruise on r.v. Sonne planned for 1978.
Field operations: partially filled by LDGO-Australian
cruise in collaboration with ORSTOM on LV. Vema
January-February
1977.
,
."
Marine geologic and geophysIca~ mvestigations In the area of Ontong Java,
Elhce, and Santa Cruz Islands (Priority B).
~CS.P-JlR~G.!.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by aeromagnetic surveys carried out by NRL (USA) and Project Magnet.
(e)
Preliminary reports:
CR.T AG-12.
NR / CCOP / SOPAC(3) /
CC'"SP-J IREG.6: Regional geologic evaluation
to determine additional ocean drilling sites in
the South Pacific region (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
I
.
SP-J REG.7: Surveys of abyssal sediment
cover north and east of New Zealand (Priority
(a)
Proposed: TAG-I.
CC
(b)
Planning: Geological Survey of Japan cruise on LV.
Hakurei Maru planned for 1978. NR / CCOP /
SOPAC(6) / CRA6.
A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-II.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by 1977cruise ofr. v.
Hakurei Maru.
(d)
F" Id
(e)
Preliminary reports:NR/ CCOP/ SOPAC(6)/ CR.44.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR/ CCOP/ SOPAC(5)/CR.26.
.
. II fill d b NZOI
.
ie operatlO~s: partra y ley
cruise on
r.v. Tangaroa in 1975 and 1977.
CCSP-J IREG.3: Marine geologic and geophys-
CCSP-J IREG.8: Distribution of shelled plank-
ical investigations of the northern part of the
Fiji Plateau, from Samoa to the northern New
Hebrides and Santa Cruz Islands (Priority A).
ton in water column and sediments of South Fiji
basin (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG- I.
(b)
Planning: future work planned by ERI, HIG. and
ORSTOM is outlined in the recommendations of the.
Honolulu ad h oc mee t·109 0 f specia. (.IS ts on th e
Geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau. ORSTOM cruise
planned in southern New Hebrides and northern Fiji
Plateau in 1978.
(e)
m
Preliminary reports: NR/CCOP/
CCOP / SOPAC(6) / CR.22.
SOPAC(6)15; NR/
Final report: phase I in preparation.
(a)
Proposed: TAG-II.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by NZOI cruise on
LV. Tang aroa in 1975 and 1977.
..
Final report: phase 1 10 preparation.
(0
...
CCSP-J IREG.9: Seismic profihng and bottom
sampling between northern New Caledonia
and Ontong Java Plateau (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-III.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR / CCOP / SOPAC(5) / CRA.
(0
Final report: for phase I see International Symposium on the Geodynamics of the South-west
Pacific. Noumea 1976. published by Technip Paris
1977. NR / CCOP / SOPAC(6) / CRAI.
~CSP-J IREGA: Marine geologic and geophys-
ical investigations of the Fiji Plateau (Priority
A).
(a)
b
()
Proposed: TAG-I.
'.
Planning: work. for phase .2, planned by ERI, HIG,
and ORSTOM, IS outlined In the recommendations of
the Honolulu ad hoc meeting of specialists on the
Geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR / CCOP / SOPAC(6)/5.
(0
Final report: for phase I in preparation.
Search for metalliferous
muds and hot brines in enclosed oceanic basins
(Priority B).
CCSP-JIREG.JO:
(a)
Proposed: TAG-III.
(b) Planning: HIG cruise planned for 1979; combined
NZOI and Imperial College, London, cruise planned
for 1980.
29
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by MRD (Fiji) and
CCOP / SO PAC cruise on m.v. Acheron in Yasawa
area in 1977.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR / CCOP / SOPAC(6) / CR.6.
CCSP-I/REG./7:
(Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(e)
Preliminary reports: interpretation of bathymetric
data and trace element analysis of sea-bed samples
collected from the Epi-Tongaarea, New Hebrides by
HMS Hydra in 1974. Report prepared by New Hebrides Condominium Geological Survey.
CCSP-/ /REG.//:
Search for phosphate on
seamount surfaces in equatorial areas of the
South Pacific (Priority B).
(a)
Regional data and syntheses
Proposed: TAG-III.
CCSP-/ /REG.12:
Search for manganese
nodules in the Ontong Java-Ellice Basin area
(Priority B).
CCSP-l/REG./8: Ocean thermal data collection (Priority B).
(a)
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(b)
Planned: data collection planned during CCOP /
SOPAC offshore surveys in 1978.
(e)
Preliminary reports: reconnaissance by University of
Auckland of the thermal areas of Efate, Vanua Levu,
and Tanna, New Hebrides. Reports by New Hebrides
Proposed: TAG-IV.
, S
h f
CCSP - I/REG "13
earc
or manganese
nodules along a Cook Islands-Tuamotu transect (Priority B).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(b)
Planning: combined ORSTOM, BGR (Federal Republic of Germany), Oregon State University, and
NZOI cruise planned for 1978.
(e)
Preliminaryreports:NR/CCOP/SOPAC(6)/CR.22.
CCSP-I/REG./4:
Compilation of chemical
analyses of sediments in the South Pacific region (Priority A).
()
a
(e)
P
. d'TAG-IV
roposea.
.
Preliminary report: NR / CCOP/ SOPAC(6) /CR.16.
(f)
Final report: for phase I (in press) see NR / CCOP /
SOPAC(6) / CR.24.
CCSP-/ /REG ./5: Compilation of manganese
nodule data (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-IV.
(b)
Planning: combined NZOI and SIO project planned
for 1978.
CCSP-I/REG./6: The study of energy release
an~ seismicity in the southwest Pacific region
(Pnonty A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG- IV.
(b)
Planning: combined cruises continuing.
(d)
Field operations: partially filled by combined project
in operation involving New Hebrides Condominium
Mining and Geological Office, ORSTOM, University
of Cornell, and University of Texas.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NRI CCOP I SOPAC(6)I CR.22.
30
Condominium Geological Survey completed.
CCSP-l/REG.19: Study of the tectonics ofthe
Fiji Plateau area using OBS and other marine
geophysical survey techniques (Priority A).
() P
d: TAG V
a
ropose.
-.
(b)
Planning: preliminary proposal submitted by Hawaii
Institute of Geophysics as continuation of long-range
studies started in 1968. Investigations to be carried
out with deployment of OBSs and research vessel
surveys utilizing conventional marine geological/
geophysical techniques. Future work is outlined in
the recommendations of the Honolulu ad hoc meeting
of specialists on the Geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR / CCOP / SOPAC(6)/5.
CCSP-/ /REG.20: Investigations of seismicity
of the Samoa- Tonga-Cook Islands- Kermadec
Islands Region (Priority A).
(a)
Proposed: TAG-V.
(b)
Planning: preliminary proposal made by Hawaii Institute of Geophysics to set up temporary seismic recording station on Rarotonga for collecting of data on
earthquakes and upper mantle studies deferred pending funding. Other recording sites to be occupied
later. Further work outlined in recommendations of
the Honolulu ad hoc meeting of specialists on the
Geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau.
(e)
Preliminary reports: NR / CCOP / SOPAC(6)/5.
ANNEX
III
LIST OF DOCUMENTS
Document no. and agenda item
Title
Submitted by
FJESCAP/NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/L.1
Provisional agenda
ESCAP Secretariat
FJESCAP/NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/L.2
Annotated provisional agenda
ESCAP Secretariat
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)1I
Item 6b
Review of activities. since the Fifth
Session, of the ESCAP Secretariat
ESCAP Secretariat
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/IA
Review of activities of the CCOP/SOPAC
Technical Secretariat since the
Fifth Session
Technical Secretariat
Economic feasibility of off-shore
sand mining
Technical Secretariat
Exploration for precious coral
Technical Secretariat
Report on status of the chartered
survey vessel: m. v. Acheron
Technical Secretariat
Report on the ad hoc meeting of
specialists on the geodynamics
of the Fiji Plateau
Technical Secretariat
Off-shore exploration for land-fill
and construction-grade sand
Technical Secretariat
Possible occurrence of metalliferous
sediments on the Fiji Plateau
Technical Secretariat
Ramifications of ad hoc meeting on
the geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau
and results of discussions on
digitizing CCOP/SOPAC survey data
by the HIG data processing center
Technical Secretariat
Requirements for acquisition of
bathymetric data and compilation
of bathymetric charts
Technical Secretariat
Petroleum resources in CCOP/SOPAC
member countries
Technical Secretariat
Item 6a
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/2
Item 5
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/3
Item 5
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/4
Item 7a
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/5
Item 7b
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/6
Item 8
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/8
Item 8
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/10
Item 9
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/11
Item 9
NRlCCOP/SOPAC(6)/12
Item 8
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/12A
CCOP/SOPAC
publications
Technical Secretariat
Item 10
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)/13
Item II
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.1
Inauguration of regional professional
seminars
Technical Secretariat
Project Progress Report
C.W. Landmesser
(Technical
Secretariat)
Results of the third United Nations
conference on the law of the sea
Project Office (CCOP)
Preliminary draft of proposed project
UNDP/SPRO
Item 6a
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.2
Item I3b
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.3
Item 6b
document
31
Document no. and agenda item
Title
Submitted by
Report on training programme in offshore mineral prospecting techniques,
m.v. Hakurei Maru
Edward Winterstein
(Samoa)
Map showing approximate boundaries
of proposed 200-mile exclusive
economic zones
ESCAP Secretariat
Cruise Report: Fiji off-shore survey
cruise (Yasawa Trough)
A.J. Halunen Jr
et al. (Technical
Secretariat)
Cruise Report: Western Samoa off-shore
survey
A.J. Halunen Jr
et al. (Technical
Secretariat)
Indispensablereefs and Lake
Te Nggano bauxite surveys, Southern
Solomon Islands
J.V. Eade et al.
(Technical
Secretariat)
Cruise Report: Koro Sea and Bligh
Water, Fiji
R.T.R. Wingfield et al.
(Technical
Secretariat)
Papers presented at the IDOE Workshop,
Suva, Fiji
Technical Secretariat
Cruise Report: Cook Islands off-shore
survey
J. V. Eade et at.
(Technical
Secretariat)
Evaluation of potential hydrocarbon
occurrence in the Solomon Islands
C.W. Landmesser
(Technical
Secretariat)
Investigation of shallow submerged
plateaus in the Manning Straits and
Southwest of Choiseul Island
G.R. Taylor
(Solomon Islands)
Manganese nodules from the South
Penrhyn Basin, Southwest Pacific
C.W. Landmesser
et al. (Technical
Secretariat)
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.14
Cruise Report: Tonga offshore survey
J.V. Eade et al.
(Technical
Secretariat)
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.15
Developments in hydrocarbon exploration
in N.Z. and the S.W. Pacific Island
Region in 1976
H.R. Katz
(New Zealand)
Metalliferous seafloor deposits
specialist group report
G.P. Glasby
(New Zealand)
A morphologic guide to the continentaloceanic crustal boundary around N .Z.
L. Carter et al.
(New Zealand)
Progress of and amendments to N.Z.
national and Regional Projects with
list of published papers.
K.B. Lewis
(New Zealand)
Manganese nodules in the South Pacific
G.P. Glasby
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.4
Item II
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.5
Item 13b
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.6
Item 7a
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.7
Item 7a
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.8
Item 7a
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.9
Item 7a
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.IO
Item 10
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.II
Item 7a
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.12
Item 8
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.12A
Item 8
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.13
Item 8
Item 8
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.16
Item 8
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.17
Item 13b
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.18
Item 7
NRiCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.19
Item 8
32
: A review
(New Zealand)
Document no. and agenda item
Title
Submitted by
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.20
Item 7a
Polymetallic nodules sampling in the
Cook Islands archipelago
M. Monzier and
F. Missegue
(ORSTOM/CNEXO,
France)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.21
Item 7a
Sea floor samplings east of Tonga
Trench
R. Decourt, et a/.
(CNEXO/ORSTOM,
France)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.22
Item 7a
Participation of French research
organizations in the study of
marine geology-geophysics in the
South Pacific.
ORSTOM/CNEXO
(France)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.23
Item 5
Gloria II - an improved long range
side scan sonar
M.L. Somers et a/.
(Institute of Oceanographic Sciences)
NRJCCOP SOPAC(6)CR.24
Item 5
A preliminary regional geochemical
reconnaissance survey for submarine
metalliferous sediments in the
southwestern Pacific Ocean
D.S. Cronan and
B. Thompson (UK)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.25
Item 8
Gold-bearing, sediments on the
continental shelf, Northern
Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
C.C. Turner et at.
(Technical
Secretariat)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.26
Item 5
Development and use of towed sea-bed
gamma spectrometer
Institute of Geological
Sciences (UK)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.27
Item 5
Air Gun systems suitable for
CCOP/SOPAC projects with notes on
NZOI system
N.J. Day
(New Zealand)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.28
Item 5
Operating characteristics and
installation requirements of survey
equipment presently used by or
potentially useful to CCOP/SOPAC
E.J. Barnes
(New Zealand)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.29
Item to
Proceedings of the Fifth Session
Technical Secretariat
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.30
Item 7
Survey activities in the Solomon
Islands
Solomon Islands
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.31
Report and evaluation of the Maganavox
MXII02 satnav demonstration in Fiji
R.T.R. Wingfield
(Fiji)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.32
Item 7
Cruises by MRD(O) in Fiji waters:
Progress of construction, equipment
and planned programme of the MRD(O)
vessel
R.T.R. Wingfield
(Fiji)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.33
Fiji Work Programme
Fiji
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.34
Item 9
Collating CCOP/SOPAC
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.35
Item 8
Provisional MRD (Off-shore), Fiji,
Reconnaissance Programme
R.T.R. Wingfield
(Fiji)
NRJCCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.36
Item 13a
Geothermal investigations in Fiji
M.E. Cox (Fiji)
Item 7b
data
K.B. Lewis
(New Zealand)
33
Document no. and agenda item
Title
Submitted by
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.37
Item 12
Projected otT-shore operations Fiji
1978
Fiji
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.38
Item 9
Bibliography of the geology of Fiji
1977 additions
P. Rodda (Fiji)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.39
Item 9
Circum-Pacific Map Project: Southwest
Quadrant
R.N. Richmond
(Fiji)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.40
Item 8
Status of petroleum exploration in
Fiji
R.N. Richmond
(Fiji)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.41
Item 7b
Geodynamics in South-west Pacific,
International Symposium
ORSTOM (France)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.42
Item 12
Proposed New Projects-Fiji
Fiji
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.43
Item 7b
Geological and geophysical research
cruises around Japan in 1976 and 1977
E. Inoue et
(Japan)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.44
Item 8
Brief report on the LV. Hakurei Maru
GH77-I cruise for the central Pacific
Basin
T. Moritani (Japan)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.45
Item 7b
Status of the marine geological
activities of the Geological Survey
of Japan
Japan
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.46
Item 8
Schedule of GH78-1 cruise of Geological
Survey vessel Hakurei Maru
Japan
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.47
Item 7b
Dredged rock and piston and gravity
core data from the Daito Ridges and
the Kyushu-Palau Ridge in the North
Philippine Sea
A. Mizuno et
(Japan)
at.
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.48
Item 8
Basic research programme on deep sea
mineral resources by the Geological
Survey of Japan
A. Mizuno et
(Japan)
at.
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.49
Item 16
International geological correlation
programme information note
IGCP Secretariat
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.50
Item II
Notes including reference to the
comprehensive environmental
programme for the South Pacific
D. Medford, Centre
for Applied Studies
in Development,
USP (Fiji)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.51
Item II
Notes including reference to technology
policy training with reference to
mining
D. Medford, Centre
for Applied Studies
in Development,
USP (Fiji)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.52
Item II
South Pacific Regional Training
Course: Basic earth sciences
University of the
South Pacific
(Fiji)
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.53
Item 7b
Review of activities, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
NRICCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.54
U.S. Geological Survey otT-shore
U.S.A.
~mTh
34
d~~
at.
ANNEX
IV
LIST OF MAPS, CHARTS, AND PUBLICATIONS
Cook Islands
Solomon Islands
I.
I.
Geological map of the Solomon Islands, I : 1000000.
2.
Progress chart of geological mapping, Solomon Islands.
3.
Mining tenements map, Solomon Islands.
4.
Seismograph station location map, Solomon Islands.
5.
Proposed and existing hydro-electric
omon Islands.
Bathymetric charts of Aitutaki and Manuea (I:
200(00) and bottom photos, offshore Cook Islands
cruise 1977.
New Zealand
I.
Bathymetric charts of New Zealand Region from 30·S
to 5TS (1 : 1000000): Lord Howe, Three Kings, Bellona, Cook, Resolution, Bounty, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie, and Pukaki. NZOI Oceanic Chart
Series.
2.
Bathymetry charts of Wellington Harbour (I : 2500)
. 'with side-scan sonar records (I : 1500) of rock out.crops, gravel and sand deposits, and harbour installa·tions.NZOI Chart, Misc. Series 25. Herzer, R.H.,
1976.
schemes, Sol-
Technical Secretariat
I.
2
.
Proceedings of the First and Second Sessions, Third
Session, and Fourth Session of CCOP / SOPAC.
T
. I B II'
N
d2
echnica
u etms os 1 an
.
3·
NZMS 276 2 d dDt
Th e P aCI'fiIC, I' . "0000000
.
. n e.
ep
Lands and Survey. 1976.
f
3.
South Pacific Marine Geological Notes, Vol. I, Nos I,
2 3 4 5
d6
' , , , an
.
4·
Isan
I d sot f h e Sout h P aCIifIC, I' • 10000000 . NZMS275 .
2n d e.d Dept 0fL an d s an d Survey. 1976.
. t
E nergy Map 0fN ew Ze a!an:d (I 2000000) . M·lOISry
of Energy & Resources in conjunction with N .Z.
4.
Economics and Market Potential of the Precious
Cora I In d ustry m
. H awau.. , U'rnversity
. o fH awan,.. 1971.
5.
Status of the Precious Cora! Industry in Japan,
.
.
..
f
.. 970
Taiwan and Okinawa, University 0 Hawaii, I
.
Electricity Dept. 1977.
United Kingdom
6.
Bibliography of New Zealand Submarine Geology
1866-1969, NZOI Memoir 67. Lewis, V. J. 1977.
I.
7.
Distribution and Morphology of Chatham Rise Phosporites. NZOI Memoir 77. Pasho, D. W., 1976.
5·
8·
9.
0
Petro Iogy, distributi
istn utron, an d economic. potent) 'a! 0f
phosphorite deposits on Chatham Rise, east of New
Zealand. NZOI Oceanographic Summary 8. Cullen,
1976.
Deep Sea Manganese Nodules, p. 295-340 in "Handbook of Stratabound and Stratiform Ore Deposits",
Vol. 7 (Wolf, K. H., Ed). Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Glasby, G. P., Read, A. J., 1976.
10. Surface densities of manganese nodules in the southem sector of the South Pacific. N.Z. Journal of Geology and Geophysics /9(6): 771-90. Glasby, G.P.,
1976.
2.
Map of estimated external limits of the 200-mile
economic zones of territories within the South Pacific
Commission Area. Preliminary version produced by
ORSTOM, funded by CNEXO, 1977.
Resources, IGS, 1977.
Sea Bed Gamma spectrometic
survey equipment,
IGS.
3.
Summary of Work Done to Date on South Western
Pacific Sediments, Applied Geochemistry Research
Group, Imperial College, London.
4.
Philosophical Transactions
London, February, 1977.
5.
Plan views of active Faults and other Features of the
Lower Nile Cone, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, England.
6.
Young Compressional Structures of the Calaterian,
Hellenic and Cyprus Outer Ridges. Kenyon N.H.,
Belderson R.H., 1976.
7.
Gloria II - an improved long range side scan sonar,
Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, England.
France
I.
International Symposium on Nuclear techniques in
Exploration, Extraction and Processing of Minera!
of the Royal Society of
United States
I.
Preliminary Geologic map of land area, black and
white, Northwest.Quadrant and Compilation Maps of
35
both age and lithology of China, colour prints, I:
10000000.
7.
Geographic Map of the Circum-Pacific Region Northeast Quadrant, I : 10000000, 1977.
2.
Seismic epicenters map in 8 depth ranges with overlay
of shallow focal plane mechanisms, colour proof,
Northwest Quadrant, I : 10000000.
8.
Maps and Graphic Data Related to Geologic Hazards
in the Baltimore Canyon Trough Area, USGS, 1976.
9.
3.
Isopach (overlay) manuscript of Sedimentary Basins
on Continental Crust, Northwest Quadrant, I :
10000000.
Sedimentary Basins Map ofthe ESCAP Region, preliminary edition, Sheet S-4, UN ESCAP, 1977.
4.
Isopach maps of both the transparent and opaque
sediments in the Western Pacific Ocean, contour intervallOO rn, preliminary edition, Ludwig and Houtz,
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, approximate scale I : 12000000.
10. Sedimentary Basins Map of the ESCAP Region, preliminary edition, Sheet S-3, UN ESCAP, 1977.
II.
Geological studies on the CCST No. B-2 Well, U.S.
Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf, U.S. Geological Survey Circular 750, 1977.
12. Oil Spills, 1971-75,GulfofMexicoOuterContinental
5.
Base Map of Northwest Quadrant, 2 colour, I :
10000000.
6.
Geographic Map of the Circum-Pacific
Northwest Quadrant, I : 10000000, 1977.
Region
Shelf, E.P. Danenberger, U.S. Geological Survey
Circular 741, 1976.
13. U.S. Geological Survey Annual Report, Fiscal Year
1976.
ANNEX
V
SUMMARY OF BUDGET COVERING UNDP CONTRIBUTION
FOR 19781
$US
Project personnel
Support staff
18340
Travel on official business
23000
Subcontract (vessel charter fully found basis)
60000
Equipment (includes expendable and non-expendable
office equipment and supplies)
2866()3
Miscellaneous (includes operation and maintenance
of equipment, 2500; publication, 3500;
and sundry, 6000)
12000
UNDP total contribution
J
36
1080002
250000
Proposal sent to United Nations Office of Technical Co-operation on 20 January 1978after receiving
notice that United Nations Development Programme regular funds will not be more than $250000 for
1978.
2
Includes $33995 to be financed from New Zealand non-convertible funds.
3
Includes $8000 financed from New Zealand non-convertible funds.
ANNEX
OUTLINE OF PROJECT
Long-term objectives
The purpose of this project is to provide a basis
for and assist member countries in the formulati~n of policies and execution of programmes
for detailed evaluation, development, and
management of off-shore mineral and associated resources in the best interests of the
countries
concerned,
having r~gard. to
economic, environmental, and social objectrves.
.
..
Imme~l8te objectives
To raise the level of knowledge and understanding of the occurrence and distribution .of
deep-water, shallow-water, and coastal rruneral resources within the region, and in particular:
.
(a) To develop and carry ~ut a co-operatI,:,e
programme of survey~ ,?f mineral res~urces In
~he waters of the partlclp~tIng countnes, havmg regard.to ~urveys carried out or planned by
other bodies I.nthe sub~ect area;
.
(b) To identify any ~Ineral resources WhICh
appea.r to have 'po~enttal for development, and
to assist countnes In formulating and managing
programmes for the detailed evaluation of such
resources, and for their development if appropriate:
(c) To assist the participating countries to develop their own capabilities in these fields, ineluding matters relating to legal and adrninistrative aspects of mineral exploration and developmentin their best interests. It can be expected that the scope of technical co-operation
within the region will increase very significantly as the capabilities of the participating
countries are progressively strengthened.
VI
PROPOSAL 1978-811
Background Information
....
The South Pacific IS charactenzed by a high
proportion of .water to land area, and it is clear
that ~anne mineral resources a~e potentially of
great Impo.rtance to the econ.offilc development
of the Pacific Island countnes.
Very little is presently known about the
geology of South Pacific islands off-shore
areas, and there is far too little information on
which to make predictions/statements with any
reasonable degree of accuracy on the existence
or extent of off-shore mineral resources which
might be of potential economic importance to
the island countries.
The geological conditions of most of the
South Pacific are, with the exception of Papua
New Guinea, quite different from those of the
rest of the ESCAP region. The assessment of
mineral potential (particularly oil) therefore
presents unorthodox problems, but there appear to be varying degrees of potential for the
discovery of economically workable occurrences of manganese nodules, oil, phosphate
rock bauxite some detrital minerals constru~tion mat~rials and precious coral.'
'.
..
.
The need to obtain systematic information
on t~ese resources as a b:;tsisfor assessment of
possible further C?xploratIOoand ~evelopment
led .to the formation of the ~ommlttC?e for CoordmatIO~ of Jomt Prosp~~tmg for Mmeral Resources In South Pacific Offshore Areas
~CC~:)p/ SOPA9 ~hlch had ItSmaugural mee~109 I~ Suva, FIJI, I~ November
1972. At this
meetlI~g the format~on of the CCOP / SOPAC
Tec~n.I~al Secretanat was recommended and
the initial goals of CCOP / SOPAC were deIt is expected that collaboration will increase fined.
with the universities in the region, particularly
. ..
.
in the fields of earth and marine sciences To
The acnvities ofCCOP/SOPAC have gained
ensure that proper frameworks for explor~tion
increasing momentu~ since receiving financial
and development are established and main- support from the United NatIOn.sDevelopment
tained, due attention will be given, in co- Programme (UNDP) throu!,?h ItS preparatory
operation with appropriate bodies, to the need assls~an<?e programme project (~S/72/122)
for conservation of the marine environment
starting In late 1974. Through the Involvement
.
of the Technical Secretariat funded by UNDP,
and with various bilateral inputs both in cash
Sent to the United NationsOfficeof TechnicalCo- and in kind (experts and equipment on loan in
operationon 16 December1977 as a basisfor seeking particular) has carried out some initial surveys
fundsfromOrganisationofPelroleumExportingCoun- of these resources and results of several of
tries contributions to the United Nations.
these surveys have been published.
I
37
The most important of its activities to date
can be summarized as follows: the formation of
counterpart offshore mineral resources units in
Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands,
and Tonga; reconnaissance cruises of the
offshore waters of the Cook Islands, Fiji,
Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Tonga; reinterpretation of geophysical/geological data
for Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Tonga; an initial evaluation of offshore resources in selected South Pacific offshore areas. In addition, technicians from the
island countries have been given a two-week
training course by the Technical Secretariat in
collaboration with the Natural Resources Division, Fiji, and a four-month training course by
the University of the South Pacific in collaboration with the technical secretariat.
As.is emphasized in the report of the techni~al mISSIOnreport, the probability of discovermg any one exploitable mineral in anyone locanon IS relatively low, and the survey programme therefore will be conducted over a large
geographical area and will investigate a number
of potential mineral resources.
..
Th e Ieve I 0f technology and of capability
to undertake marine investigation is, on aver-.
~g~, low among the participating countries and
ISInadequate to meet these objectives without
substantial support. S.ome co-operative activity, slmIl~r ~othat envisaged under the project,
ISessential If econorruc benefits of mineral development are ever to become available to the
countries involved.
Ma~ne geological survey and exploration
work IS g~nerally costly and long term. It is,
however, in the countries' interests to participate actively In the survey stage and to acquire
know-how to commission and supervise
follow-~p work as well as to negotiate successfully with the companies that may be expected
to be involved III such follow-up activities. The
countries have already demonstrated their willingness to take advantage of such op'portunities to the fullest extent of their available
personnel, facilities, and equipment.
In 1976 the survey cruises were carried out
using vessels provided by the participating
countries and the few basic geophysical
equipment items were air freighted from one
country to the next. In order to make the most
efficient use of UNDP funds, a survey vessel
was chartered for a 4-month period in 1977 and
this experience confirmed the wisdom of the
recommendation of the expert mission that the
main project activities should be based on the
use of a chartered vessel.
38
Outline of proposal
The expert mission recommended a five-year
programme, adequately staffed to make a preliminary survey ofthe marine resources of the
target area. Having regard to the fact that durmg the two years which have elapsed since the
n:tlsston was fielded some work has been carried out by the project and by other bodies with
which the project office maintains contact and
recognizing th~t the next UNDP progra~me
penod will end In 1981, this proposal covers the
four-year period 1978-1981. However, having
regard to the timing of this submission, the year
1978 would not be fully effective.
Th
...
e present project ~nternattonal s~aff
funded by U~DP comprises two sea-going
manne geologist/geophysicists, one of whom IS
acting as project. manager, In the light of expenence to date, It ISproposed that the project
be based on the charter of a survey vessel for an
average of seven months each year, and in
order to manage the field programme and ens.ureprogressIve Interpretation of data and publication of results, it is considered that the project professional staff should comprise the following:
.
ProJ.ect manager/co-ordinator
Semo~ manne geologist
2 m~nne geologist/geophysicists (sea-going)
Manne electron~cs. technician
Short-term specialist consultants as needed
I
d
..
.
n ~r er to provide a satlsf~c~ory basis for
recruitment and employment, It IS considered
tha~ these ,Positions should be funded by the
project. It .ISproposed that, in addition, shorter
t~rm appointments be made through the proviSIO~of expert services on a non-reimbursable
basis by supporting countries, and with consultancle~ USIngfunds also provided by supporting
countnes.
I'
.
t IS beheve.d that five. support staff are
needed .to provide the requisite back-up to the
professional staff.
In order to make the most effective use of the
survey. vessel, it is necessary ~hat the project
has at ItS disposal ,a number of Ite~s of su~vey
~nd sampling equipment on.a full-tlm~ basis. It
IS.expected that some e::qUll?mentwill be obtained on l<?anor as contributions from supporting ~ountnes, .but proVISIO!1should be made
within the project. for certam Ite.ms WhIChare
considered essentialand for WhIChat present
there are no alternative assured sources.
A summary of the proposed budget is attached.
39
APPENDIX I
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Member Governments ojCCOP/SOPAC
Cook Islands
Representative
Mr G.H. Sawtell
Secretary of the Premier's Department
P.O. Box 116
Rarotonga
Cables: SECGOV RAROTONGA
Telex: SECGOV R.G. 2006
Phone: 2065 Ext. 442
Alternate
Mr A. Utanga
Chief Draughtsman
Dept of Survey and Physical Planning
P.O. Box 114
Rarotonga
Phone: 2213A
R
.
epresentative
Papua New Guinea
Representative
Mr N.R. Agonia
Director
Office of Minerals & Energy
P.O. Box 2352
Konedobu
Port Moresby
Cables: GEOLANDS PORT MORESBY
Phone: 214011
Alternates:
Dr A.C.M. McKinlay
Acting Chief Geologist
P.O. Box 778
Port Moresby
Cables: GEOLANDS "X>RT MORESBY
Phone: 211973
Mr K.W. Doble
Geologist
P.O. Box 778
Port Moresby
Cables: GEOLANDS
Phone: 212422
Fiji
M R N R' h
d
.r..
IC ~on
DI.rector of Mineral ~~~Iopment
M~neral Re~ources DIvIsIon
Pnvate Mati Bag
GPO Suva
Cables: GEOLOGY SUVA
Phone: 381,979
Alternate
Dr R.T.R. Wingfield
Marine Geologist (Offshore)
Mineral Resources Division
Private Mail Bag
GPO Suva
Phone: 381611
Representative
Mr J.W. Brodie
New Zealand Oceanographic Institute
% DSIR, Private Bag
Wellington
Cables: RESEARCH WELLINGTON
Phone: Wellington 729979
Alternates
Dr K.B. Lewis
Scientific Officer (Marine Geologist)
New Zealand Oceanographic Institute
P.O. Box 12346
Wellington
Cables: OCEANOGRAPH NEW ZEALAND
Phone: Wellington 858939
40
PORT MORESBY
Solomon Islands
Representative
Mr F.I. Coulson
Ministry of Natural Resources
Geological Division
Honiara
Cables: RESOURCES HONIARA
Phone: 521
Representative
Mr S.L. Tongilava
Superintendent of Lands, Survey, and
Natural Resources
Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural
Resources
P.O. Box 5
Nuku'a1ofa
Cables: MINLAND NUKU'ALOFA
Phone: 211
New Zealand
Mr E.J. Barnes
New Zealand Oceanographic Institute
P.O. Box 12346
Wellington
Cables: OCEANOGRAPH WELLINGTON
Phone: Wellington 858939 Ext. 823
Mr R.B. Moaina
Geologist
Kingdom of Tonga
Western Samoa
.
Representative
Mr R. Kammer
Senior Hydrologist
P.O. Box 52
Apia
Cables: OBSERVATORY APIA or WEATHER
APIA
Phone: 470 (3 rings) or 220 (3 rings)
Other participants
Technical Advisers
Dr J. Chujo
Geological Survey of Japan
135 Hisamoto
Takatsu Kawasaki
University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)
Japan
Cables: GEOLSURV
Phone: 033417131
Dr W. Manser
Dr I? Jongsma.
Australia
Manne Geologist!
Cables: BUROMIN
Geophysicist
CAN BERRA
Phone: Canberra 499111
Bureau of Mineral Resources
P.O. Box 378
Canberra City
A.C.T. 2601
Mr A. Macfarlane
Senior Geologist
New Hebrides Geological
Survey
Geological Survey
British Residency
Vila
Reader in Geology & Dean
Faculty of Science
Geology Department
P.O. Box 4820
University Post Office
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea
TOKYO
University of the South Pacific (USP)
Dr D. Medford
New Hebrides
Cables: BRITES
Director
Centre for Applied Studies
in Development
Unive.rsity of the South
Pacific
P.O. Box 1168
S~~a
FIJI
Phone: 27131
VILA NEW
HEBRIDES
Phone: Vila 2213
Dr A.G. Obermuller
Ministry of Industry,
Commerce and
Handicrafts
II Place A. Cherioux
75015 Paris
France
Phone: 8287429
Dr J. Recy
Chief Scientist
ORSTOM
New Caledonia
Cables: ORSTOM
B.P. A.5
Noumea
Phone: 261000
South 'Pacific Bureau for Economic
Cooperation (SPEC)
Mr B.R. Davidson
.
.
United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
NOUMEA
NEW CALEDONIA
Mr G. ap Rees
Dr P.W. Richards
U.S.A.
U.S. Geological Survey (917) Phone: (703) 860-6559
~~
Virginia 22092
Dr Y. Sato
Geological Survey of Japan
8 Kawadacho
Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 162
Japan
Cables: GEOLSURV
Phone: 033417131
Regional Representative,
South Pacific
UNDP
Private Mail Bag
S~
Fiji
Cables: UNDEVPRO
Telex: 2228
Phone: 312500
TOKYO
Dr M.L Terman
U.S.A.
U.S. Geological Survey
Phone: (703) 860-6559
Reston
Virginia 22092
.
.
.
Mr J.E. Wnght
Untted Kingdom
Assistant Director
Phone: 605343
Head of Continental Shelf Division
Institute of Geological Sciences
Ring Road
Halton
Leeds LS15 8TQ
Research Officer
% SPEC G.P.O. Box 856
Suva
Fiji
Phone: 312600 -
Mr T.M. Unwin
SUVA
Resident Representative
UNDP
P.O. Box 3041
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea
Cables: UNDEVPRO PORT
MORESBY
Phone: 212877
Dr C'.Y. Li
Consultant to UNDP
Asian Bureau
UNDP
United Nations
New York
U.S.A.
Cables: UNATIONS NEW
YORK
Phone: (212) 7541234
41
Mr C. Goss
Assistant Regional
Representative
South Pacific Regional
Office
UNDP
Private Mail Bag
Suva
Fiji
Cables: UNDEVPRO SUVA
Telex: 2228
Phone: 312500
CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat
Dr A.J. Halunen Jr
Mr J.V. Eade
Dr L.W. Kroenke
Acting Project Manager
% Mineral Resources
Division
Private Mail Bag
GPO Suva
Fiji
Cables:
UNDEVPRO
,SUVA
Phone: 381139
UNDP Marine Geologist
% Mineral Resources
Division
Private Mail Bag
GPO Suva
Fiji
Cables: UNDEVPRO SUVA
Phone: 381139
Consultant Marine
Geologist
Hawaii Institute of
Geophysics
University of Hawaii
2525 Correa Road
Honolulu
Hawaii 96822
U.S.A.
Cables: UNIHAW
HONOLULU
Phone: 948-8711
42
IDteraovemmeatai Oceanognphk CommissionlUnited
Natioas Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(IOCIUNESCO)
.
Dr G. Giermann
Deputy Secretary
Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission
UNESCO
Place de Fontenoy
75700 Paris
France
Cables: IOC PARIS FRANCE
Telex: 204461 Paris
Phone: Paris 5771610
Ext. 2457
Economic: and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(ESCAP)
Mr A.I. McCutchan
0
r Y.
S .
.
himazaki
Mr L.F. Machesky
Chief
Natural Resources Division
ESCAP
U.N. Building
Rajadamnern Avenue'
Bangkok 2
Thailand
Cables: ESCAP BANGKOK
Phone: 2829617
Chief
Mineral Resources Section
ESCAP
U.N. Building
Rajadamnern Avenue
Bangkok 2
Thailand
Phone: 2829161 Ext. 1535
Economic Affairs Officer
Mineral Resources Section
ESCAP
U.N. Building
Rajadamnern Avenue
Bangkok 2
Thailand
Cables: ESCAP BANGKOK
Phone: 2829161 Ext. 1526
PART 2.
A.
DOCUMENTATION
CCOP/SOPAC Agencies' activities since the
Fifth Session
1. REVIEW OF THE ESCAP SECRETARIAT'S ACTIVITIES
SINCE THE FIFTH SESSION
(Document NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6)1)
Note by the ESCAP Secretariat
The activities of the ESCAP Secretariat since
the Fifth Session have heen largely directed
towards submitting proposals and securing funds
for project activities, and arranging for recruitment of personnel, ship charter, and
acquisition of equipment.
The administrative problems which have plagued
the project during the period are so well known
that it is not proposed to elaborate on them
here. Suffice it to say that a review of
operational procedures between offices in New
York, Bangkok, and Suva, and within the ESCAP
Secretariat, has been initiated, and it is
expected that changes in the immediate future
will overcome the principal difficulties that
have been occurring.
Just before the Fifth Session, a budget plan
for the expenditure of the $100 000 allocated
to the project was submitted to New York.
After the suggestion that non-convertible New
Zealand funds might be used for ship charter,
advice on this possibility was sought by the
UNDP Regional Office in Suva, and the
Secretariat was advised by cable of 17
December that this would be possible. In the
meantime the Technical Secretariat, on the
basis of consultation with the New Zealand
Oceanographic Institute, began negotiations
with Messrs Cossens and Black concerning
charter of the m.v. Acheron. A revised project
submission, including the use of New Zealand
non-convertible funds, was submitted to New
York on 1 February 1977, and a draft agreement
for ship charter on 18 March. By a letter of
22 April the Secretariat was advised that the
terms of the draft charter were acceptable, and
some observations were made on certain clauses.
A further revised charter agreement, with modifications arising from these observations and
from further consultations with Mr Black, was
submitted to New York on 27 May 1977.
TI~efact th~t the project was not formally
approved unt11 June was the principal factor in
the subsequent difficulties over formal agreement on ship charter, which resulted in a delay
of about two weeks in the start of the planned
field programme.
In conjunction with advice on funds available
for the project in 1977, it was indicated in
December 1976 that convertible funds available
in 1978 were unlikely to exceed $150 000.
Subsequently in April 1977, a figure of
$200 000 was suggested. A proposed project
budget for UNDP contributions over the fiveyear period 1978-82 was submitted on 28 July,
involving an expenditure of $297 900 of convertible funds and $170 125 of New Zealand NonConvertible Funds for ship charter and related
expenditures for 1978. By cable of 18 August
1977 we were advised that the allocation for
1978 would be $250 000; no advice was given
regarding the allocation of New Zealand NonConvertible Funds.
Action is being taken in preparation for the
start of the main programme next year, and
further information will be provided during the
session.
2. REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES OF THE CCOP!SOPAC
TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT SINCE THE FIFTH
SESSION
(Document NR!CCOP (6)!lA)
Note by the CCOP!SOPAC Technical Secretariat
The period since the Fifth Session has been a
transitional one for the Technical Secretariat.
Staffing has been mostly on a temporary basis
by short term consultants. During the bridging
period, in the latter part of 1976, the office
was manned by only one technical expert,
Mr C. W. Landmesser, consultant in marine
geology. Additional professional staff, however, in the capacity of non-reimbursable
experts, were provided in 1977. Three nonreimbursable experts including two marine
geologists (Mr J. V. Eade and Dr G. P. Glasby)
and one electronics technician (Mr E. Barnes)
were made available by New Zealand. A marine
geochemist (Dr D Cronafi)was also made available by the United Kingdom. Mr Eade, initially
attached to the project as a non-reimbursable
expert, was later recruited as a UNDP Marine
Geologist, joining the staff on a long-term
basis in July of this year. Dr J. Halunen,
initially recruited on a short-term basis as a
consultant marine geologist, also joined the
staff in June of this year. Dr Halunen has now
been designated as Acting Project Manager UNDP
Project RAS!72!122 and is currently in the
process of being recruited on a long-term basis.
."
. .
.
A summary of proJect act1v1t1es for ~he per10d
1 September 1976 through 31 May 1977 1S
contained in the accompanying UNDP Project
Progress Report (RAS!72!122) (see paper CR.l).
Two off-shore surveys were conducted during
this period in CCOP!SOPAC member country waters
43
(off Fiji in January on board the HMFS Kiro in
the Bligh Water area of the Koro Sea, and in
the Solomon Islands in April and May on m.v.
Wakio across Indispensable Reefs and from a
small boot on Lake Tegano, Rennell Island).
Also ground work was laid and preliminary
technical arrangements were completed for
chartering a UNDP survey vessel, m.v. Acheron,
using New Zealand Non-Convertible Funds. In
this regard the project is particularly indebted to the Government of New Zealand and to the
UNDP for facilitating the use of non-convert-.
ible New Zealand currency. A modest amount of
new survey equipment (as itemized in the UNDP
Project Progress Report) was purchased and
acquired by the Technical Secretariat during
this same period. Survey equipment was also
loaned to the project by supporting governments
including New Zealand and the United States.
The EG&G sparker system previously on loan to
the project from the Australian Bureau of
Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics
(BMR) had to be returned in September 1977.
Problems encountered with the EG&G power
supplies on the first CCOP/SOPAC cruise in
1977 had made the system inoperable and had
precluded its use on later cruises.
.
.
"
~rlng thIS perIod, proJect ~taff travelled.to
ApIa, Western Samoa,.and Nuku.alof~, Tonga, 1n
February for pre-cruIse.plannIng WIth govern~ent personnel;. ~o Hon1ara, ~olomon ~sl~ds,
In Marc~ to faCIlItate .an~lysls o~ se1smlC
reflectIon and bathymetr1c data In the area
~etween.santa Isabel and Guadalca~al, Solomon
sla~d~, tO,the Solomon Islands In May to
part1clpate In the Solomon Islands Off-shore
Survey (see CCOP/SOPAC Techsec Projec~ Report
No. 8); ~o Raroto~ga, Coo~ Isl~ds, 1n May for
a pre-cruls~ pl~nnlng sess70n WIth governme~t
representatIves, to DunedIn, New Zealand, In
May for ~iscussions about ch~rte: of a project
ves~el WIth ve~sel owners WhICh ln~luded
reVIew of requIrements.for th~ proJect vessel
and plans for forthcomIng crUIses.
Publications since the last session included:
4 issues of South Pacific Marine Geological
Notes, Vol. 1, Nos 3-6; one Technical Bulletin,
CCOP/SOPAC Technical Bulletin No.2, "Papers
Presented at the I?~E Workshop, Suva, Fiji,
1-6 September 1975,
one CCOP/SOPAC Proceedings Volume, "Proceedings of the Fifth Session,
Rarotonga, Cook.Islands, 2-8 November 1976";
and th~ ProceedIngs of the ECOR/IOC-CCOP/~OPAC
SympOSIum o~ Ocean Thermal Energy ConverSIon
(OTEC) publIshed by ECOR.
Project activities since 31 May (after the
period covered under the last UNDP Project
Report) for the most part involved final
preparations for, and implementation of, offshore survey cruises in Fiji, Western Samoa,
Cook Islands, and Tonga.
. . .
Thre~ days after ~oln1ng the staff of ~he
Techn1cal SecretarIat, Dr J. Halunen, WIth Dr
D. Cronan of Imperial College, Dr G. Glasby of
NZOI, and Dr R. Wingfield of MRD, departed on
m.v. Acheron for the Yasawa Trough region to
44
collect samples of prospective metalliferous
sediment. During most of the sampling phases
of the cruise the weather was particularly
rough. In spite of the adverse weather
conditions eleven core samples were collected
in and around the Yasawa Trough. These samples
were subsequently forwarded to Dr Cronan at
Imperial College, London, for detailed analysis
of the metal ion contents. The Acheron returned
to Suva on 30 June and immediately began preparations for the Western Samoa Offshore Survey.
..
.
A s1xteen day delay 7n the beg1nn1ng of the
next ph~se ~f the cru1se occurred, because of
delays 1n f1nal a~ceptanc~ of the·Acheron
Charter,by the.Un1ted Nat10ns a~d subsequent
delays 1n sett1ng up the mechan7sm for payment
of UNDP New Zealand Non-ConvertIble Funds to
the Ache:on owners. The Acheron and Technical
SecretarIat w~r~ :eady to depart on schedule on
4 July. !he InItIal payment, due on 31 May,.
and the flrs~ progress payment were no~ receIved,
howe~er"untl~ 20 July. The v~ssel saIled that
even7ng l~edlately after receIpt of payment
confIrmatIon.
The m.v. Acheron arrived in Apia on 23 July,
and immediately final cruise preparations for
the Western Samoa Offshore Survey were begun.
The vessel began the survey on 25 July,
initially working north of Savaii and Upolu and
then continuing south of Upolu. Twenty deep
water stations were occupied, and various types
of ocean bottom samples were collected. In
addition, ten stations were occupied north of
Upolu in search of precious corals. One
sample of a red coral was recovered in about
100 m of water and has been sent to a marine
biologist for identification. The vessel
arrived in Apia, concluding the Western Samoa
Offshore Survey, on 11 August. The following
day officials from the Government of Western
Sa~a were invited on board Acheron to view
the ship and discuss preliminary results. On
the same day Mr J. Eade of CCOP/SOPAC Technical
Secretariat arrived in Apia and joined the
Acheron.
The Acheron left Apia on 13 August
bound for Rarotonga, Cook Islands, with Mr
J. Eade and Mr Tony Utanga from the Cook
Islands on board.
The vessel arrived in Rarotonga on 17 August
and began preparations for the 1977 Cook
Islands Offshore Survey. The survey was
carried out between 20 August and 6 September.
During the survey Dr J. Chujo, Chief of the
Marine Geophysics Section, Geological Survey
of Japan, and special advisor to CCOP/SOPAC,
joined the Acheron in Aitutaki to assist in
the work programme. Eight stations were
occupied, and approximately 1000 nautical
miles of continuous echo-soundings were
obtained in the vicinity of the Southern Cook
Islands. The results of the survey were
reported to Mr G. Sawtell, National Representative to CCOP/SOPAC and to Mr S. Kin an.
'
g
After completion of the Cook Islands Survey
m.v. Acheron left Rarotonga on 9 September for
Nuku'alofa, Tonga with Mr Jim Eade and
Dr J. Chujo on board. The vessel arrived in
Nuku'alofa on 14 September and preparations
were made for the 1977 Tonga Offshore Survey.
The Acheron left Nuku'alofa on 17 September,
and sixteen days were spent in echo sounding,
sediment sampling, and coral dredging primarily
along the Tofua Ridge. Twenty-three stations
were occupied, and approximately 2000 nautical
miles of echo sounding data collected.
On return of the Acheron to Nuku'alofa on 3
.
October, a br i e f summary of results was presented to Mr S. Tongilava, National Representative
On 19 September Dr L. Kroenke, CCOP/SOPAC
Techsec consultant, left Honolulu, Hawaii,
and arrived at the Project Office in Suva on
22 September after stopping off in Tonga for
consultations on oil exploration with Tongan
Government personnel.
to CCOP/SOPAC. Mr Eade ~lew back to Suva the
same day to prepare crU1se reports for the
Sixth Session, and Dr Chujo returned to Suva
on Acheron.
The Acheron left Nuku'alofa on 4
October arriving in Suva on 6 October.
Note Further details of the activities of the
CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat are given in
the Project Progress Report Document
Concurrent with the period of the offshore
survey Dr J. Halunen travelled to Honolulu,
Hawaii, to attend the Adhoc Meeting of
Specialists on the geodynamics of the Fi~i
Plateau on 22 August. The results of th1s
n~eting, and results of discussions with HIG
personnel on data management and exchange, are
reported separately.
On 2 September, Dr J. Halunen returned to Suva
to begin preparation of documents for the Sixth
Session.
B.
(NR/CCOP/SOPAC(6)CR.l).
Oth~r.d?cuments presented rela~ing to
act1v1t1es of CCOP/SOPAC agenc1es are:
(1) NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/4, concerning the
chartered survey vessel m.v. Acheron (see
paragraph 10, Sixth Session TAG Report).
(2) NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.3, a draft project
document for the expanded programme of
CCOP/SOPAC for 1978-82 (see paragraphs 7,
90-98, Sixth Session TAG Report).
Publications of CCOP/SOPAC
Note The following publications were presented:
"Proceedings of the Fifth Session of CCOP/SOPAC'
(document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.29), "CCOP/SOPAC
Technical Bulletin No.2" (document
NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.lO), and four issues of
South Pacific Marine Geological Notes (documents
C.
From 22 September, all members of the project
staff in Suva were engaged in preparation for
the Sixth Session of CCOP/SOPAC. More than
twenty background documents were prepared for
.
..
. .
.
d1str1but10n to part1c1pants at the seSS1on.
NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.12, CR.12A, CR.13 and
CR.25) .
A report on publications planned and in preparation was also presented (document
NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/12A and is summarised in
paragraphs 69-72, Sixth Session TAG Report.
International meetings relating
to regional studies
3. METALLIFEROUS SEAFLOOR DEPOSITS SPECIALIST
GROUP REPORT
G. Pautot (France), G. H. Friedrich (W.Germany),
R. G. Burns, M. A. Meylan, and R. K. Sorem
(U.S.A.).
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.16)
G. P. Glasby
New Zealand Oceanographic Institute
Wellington New Zealand
At the CCOP/SOPAC workshop held in Suva in
1975, it was decided that a small group of
specialist scientists should be formed to
communicate, coordinate, and organize research
activities on metalliferous seafloor deposits
in the South Pacific. This group met during
the International Geological Congress in
Sydney and consisted of Drs G. P. Glasby (New
Zealand, convener), D. S. Cronan (U.K.),
Since the Suva workshop, the main developments in the region have been: the r.v.
Tangaroa cruise to the Samoan Basin which has
resulted in a detailed assessment of the
distribution and composition of manganese
nodules in the basin; the discovery by the
Technical Secretariat of abundant manganese
nodule deposits in the south Penrhyn Basin;
the analysis of over 250 surface sediment
samples from the southwest Pacific by
Dr D. S. Cronan (this has led to an assessment
of optimum areas for metalliferous sediment
investigations); a cruise vy ORSTOM (Noumea)
to investigate manganese nodule distribution
45
around the Cook Islands; and a cruise by
Drs D. S. Cronan and G. P. Glasby aboard r.v.
Acheron to look for metalliferous sediments in
the Yasawa Trough, north of Fiji. In addition,
a major change in emphasis of the U.S./IDOE
Ferromanganese Programme was noted. In the
future, the bulk of the U.S. effort will be
aimed at elucidating element fluxes at the
sediment-water interface in five different
sedimentary environments using the Bottom
Ocean Monitor rather than concentrated on
detailed studies of the nodules themselves.
Regional surveys of manganese nodule distribution and composition are already an
important part of the CCOP/SOPAC programme and
therefore will not be considered in the
U.S./IDOE Program.
Manganese Nodules
From a consideration of the distribution and
geochemistry of manganese nodules throughout
the Pacific Ocean, it was decided that the
most important problem to be tested is the role
of biological productivity and transport in
controlling the abundance and metal contents of
dules
In part1'cular areas of
manganese no.,
low-metal-content nodules in the southwest
Pacific associated with low biological productivity should be compared and contrasted with
areas of high-metal-content nodules in the
equatorial North Pacific associated with high
biological productivity in order to asses
whether the metal contents of the nodules are
diagnostic of the environment of deposition
and in articular, the productivity of the
'I . P
t
over y1ng wa ers.
Therefore it was strongly recommended that a
transect between the North and South Pacific be
made to test this hypothesis. Two transects
were suggested: Honolulu-Tahiti and TahitiRarotonga. These transects should include a
series of detailed local surveys of the
distribution, geochemistry, mineralogy,
morphology, and internal structure of manganese
nodules and their relation to the underlying
sediments. In addition, assessment of the
productivity at each site from nutrient concentrations and plankton abundance in the overlying water column should be made. Chemical
data from the GEOSECS cruises should be drawn on
wherever possible to supplement these findings.
Box coring was considered a particularly suitable technique for this type of survey, and
dating of manganese nodules whose position at
t·hesediment-water interface was known and of
the associated sediment was recommended.
Particular emphasis should be placed on studies
of dissolution and diagenetic features in both
the nodules and sediments, particularly using
scanning electron microscopy.
A combined French-German-Universityof Hawaii
programme is planned for 1978 involving r.v.
Suroit (CNEXO) (60 days), r.v. Valdivia
(German) (45 days), and r.v. Kana Keoki
(University of Hawaii (30 days) which will
study the nodule distribution between Hawaii
and Tahiti and in particular will make detailed
46
surveys of localized areas along the cruise
tracks. The meeting endorsed the idea that
these cruises should form the basis of the
Honolulu-Tahiti transect. Amongst other
problems to be investigated are: the occurrence of bottom currents and submarine volcanism
and the paleoenvironment in and between
fracture zones, and the role of these factors
in nodule formation. Bottom currents will also
be measured in the Aitutaki Passage, and a
comparison of manganese nodules and their
associated sediments will be made in the North,
Equatorial, and South Pacific in order to test
the symmetry of distribution of carbonate,
siliceous ooze, and red clay sediments across
the equator. Of particular importance here is
the exact relationship between the nodules of
highest abundance and Cu-Ni contents and the
belt of highest productivity in the equatorial
zone.
Several other projects were suggested:
.
.
(1) Stu~y of the relat:on:h1p of nodule and.
sed1~ent character1st1cs to bathymetry 1n
the 1ntermontan~ ~elt b~tween th~ Cook
Islands and Tah1t1. Th1S would 1nclude a
id
'
f b d
. d'i
ib .
~ons1 erat10n 0 a un ance, S1ze 1str1 ut10n,
:nt~rnal structure, an~ nucleus character1St1~S of the nodul~s,1n order to ~ssess
the,1nf~uen~e o~ s11d1ng and slump1ng on
the1r d1str1but10n. Recent CNEXO work
~resented at the.IGC by Renard shows the
1mportance of ~h1s problem even when the
bathymetry var1es by on~y 200 m. Th~
problem has also been d1scussed pr~v10us~y
by Moore and Heath. As part of th1s proJect,
the Co contents of the nodules should also
be investigated to see whether the highest
Co contents are associated with topographic
highs. Previous work has shown this area to
be one of high but variable Co contents with
values up to 2.23% in region of strong
topographic contrasts.
(2) Investigation of the possible role (if any)
of submarine volcanism, particularly
associated with fracture zones or seamounts
on nodule formation. In particular, growth'
rates of nodules should be determined, and
the results should be compared with those
of nodules from areas where volcanism is
considered likely to be of importance.
Increased nodule growth rates due to submarine volcanism would also influence
nodule composition. Southwest Pacific
nodules differ so much in composition from
equatorial North Pacific nodules.that this
is a good area to test this hypothesis.
Lead isotope studies on nodules and sediments from the region could be used as a
possible indicator of the source of the
elements and of the role of volcanism in
~odule formation. This p:oject should a~so
1nvolve a study o~ clay m1neralogy, zeo11te
content, and chem1stry of the nepheloid
layer of the bottom water.
(3) Scanning electron microscope studies of the
nodules. Similar studies on equatorial
North Pacific nodules have indicated the
formation of zeolites and the occurrence of
dissolution features within the nodules.
These features may not be observed in Southwest Pacific nodules because of possible
faster growth rates and lower biological
productivity of the overlying waters. However, this.proble~ i7 important because.
present. evi dence Lndi cates
it e
.,.that t odor'ok
format10n may be a funct10n of d1age~et1c
processes (1.e., may be a secondary process).
Nodule enrichment in Cu and Ni particularly
. . ..
.
'
1~ 1nd1v~dual lam1nae, may therefore be a
d1agenet1c rather than a pr1mary process.
(4) Petrographic studies of nodules. These are
important in identifying Cu-Ni rich laminae
in nodules and in relating these to nodule
mineralogy. Nucleus characteristics of the
nodules, particularly their size and their
degree of replacement by manganese oxides,
are also important in determining the suitability of the nodules for mining. The
character of the insoluble residue of the
nodules and its relationship to the underlying sediment, nepheloid layer, and nucleus
type, should also be investigated.
(5) Radiometric dating coupled with refined
optical work to test the immaturity of Southwest Pacific nodules as suggested by the
recent work of Meylan.
(6) Studies of the relationship of nodule
i
tat 10n
i
e uS1ng
usi
occurrence t0 sed amen
rat e
. tech'
pa 1eomagnet·
1C and pa 1eont0 1Og1C
n1ques,
the former being particularly appropriate in
red clays.
these elements in the sediments have been
prepared and were presented in a paper entitled
"A regional geochemical reconnaissance survey of
marine sediments in the Southwest Pacific Ocean"
read at the post-25th I.G.C. Meeting in Noumea,
New Caledonia, in September 1976.
The results of this work have demonstrated a
. b1
i l1ty
i
. th e compos1
it 10n
i
.
W1i.d
e var1a
1n
0 f mar1ne
sediments throughout the Southwest Pacific. Most
.
.
of t?e samples a~alyzed conta1n v~rY1ng concentrat10ns of calc1um carbonate, wh1ch acts as a
diluent of their metalliferous constituents.
Detailed analysis of the data has yet to be
undertaken, but a preliminary analysis reveals
an area to the north of Fiji seemingly associated
with a belt of earthquake epicentres where metal
values are higher than average. A joint New
Zealand Oceanographic Institute-Imperial College
cruise to this area aboard the r.v.Acheron took
place in 1977. It is hoped that in 1980 a
further joint NZOI-Imperial College cruise will
take place aboard r.v. Tangaroa to study number
of further ~egions having potential as regions of
metalliferous sediments including White Island
(New Zealand), the Rumble Seamounts (TongaKermadec.Ridge), the Lau Ridge, and possibly the
New Hebr1des-Solomon Islands arc.
Additional approaches to metalliferous sediment
studies in the Southwest Pacific are to core
sediments i~ a:eas o~ ~igh heat flow and in
areas
of sei smi
c activi ty , as these are
.
...
., more
l1kely
of submarIne volcan1c
. . to exh1b1t eV1dence
...
act1v1ty than tecton1cally 1nact1ve areas.
Compilation Projects
(7) Study of manganese nodules as a sedimentological phenomenon i.e., the influence of
bottom current velocities (traction currents)
on nodule size distribution and mobility
(rolling characteristics) of the nodules on
the sea floor. The relation of nodule
populations to the age of the underlying
sedi.mentsand the size distribution of the
nodule populations to discrete periods of
nucleation should also be considered.
(8) Comparison, on both a regional and a local
scale of the relation between nodule and
sedim~nt composition, and the relation of
nodule occurrence on a regional scale to
sediment composition.
A combined New Zealand Oceanographic InstituteScripps Data Bank compi.lationproject has been
proposed. This will involve a compilation of
all data on the occurrence and composition of
manganese nodules and sediments in the S0uth
Pacific, the production of a series of maps
showing the distribution of each element in
nodules and sediments, and a detailed statistical analysis of the data using factor and
cluster analysis. It is hoped that the Imperial
Col~ege data on the geochemistry.o~ surficial
sed1ments from the Southwest Pac1f1c and the
CNEXO data on the.composit~on of manganese
.
nodules and ~ss?c1ated se~1ments fro~ the :eg10n
around Tah1t1 w111 be ava11able for 1nclus10n
in this compilation.
a
Metalliferous Sediments
International Geological Correlation Project
Uiscussion of metalliferous seafloor sediments at
the Suva workshop was hampered by the lack of
knOWledge of the likely occurrence of these
deposits in the Southwest Pacific. In order to
remedy this situation, compilation project 3-13:
Sediment Analysis of Existing Samples, was
proposed as a first step in evaluating metalliferous sediment occurrences in the Southwest
Pacific. Dr D. S. Cronan of Imperial College,
London, undertook to obtain sediment samples
from existing collections for analysis and evaluation of their regional geochemistry. Over 250
samples were obtained from sites throughout the
region, and analyzed for Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn,
Ca, and AI. Maps showing the distribution of
It was recommended that a formal approach be
made to incorporate the CCOP/SOPAC manganese
programme into the International Geological
Correlation Project Number III, Genesis of
Manganese Ores. Dr G. P. Glasby has been
appointed leader of the Southwest Pacific
section of the I.G.C.P. Manganese Projec~.
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AD HOC
MEETING OF SPECIALISTS ON THE GEODYNAMICS OF
THE FIJI PLATEAU
(From document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/5)
CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat
47
The geologic setting and tectonic framework of
the Fiji Plateau were reviewed, and the following
unique aspects werenoted:
"t Sl uated In
' a convergent zon e
(1) Th e PIateau IS
."
1 I d'
d P 'f' PI t
h
between t e ~stra - n Ian an , aCl lC, ~ es.
(2) The Plateau IS bounded by two Inward-dlpplng
subduction zones (the Tonga Arc-Trench to the
east and the New Hebrides Arc-Trench to the
west).
(3) The Plateau is actively diverging at rates as
high as 6 cm per year in the back arc region.
This is derived from a combined divergence
rate of 11 cm per year for the Fiji PlateauLau Basin (5 cm per year) deduced from a
comparison of theoretical convergence rates
of 10 to 11 cm per year in an east-west
direction in the Plateau region, calculated
from relat~ve plate motions; an~ convergence
rates as hlgh as 21 cm per year In the same
d'
,
d t
' ed f
th
t' 1
lrectl0n, e ermln, rom ,e ver lca
component of outer rldge motlons for the New
d T
The
Heb"d
rl es an
onga renc es.
,
'.
(4) Th~ P~a~eau 1: characterIzed by hlgh,
s~lsmlcltY"hlgh heat flow, and topographlc
11neaments In the cent:al.par~ of the ,
plateau thought to be Indlcatlve of actIve
spreading ridges, transform faults, and,
possibly, triple junctions (of problematic
extent and orientation).
Results of previous investigations were evaluated and particular note was taken of:
(1) the unknown extent and uncertain strike of
topographic and structural lineaments in the
central region of the Fiji Plateau;
(2) the ill-defined nature of the northern
boundary of the Fiji Plateau;
(3) the uncertainty as to whether or not the
Vitiaz Trench is currently an active plate
boundary or whether or not a plate boundary
exists further to the north of the lateau;
d
p
(4) ~:cent subsidence of the island of Viti Levu
by up to 14 cm in one year (indicated by
tidal studies) coincident with increased
levels of seismic activity.
The diversity of views and conflicting opinions
on the origin and development of the Fiji
Plateau were considered. The most significant
were considered to be:
(1) the differing tectonic models which have
been derived, exhibiting progressively
increasing orders of complexity and invoking
varying amounts of rotation and/or translation of tectonic elements across the
plateau;
(2) the varying methods proposed for crustal and
lithospheric generation, ranging from formation along a random mosaic of eruptive
fissures and intrusive centers (as suggested
for the Mid-Pacific Mountains); through
normal, mid-ocean sea-floor-spreading
processes (including ridge crests, triple
junctions, and transform faults); to some
new form of crustal genesis not previously
identified or encountered elsewhere.
48
The need for further investigations was
discussed, and it was recognized that a definitive geodynamic model based on both petrologic
and geophysical data would be most valuable.
A
, ,
consensus was reached that an over-rldlng need
existed to:
(1) determine the structural configuration on
the Fiji Plateau,
(2) establish the nature of the northern and
southern boundaries, and
(3) locate and identify active tectonic
elements; and that further model
dependent investigations on the Plateau
(aimed at testing specific models) would
be required).
Ongoing programmes endorsed by the group are:
(1) continuation of the ORSTOM _ University of
"
"
Texas co-operatlve Investlgatl0ns, concentrating on the New Hebrides and Tonga Arcs and
t·h b k
b'
, d' t 1 b h' d h
ac arc aSlns Imme la eye
In t e
arcs;
(2) the planned installation of additional seismograph stations on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu,
Kadavu, and Waya, which would substantially
expand the Fiji seismograph network.
With respect to the latter, the group favoured
a centralized approach to the analysis of the
more localized earthquakes recorded on the Fiji
Plateau and not detected outside of the region.
"
,Propo~als,for new ge?physlcal/geologlcal
Investlgatl0ns were dlscussed, and the group
recommended that future studies should include:
.,
'.
,
(1) Selsmlc~ty s~udles"to determlne plate
boundarles (In pa:tlcular the northern
,
bounda:y) ~nd dellneate the currently actlve
tectonlC llneam~nts, through deployment of
Ocean Bottom Selsmomete:s ~OBS) acros: the
northern boundary and wlthln the conflnes of
the centr~l plateau. (The OBS would be.
deployed In two to three rectangular grlds
of approxim~tely 20 :tations each wi~h no
more than 1 :eparatl?n between s~a~lons.)
Short refractlon proflles of sufflclent
length wo~ld be needed at each OBS station
to determlne crustal parameters for correcting,the natur~l earthquake,data, In
partlc~lar, eplcentre loc~tl0ns, source
mech~nlsms, and ~-delay tIme would be
obtalned from thlS study.
(2) Marine paleomagnetics studies to determine
components of rotation and translation (i.e.,
paleo-latitude), to be conducted in conjunction with OBS deployment on and across the
Fiji Plateau, along with complementary onshore paleomagnetic studies on the Fiji and
the New Hebrides Islands.
(3) Petrologic sampling at OBS sites to establish age progression and ascertain
petrologic affinity; along with additional
heat flow measurements, to verify or
confirm the presence of activespreading
centres or intrusive bodies on the Fiji
Plateau.
(4) Petrologic investigations across the
northern boundary of the Fiji Plateau to
determine the nature of the boundary and
the petrologic provenance of rocks on
either side.
(5) Morphologic studies of coastal uplif~ and
subsidence, to accompany paleomagnetlc
studies on land.
(6) Installation o~.~ide gauges in c:itical
areas on the F1Jl Plateau to monltor sealevel variations (in view of recent changes
o~ ~ea level by 14 cm.in ~ne year ~round
V:tl Levu) together.wlth lnstallatlon of
~lltmeters and straln gaug7s on selected
l~lands to measure local tllt and deformat ron,
(7) Installation.of addition~l temporary seismograph statlons on.~~lllS and Futuna
Islands, north.of F1J:, ~n~ on Rotuma
Island, to monltor selsmlclty on the
northern margin of the Fiji Plateau.
(8) ~dditional.conve~tional un~erway geop~ysical
lnve~t:gatlons, ln70rporatlng re~lectlon
profllln? and gravlty and magnet:7.
obse:vatlons on and across the F1Jl Pl~teau,
partlcularly between proposed OBS statlons.
.Befor7 un~ertak~ng new geoph~sical/geologic~l
lnvestlgatlons al~~ at Solutl~n of geod~amlc
problems on the F1Jl Plateau, lt was partlcularly recomme~ded that:..
(1) All 7xlst~ng regl~nal geologlcal and geophyslcal lnformatlon be complIed and
synthesised to provide the basis for further
investigations, and towards this end,
available teleseismic data should be studied
to determine possible structural alignments
on the Plateau.
(2) Exchange of geological data should be
encouraged by organizations and institutions
engaged in surveys within the region.
(3) The results of the forthcoming U.S. Naval
Research Laboratory (NRL) geomagnetic
D.
It was further recommended that:
(1) The time frame envisaged for the duration
of the above investigations should be
several years and the programme could be
later expanded to take advantage of
initial results to include deep crustal
sounding and long life refraction studies
to determine mineral physics of the upper
mantle.
(2) Another meeting should be convened, after
submission of proposals, to plan in more
detail field investigations and schedule
field operations.
(3) Other institutions and individuals currently
working or interested in working in the
region should be advised ofthe results of
this meeting and shoud be invited to participate in future meetings.
Note A. Further details of the Ad Hoc Meeting
of the Geodynamics of the Fiji Plateau are given
in documents NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/5 and NR/CCOP/
SOPAC (6)/10 (see paragraphs 13 and 40, Sixth
Session TAG Report).
B. Other international activities were
summarised in the following documents: Document
NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 39, Circum-Pacific Map
Project: Southwest Quadrant (see paragraph 38,
Sixth Session TAG Report); Document NR/CCOP/
SOPAC (6) CR. 41, International Symposium on
Geodynamics in the Southwest Pacific, (papers
presented at an international symposium held in
Noumea, New Caledonia, 27 August - 2 September,
1976).
Data management
Note Data management details are given in
documents NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.34, NR/CCOP/SOPAC
E.
investigation should be used to guide the
positioning of instrumentation and
locations of survey lines or tracks across
the Fiji Plateau.
(6)/11, and NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/10 (see paragraphs
~9, 60, 61, 62, and 63, Sixth Session TAG Report).
Advances made in training and new proposals
5. REPORT ON TRAINING PROGRAMME IN OFFSHORE
MINERAL PROSPECTING TECHNIQUES
(From d ocument NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR . 4)
Edward Winterstein
Hydrologist, Apia Observatory
Apia, Western Samoa
Rarotonga by the Japanese delegate, who
requested the Samoan delegate for a trainee to
join the second leg of the cruise from Samoa to
Funabashi (Japan). The whole cruise took 60
days (both legs).
This report is a brief account of my recent trip
on board the Japanese
Oceanographic Research
.
...
Vessel H «urel Maru and of one.week tralnlng ln
Tokyo. There was only ~ne avalla~le place on
board the recent nekurei. Maru cruase from Japan
to Samoa and back, and we were informed of this
The purpose of the trip was to introduce me to
and familiarize me with various equipment used
on board the ship and also with the different
techniques used in certain aspects of survey
work.
M
h a 11
The survey area was t0 the east 0 f thears
Islands (5 _ lOON, 175 _ l80°W), and we spent 10
days workin there.
g
All in all, the onboard training and experience
during the recent CCOP/SOPACmeeting in
I obtained from this trip were very rewarding
49
and fruitful, in that I was introduced to and
briefed in every aspect of the work concerning
both the technology involved and the techniques
employed. The scientists were very helpful and
did
., everything possible to make my onboard trainlng successful, and I m very grateful to them.
In conclusion, I should like to thank all the
authorities concerned in making this memorable
trip possible. I enjoyed the trip and felt very
privileged to work alongside some of the
renowned
scientists
in this field of offshore
.
.
.
mlneral prospectlng onboard the Hakurel Mdru.
field work will constitute at least 9 hours per
week of the programme. Candidates for the
course are expected to come mainly from the
technical levels of Civil Service.
A Course D'lrector Wl'11 b e apPolnt
. ed to present
the course. He will be a fully experienced
geologist with knowledge of the South Pacific
area. Additional personnel will be drawn from
the Mineral Resources Division, Fiji, from
CCOP/SOPAC, and from U.S.P. as appropriate.
Th'
.
e mlnlmum
entry 1eve1 Wl'11 b e: (1) Sch 00 1
Certificate, including Science subjects, or
6. SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL TRAINING COURSE:
BASIC EARTH SCIENCE
(2).No formal qualificati~n, but e~erience and
satlsfacto:y p~r~ormance ln geologlcal or
related sClentlflc work (preferably 2-3 years,
but at least of 1 year).
(From document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.52)
.
.
Unlverslty
f h
h P 'f'
0
t e.~~ut
aCllC
Suva, Fl)l
A four-month course in Basic Earth Science will
be organised at the University of the South
Pacific from 1 November 1977. The course is a
cons~quence of a re~ommendation at ~he :ourth
Sesslon of the Commlttee for Co-ordlnatlon of
Offshore Prospecting in the South Pacific (CCOP/
SOPAC). The course is funded by UNESCO/IOC and
th Au t l' G
t
d tid
b
.e
s ra ran .overnmen '.an
rave ~n su slstence bursarles are avallable. It lS
stressed that the course is an introductory one,
with emphasis on practical work and vocational
skills. The syllabus is deliberately broad in
scope, encompassing aspects of geology,
geochemistry, and geophysics. Laboratory and
F.
A certificate will be awarded upon satisfactory
performance in the course, based on a final
examination (50% of total) and continuous
assessment (50%).
Notes A. A note on the need for re ional
----..
g
sem~n~rs for professl~nal personnel from South
Paclflc member countrles was presented (do~ument
NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/13); see paragraph 73, Slxth
Session TAG Report.
B. A paper was presented by D. Medford, Centre
for Applied Studies in Development, University
of the South Pacific, Fiji, outlining the
activities of the Centre and training facilities
offered (document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 51).
Technology of offshore mining
7. ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF OFFSHORE SAND MINING
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/2)
CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat
Field testing of a small portable ocean sand
mining.system utilizing a suction probe the
Submarlne Sand Recovery System (SSRS) offshore..
from the southwest coast of.the Is~a~d.of Hawall,
has demonstrated.t~e economlC feaslblllt~ of
off-shore san? mlnlng.for.beach restoratlo~ ~nd
other commerctal applLcati ons . The feasibi lLty
studies have shown that the system functions
well in seas up to 6 ft and can be operated
amidst flourishing coral reefs with little
detriment to the environment. Moreover, the
suction probe itself, in addition to picking
unconsolidated sand, is capable of ingesting and
crushing fragments of rock and coral. The
system can at present operate in 50-l00 ft of
water, discharging directly on shore through up
to 2000 ft of 6 in. plastic pipe, but this
capability can be extended to much deeper waters
much further from shore by using an airlift to
help raise the material and a barge to transport
the material to shore. Projected costs for sand
50
All candidates must be positively recommended
for the course by their nominating organisation.
produced by this system for a 10 000 and a
100 000 cubic yard sand recovery operation are
at between $5.50 and $3.00 per cubic yard
respectively. The feasibility studies also
suggest that operations entailing much larger
volumes in much deeper waters and at greater
distances offshore may be practicable.
Reference:
Casciano, Frederick M.: Submarine
Sand Recovery System: Keauhou Bay Field Test;
Sea Grant Tech Rept. 77-02, 1976. (See also
paragraph 5 of the Technical Advisory Group
Re ort Annex I)
p,
8. GLORIA II -- AN IMPROVED LONG RANGE SIDE-SCAN
SONAR
(Document NR!CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.23)
M. L. Somers, J. A. Revie, R. H. Edge,
B. J. Barrow, A. J. Andrews, and M. Carson
Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, England
The first GLORIA equipment gave successful
service in RRS Discovery from 1969 to 1975,
during which time the acoustic performance was
steadily improved, and important data were
gathered. This made it worthwhile to consider a
replacement which would overcome some of the
drawbacks of the original. The two developments
which made it possible to consider a replacement
in the present form were: first, the introduction of a linear correlation processor which
removed the peak transmitted power as a limitation on signal to noise ratio; and secondly,
the realisation that it was not only possible
but actually desirable to operate with much
. 1 d'
t'"t
'th a corresponreduced vertlca
Irec IVI y, WI
ding reduction in the ~Iameter.of the towed
vehicle. ~e main desIgn reqUIrements were that
(1) the equIpment should be transferable to any
ship which can provide the right combination of
space and modest amounts of electrical power,
(2) the launch and recovery operations should be
capable of execution in a moderate seaway at
short notice and without men in the water,
(3) the need for compressed air with all its
plumbing and control circuitry should be avoided,
(4) the number of people required to take it to
sea should not exceed three or four, and (5) no
reduction in acoustic performance should be
suffered.
These requirements were met with a neutrally
buoyant vehicle towed at ~he nose by a nea:ly
hori zontal cable. Launchi ng and recovery IS by
means of a hydraulically operated tilting gantry
with integral winch. The vehicle contains two
arrays so that sonar coverage is available on
both sides of the survey track at once. The
power amplifiers are in modular form and are
installed with the transmit/receive switches and
storage batteries in a p~rtable container: For
the first year of operatIon the ~~ I receIver
and recording gear was duplicated for the extra
array with slight modifications to ensure
interference free operatio~ of both ar:ays.
Some changes in the recordIng format WIll be
desirable in due course.
Current developments include the use of a
californium-252 neutron source for activation
purposes and the development of suitable systems
for the safe recovery of the probe. The
capacity for data collection is in course of
improvement by the use of a shipboard computer.
This is a Nova 2 which forms part of a Link 290
multichannel analysis unit and has a 24000 byte
memory, using Fortran programming.
.
. .
The present system uses a sodIum IodIde detector but development is in hand on an intrinsic
ger~anium cryogenic detector to obtain better
resolution of the energy spectrum received.
The construction of the probe is capable of use
in 1000 m water, but the equipment could be
modified for surveys in greater water depths.
10. REPORT AND EVALUATION OF mE MAGNAVOX
MX 1102 SATNAV DEMONSTRATION IN FIJI 1977
(From document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 31)
R. T. R. Wingfield
.
. ""
"."
MIneral Resources DIVISIon, FIJI
Shortly after the author joined Mineral
Resources Division (MRD) as marine geologist in
October he entered prolonged discussions with
Director Mineral Development (DMD), Principal
Geologist Offshore Hydrologist (PGOH)
(F. I. Coulson), and the hydrographer (R. Isles),
concerning possible navigation systems for the
MRD offshore vessel due to be constructed in
1977. It was recognized that the system must be
a relatively cheap, small size system capable of
operation by a small crew without advanced
electronic skills.
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.26)
.
....
InstItute of GeologIcal SCIences, unIted KIngdom
.
"..
Over the last few ~ears the G~oche~Ical DlvlsI~n
of IGS has worked In conjUnctIon WIth the AtomIC
Energy Research EstablIshment, Harwell, (AERE)
on the development and use of a towed sea bed
gamma spectrometer.
The spectrometer has been capable of continuous
recording of sea bed radioactivity and radioelement (U, Th, K) concentrations, but recent
adaptation of the probe for neutron activation
analysis has successfully measured variations in
sea bed aluminium content and has demonstrated
its potential for geochemical studies.
Neither the tedious use of horizontal sextant
angles nor the use of OMEGA radio location would
meet the requirements for MRD. Horizontal sextant fixes rely for accuracy on the accurate
positioning of fixed marks to give a position
relative to such marks: considerable operator
errors can occur with unskilled personnel; the
system cannot be used off Fiji at night because
of the lack of lights; and continuous posi t i oning cannot be maintained without the permanent
use of a senior crew member. However, the
system, using equipment already held by MRD
could be used to supplement another main navigation system. The OMEGA world wide radio
location system is presently inoperative in the
South Pacific and will only become operational
when the Australian Station is built (hopefully
in 1980). OMEGA by itself is not accurate
enough (! 5000 feet) for intended MRD offshore
work; however, it may become useful in later
years as an input of velocity to the MX 1102.
Up to now it has operated
Kingdom on the continental
demonstrated its potential
between different types of
The MX 1102 system was then considered, because
it represented the next cheapest system available, and brochures from Magnavox indicated that
the system fulfilled all the MRD (Offshore)
9. DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF TOWED SEA BED GA~~
SPECTROMETER
ficial sediments.
around the United
shelf and has
for discriminating
bedrock and of super-
requirements,although it was noted that Fiji
51
temperature/humidity conditions were close to the
upper limit specified of 95% R.H. at 40°C. More
expensive, short-range highly accurate, electronic systems (HIFIX, SEAFIX, HYDRODIST, TRISPONDER,
and PRA/RADAR RANGING), most of which the author
is familiar with, were considered and rejected,
both because of high cost and because the
.'
,
,.,
accuracy obtalnable lS unnecessary ln F1Jl Off'
i sazed f
h
h
sore operatl0ns envlsage or t e next decade
(down to ± 1 m),
The only system that appeared to meet all the
MRD (Offshore) requirements was the MAGNAVOX
MX 1102 Satellite Navigator. Following a request
for a demonstration of a MX 1102 unit in Fiji it
was arranged with Fiji Military Forces (FMF) that
the MX 1102 should be taken for sea-trials aboard
HMFS Ruve for 10 days for the hydrographic survey
of the Vatoa/Ono-i-Lau Chart.
Th
i od f
h MX 1102 d
,.
F" ,
e perlo 0 t e
emonstratl0n ln lJl
The system's behaviour during the period of the,
demonstration from arrival on 25 February 1977
to dispatch back to California on 31 March 1977
,
i sed
f 11
lS sumrnarlse as 0 ows:
(1) Display of the unit by the demonstrator in
Suva, 28 February - 5 March.
(2) Seatrials aboard HMFS Ruve and trials ashore
on Ono-i-Lau, 7 March - 14 March.
(3) Breakdown period 14-16 March including the
return of HMFS Ruve to Suva.
(4) Resumed operation of unit in Suva until redispatch 17-30 March.
,
Evaluatl0n
The trials fully established to the satisfaction
of all involved that the MX 1102 could perform
all the claimed range of.abilities.
The units are fully described in 3 excellent
comprehensive manuals. Some features of the
MX 1102 are:
(1) The console is extremely compact and may be
fitted with ease into almost any chart-house/
bridge.
(2) The unit revolves on its mounting which
allows complete access to its innards and for
plugging in of inputs to the back.
(3) All information and operation when in use is
from the front and data is displayed Lontinuously in an extremely clear format.
(4) The keyboard and the simple two-digit
,
,
lnterrogatl0n cod7s are well presented and
can be mastered ln less than 1 hour by any
competent person.
(5) The set is rugged, and operation is not
impaired by ship's roll or pitch.
Initialization of the MX 1102 is stated to take
about 20 minutes. We had cO perform this
operation many times roldcould perform it in
about 45 seconds after a while. Shutdown is
simply effected by turning off the power switch
within the machine. If the external power is
switched off the machine will run for a
guaranteed 10 minutes (possibly more) on
internal batteries.
52
The ability to FORCE UPDATES, when a rejected
fix (by reason of unacceptable parameters) does
in fact appear to be useable, is a bonus. However it was noted that in several cases the
machine would not accept a FORCED UPDATE.
The MX 1102 for f
'
,
.'
ully automatlc operatlon and
dead reckonlng for long-term use, must be
provided 'th th
' t· (1) P
(2) S
d
ree
and (3) HWl d·
Thanpu
S s :'1' ower,
1pee ,
'
ea lng.
e eatrla s uSlng manua
entrles of speed and headlng demonstrated that
automatic entries are essential.
R I' b'l'
, F··'
e la 1 lty ln lJl
The hot humid climate of Fiji represents an
extremely severe environment for the use of high
voltage electronic and electrical systems.
Although it appears that the unpotted CRT module
of the MX 1102 was affected during the cruise,
the remaining potted boards worked for nearly
700 hours without any hiccups at all.
,
Accor~lng to Magnavox duri ng 10 000 hours of
operatl0n o~ 6 MX 1102 SATNAVs off New Zea~and
no board fai Iures whatever have been experrenced
(10 000 hours is slightly more than 400 days).
This finding, taken in conjunction with the
offer of Magnavox to.pot (e.g., tropicalize by
repeated epoxy-resin sprays) the CRT for no
charge for sets for Fiji, suggests that until
the number of sets in Fiji justifies the expense
of a spare board bank no spare boards should be
purchased. An MX 1102 is under warranty
guarantee for board replacements for 1 year
from installation.
Summary of costs (as at 11 January 1977)
US$
Basic MX 1102 ..
..
..
..
.. 24 990
Waterspeed input..
(ca.) 1 500
Digicourse, 101 magnetic compass l18B
converter
..
..
..
.. (ca.) 1 900
Extra ant7nna/preamp lead (guessed)..
200
Inst.a
Llatron costs..
..
.. (ca.) ~
,TOTAL
31 090
_
Conclusions and recommendations
'.
The MX 11?2 de~onstrat~o~ ha~ shown that thlS
system, wlth mlnor modlflcatl0ns to allow for
the serious heat and humidity of Fiji, is outstandin 1 suitable for MRD (0) and CCOP/SOPAC
. g Yt
requlremen s.
It is recommended that if the MX'1102 system
is ~rch~sed the packa~e must in~lude speed and
headl~g lnpu~s to pro~lde an entlre system at
the tlme of lnstallatlon.
Note Other papers presented include a review of
airgun systems suitable for CCOP/SOPAC projects
(document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 27) and notes
on the uses of equipment presently used and
potentially useful for CCOP/SOPAC projects
(document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 28).
G. Status of survey activities
COOK ISLANDS
Note The results of "Cook Islands Offshore
Survey, 20 August - 6 September 1977" (document
NR/CCOP (6) CR.ll) are summarised in paragraph
24, Sixth Session TAG Report, and are to be
published in the South Pacific Marine Geological Notes.
FIJI
Note A. The results of "Fiji Offshore Survey
Cruise (Yasawa Trough), 25-30 June 1977"
(document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.6) and "Koro Sea
and Bligh Water, Fiji, 19-31 January 1977" (document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 9) are summarised
in paragraph 25, Sixth Session TAG Report, and
are to be published in the South Pacific Marine
Geological
Notes.
..
B. Fiji's offshore programme as summar1sed 1n
documents NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 32, CR.33, CR.35,
CR.37, and CR.42 has been incorporated in the
Work Programme (Annex II of the Committee's
Report).
11. GEOTHERMAL INVESTIGATION IN FIJI
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 36)
(iii) typical convection system containing recirculated meteoric water.
Faulting: Movement of thermal fluids appears to
be entirely controlled by faults and major
fractures. In many cases, and certainly in
those of the larger groups of springs, major
crustal fractures are involved. The location of
all springs so far studied can be explained in
terms of fault location. Photo interpretation
(especially high level (12 200 m)) and aeromagnetic data have been used for structural
interpretation with follow-up ground work, and
indicate that in most cases the previous mapping
of faults has been rather conservative.
.
Heat Source: A poss1ble source of ~eat was an
initial question in the ~nderstand1~g of the
cause of the thermal spr1ngs, espec1ally t~e
small, isolated occurren~es. Ho~ever, sem1quantitative interpretat10n of a1:borne magnetics (300 m mean flight altitude) 1n terms of
intrusive bodies has given remarkably good
agreement with surface-mapped volcanic centres.
Further, where intrusive bodies are indicated,
and no volcanic centre has been mapped, the
surface geology expresses a volcanic centre or
minor cone. This condition is indicated as
probably being the case for all Fiji geothermal
occurrences. This situation is slightly
different at Lambasa, and of a larger scale.
Malcolm E. Cox
Mineral Resources Division Fiji
,
Introduction
.
.
This paper is presented as a br1ef explanat1o~
of the geothermal in~estigations curre~t~y.be1ng
carried out by the M1neral Resources Dlv1s1on,
Fiji, the techniques being used, and the characteristics of the geothermal systems.
General
-----In the Fiji group of islands there are about 51
locations of geothermal surface manifestations.
The majority of these, however, consi~t of a
single spring or a group of small spr1ngs and
seepages. Temperatures are normally less than
55'C. In most cases the springs are within the
drainage system. The locations of these springs
are broadly distributed through both of the
major islands and on three of the srr.aller
islands.
Convection System: Where the above two feat~res
occur, a geothermal system may develop. Th1S
could possibly indicate that other smaller
systems are present but do ~ot have sur~ac7
expression. One of the bas1c character1st1cs
of the type systems in Fiji is a rapid throughput of water, this no doubt being enh~nced by
the fracture-control. Heat transfer 1S, then,
mainly by convection and not conduction, which
is evidenced by soil temperature surveys and
airborne thermal.imagery. :orous rock does not
appear to be of 1mportance 1n these systems.
..
.
Invest1gat1ons/Techn1ques
Since 1845 periodical small scale investigations
have been conducted on these thermal occurrences,
but mainly at Savusavu. The MRD had internally
carried out some chemical analyses and temperature surveys and in 1960 Dr J. Healy of the New
Zealand DSIR published an excellent compilation
of all the known occurrences and their descriptions.
Our efforts have been concentrated on the two
areas of most likely potential, Lambasa and
Savusavu on Vanua Levu. Both these occurrences
are typified by a linear concentration of groups
of 5prings with temperatures up to 99°C, some
steam and minor gas emission, and deposition of
siliceous sinter.
.
Ma1n Features
Work in these main areas and preliminary work at
other sites show thr7~.basic featur~s 0: most
(and probably all) F1J1 thermal spr1ngs.
(i) intimate relationship to faulting,
In 1974 MRD embarked on its own coherent investigations using a multi-disciplinary approach.
This first stage work will be completed at the
end of this year, and overseas expertise will
then be requested to assess any further work in
light of these data.
(ii) heat source of a small intrusive body,
A brief description of the techniques used and
theirmain findings follows. This is restricted
to the Lambasa and Savusavu areas.
Soil Temperature Surveys: These are at 1 m depth
and immediately around the thermal spring
locations. Mainly they demonstrate that heat is
contained almost completely within the structures
53
bearing the thermal fluids, except for some
areas of superficial seepages of hot water.
T~mp~ratures drop to back~round value (25·C)
w1th1n 3-6 m from the spr1ngs.
Ground.Magnetics (total field): Anomalous zones
of low value are located. These are generally
elongate and tend to agree with fault mapping.
This indicated hydrothermal alteration extends
away from surface expressions~ indicating a
greater lateral subsurface movement of thermal
fluids.
Airborne Magnetics (total field): Location of
intrusive bodies has been mentioned. The average
flight line spacing (2 km).is a little large for
determining detailed zones of alteration, but
the broader picture of the system is indicated.
Interpretation for the Lambasa area is that the
previously mapped inter-volcanic basin in which
the springs occur is a collapsed caldera, with
cones subsequently developed around the rim. A
large zone of hydrothermal alteration at depth
(>4 km) is indicated, which is possibly a thermal
fluid reservoir within a collapsed magma chamber.
Interpretation at Savusavu is more comple , but
a zone of hydrothermal alteration is also
indicated, with associated intrusive bodies.
Electrical Resistivity: This technique proved
unsuitab~e at Savusavu, because of its lo~ation
on a pen1nsula and the fa~t that mo~t spr1ngs
are on or near the coastl1ne. Inev1tably
resistivity values dropped to <5 Rm upon current
reaching the saline water table. A large survey
was ~arried ou~ at Lamba~a usin~ Schlumbe:ger
vert1cal sound1ngs and b1pole-d1pole mapp1ng
technique. The equipment used was on loan from
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics. Mr J. P.
Kauahikaua, HIG, assisted in.the initia~
programme and the follow-up trrterpret atron.
Again linear an~malous zones «20 ~m) of hydrothermal alterat10n and thermal flu1ds are
indicated, with extremely good agreement with
ground magnetic surveys. These data show the
fault-bound features and.in~icate thermal fluids
at 250 to 1500 m depth w1th1n them.
Self Potential: SP traverses were carried out in
both areas, again having remarkable agreement
with ground magnetics and resistivity work. In
many cases accurate location of ''hot''
faults was
possible, and a movement of thermal fluids over
a larger region demonstrated. This method also
provided a better understanding of the hydrology
of the systems.
.'
.
Infra-:ed Thermal Imagery. Th1~ was prev10usly
flown 1n 1972, but has been re1nterpreted.
P
.
.t
.
h
d
1
b
f
s;~~1~~~m~~i:~Pr~t~~~~~s:,o:~thaSO::g~i:~:re~ro
diffuse responses. Four agreed with known
springs, but the majority of anomalous responses
could not be explained. Reinterpretation has
doubled the number of these small anomalies, and
shows a remarkable correlation between them and
"hot" faults. This again agrees with other
surveys. It is surprising that this method here
appears to define the location of thermal fluids
not discharging at the surface. The Savusavu
survey clearly showed the known springs dis-
charging into the sea, but has rougly doubled
54
the indicated area of subsurface hot water movement.
Geochemistry: This is dramatically different
between areas, notably because of the 23-35% seawater mixing at Savusavu. The Lambasa analyses
show a large amount of medium, shallow, and
superficial mixing of meteoric water, especially
at the ends of the zone.
Typical analyses are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Analysis of Fijian hot spring waters
Lambasa
Savusavu
(Wainggele)
(Nakama)
fH
6.0
7.5
C
98
98
Na
196
1158
K
3.2
45
Ca
154
1606
Mg
0.02
3.6
Cl
147
5250
Li
_
4
Si02
60
150
SO~
522
228
HC03
18
24
Cal (ppm)
3.3
0
Analyses of sinter deposited from the waters is
80+% Si02 for Savusavu, and other typical metal
contents are shown in Table 2.
Table 2 Metal content of Fijian hot spring
------- sinters
Ca(%)
Mn(%)
Fe(%)
Al(%)
Cu (ppm)
Pb (m)
Zn (~~m)
Lambasa
6.9
0 08
3:8
7 3
60·
42
55
Savusavu
5.3
0 1
5:5
7
15~'
50
. 95
(Sinter analyses by Dr D. Cronan, Imperial
College, London)
.
Chemistry has aided in understanding the
relative movements of the thermal waters and
subsequent mixing. A possible zone of steam
heating in the east of the Lambasa zone is
indicated. Temperatures however, are indicated
as being somewhat lower than required for power
generation: Lambasa 130-l40·C; Savusavu 150160·C Ho
thO
b
h . db d '11
.
wever,
1S may e c ange y r i
h~l~ cO~le~tio~ho~ deepertwaters, because of the
m1x1ng ur1ng
e1r ascen .
Isotope Geochemistry: This study is being
carried out in conjunction with Dr J. R. Hulston
of the New Zealand DSIR. Initial data at hand
are from Lambasa and show the low chloride,
neutral thermal fluids to be virtually entirely
re-circulated meteoric water. The indication is
of a deep reservoir with water derived from
precipitation further inland and of a very short
circulation time. The small oxygen-shift
indicates that geothermal temperatures are low
and the existence of appreciable 'mixing by local
precipitation derived groundwater.
.
1
Typ1cal 6 va ues are :
Creek water
: 6018 = -5.2; 6D = -32(%0)
Thermal water: 6018 = -5.7; 6D = -36(%0)
. th e tapp1ng
. 0 f the deeper water.
Here aga1n,
could indicate somewhat higher temperatures at
depth which are not reflected by waters discharging from springs.
Remarks
Other broad studies of hydrology, geology, and
the thermal potential are being carried out.
Theoretical models for each system will be
described and included in the final reports.
.
.,
The surveys descr1bed should prov1de a bas1c
understanding of the systems as a whole and of
their overall environment and formation. The
data provided in the final reports of this stage
should enable the selection of sites for drill
holes and an assessment of the worth of any
future continuation of detailed investigations.
NEW ZEALAND
Note The status of New Zealand's offshore programm~ (document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR.18) has
been 1ncorp~rated 1n the Work Programme (Annex II
of th~ Comm1tt~els Report); see also paragraph
26, S1xth Sess10n TAG Report.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
12. REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC
(6)
CR.53)
The Papua New Guinea Delegation
Geological and prospecting activities in Papua
New Guinea continue to be almost exclusively
land-based. This reflects the basic work of the
survey and the emphasis on promotion of mineral
development.
Th 1
.
f
f
. 1
d
h
. e arge pro~ort~on 0 p:o eS~10na an t~c n1cal ~ffort g01ng 1nto eng1neer1~g a~d ~p~11ed
geolog1cal
work and water supply 1S s1gn1f1cant
.
.
1~ term~ of the current stage of nat10nal deve opmen .
The geophysical and volcanological observatory
networks, for surveillance and monitoring of
seismicity and volcanicity, continue to expand,
and the sections have maintained their observations and their applied research into prediction techniques, as well as their international
obligations.
Regional work has been directed to establishing a middle-range programme for mineral
resource assessment and development. Most of the
country, and certainly all significant land
areas, has been geologically mapped on a reconnaissance scale of 1:250 000, and many of the
sheets are published. Current and future geological mapping is directed towards re-assessing
of geological environments with potential for
economic mineralization or for other development;
this is being undertaken on a scale of 1:100 ODD,
and where possible is based on ~o x~o sheets,
although this scale could be greater depending
.
on the requ1rements. Recen~ 1;100 000 map~1ng
h~s been do~e around Ok Ted1, 1n the W~u m1neral
f1eld, and 1n areas along the prospect1ve belt
extending from the Yandera porphyry copper deposit and the Marum lateritic nickel on ultrabasics
north-west ~o the Schrade: Range: In the youthful ore en~1ronment assoc1ate~ w1th ~late movements ~nd 1s1and areas there 1S cons~derable
potent1al for porphyry coppers, poss1bly also
volcanogenic base metal deposits, and also mineralization associated with the ultrabasics.
.
The Panguna m1ne 1n Bouga1nv111e 1S plann1ng
some expansion in the next few years~ and ~he
survey hopes to undertake a systemat1c reg10nal
assessment of Bougainville Island. The consortium investigating the Ok Tedi copper-gold prospect continues its intensive drilling, aditting,
and advanced metallurgical studies, and the
Government is undertaking a hydropower site
selection study for Ok Tedi under the control of
the Geological Survey. The investigations and
studies stage, including an environmental impact
study, should be completed at Ok Tedi before mid1979, at which stage a decision has to be made
as regards proceeding with mine construction if
the consortium shows the deposit to be commercially viable. Continuing drilling at the
Frieda River copper prospect should shortly
establish the extent and concentration of mineralization, and, it is hoped, will be followed by
the investigation and studies stage to determine
the viability of the prospect.
The relatively large area of variable disseminated copper mineralization at Yanderra, on
which considerable expenditure was outlayed in
1973-76, is being re-examined by the property
holder. It is anticipated that prospecting in
some detail will be extended over certain of the
porphyry copper systems in New Britain where
grades so far outlined are sub-economic, although
lower grades may be accepted because of relatively small infrastructural difficulties. During
1977, bids were called to continue exploration
over the prospective areas in the intrusivevolcanic complex in the centre of Manus Island.
C opper va 1ues so far record edb'
are su -econom1C,
but access to the area presents no difficulties.
The successful bidder will be involved in an
initial 2-year prospecting and assessment programme in 1978-80.
Work is continuing at Porgera in the outlining
of a low-grade gold deposit associated with midTertiary dioritic intrusions. In certain islands
in the south-east there are possibilities for
large, low-grade gold occurrences.
Accumulations of chromite-bearing beach sands
on the Morobe coast some 70 km south of Lae are
being investigated intensively by means of several gravel drills. The detrital chromite is
derived from erosion of ultrabasic rocks of the
55
Papuan Ultramafic Belt, an ophiolite suite of
rocks, in the mountainous hinterland.
Other offshore activities relate almost exclu. 1 ttl
1
t'
b'l
.
Slve y 0 pe ro eum exp ora 10n y 01 companIes.
A consortium led by ESSO has been undertaking
.
.
..
.
.
extensIve marIne selsmlc surveys In concessIons
in the Gulf of Papua to the west of the Pasca
and Uramu gasfields. Targetted on a deep (about
10 000 ft) structure in middle Mesozoic sands,
interpreted and defined from the seismics and
previously untested, the Kusa well was drilled in
early 1977 in shallow waters in the western Gulf
of Papua off the Fly River estuary and some
100 km ENE of Daru. It was dry and bottomed in
Jurassic strata, and was plugged and abandoned
at 11 265 ft depth.
The geothermal assessment will be undertaken
within divisional terms of reference as regards
identifying ~nd evalu~t~ng ~nergy resources in
Papua New GUlnea. Utl1lzatlon of energy from
h'
d . . h
f
h
1
t l~ ~ource: an wlthln t e areas 0 geot erma
act.rv
rty wlll be dependent on development of
f ' f 1
l' d t
some. ?rm 0
oca In us .r~ or.power consumer
requlrlng power generatea In SItU.
The Geological Survey of Papua New Guinea is
building up a Landsat imagery library. It is
hoped that a committee representing other groups
involved in natural resources management in Papua
New Guinea can set up a central imagery library
and purchase image enhancement equipment.
ESSO has identified a drill target, based on
extensive onshore, estuary, and swamp seismic
traversing. It is just onshore close to the
Gulf of Papua between the mouth'of the Paibuna
River and the Turama River estuary. Drilling
will start in early 1978. No further details
are available. With revised petroleum legislation shortly being introduced, it is anticipated
that 1978 will see an increase in petroleum
exploration in both onshore and offshore concessions.
"'.
.
Note Results of Crulse R~port . Indlspensable
Reefs and Lake Tegano Bauxlte Surveys, Southern
Solomon Islands, 5-18 May 1977".(doc~ent NR/
CCOP/~OPAC (6).Cr.8) are summarlsed.ln paragraph
2?, Slx~h Sessl0n T~G .Repor~, and wll~ be pub11shed In South PacIfIc MarIne GeologIcal Notes.
As regards both offshore and onshore gas dis-
The Solomon Islands Delegation
SOLOMON IS~DS
13. SURVEY ACTIVITIES IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
(
/
/
DocumentNRCCOPSOPAC
(6)
CR. 30)
coveries, these fields appear too.small f?r
A. Activities within the CCOP/SOPAC Work
development at the moment, but t his IS be.i.ng
='--';;p==~:7:""';==::':""':;':;:":"'==!""::'==-:':'=::'
reviewed regularly, particularly in the light of
rogramme
possible industrial development in the area.
CCSP-I/SI.9:
Investigation into the lagoonal
As part of a wider regional heat flow programme sediments of the Indispensable AtOll, Solomon
under CCOP sponsorship, two Japanese experts
Islands.
recently spent some weeks in Papua .New Guinea to
During May 1977 a survey for possible bauxite
undertake preliminary thermometric measurements
deposits in Lake Tenggano, Rennel Island, and
utilizing existing boreholes. They visited
the Indispensable Reef was carried out by CCOP/
Bougainville, New Britain, Ok Tedi, Yanderra, and
SOPAC Techsec with support staff and vessels
Frieda. Unfortunately, because of the conditions provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources
of the holes, they could conclude only 2 success(Geological Division).
ful down-hole measurements. However, the Geological Survey has obtained permission for oil
CCSP-I/SI.IO:
Evaluation of potential hydrocompanies to release confidential temperature
carbon occurrences in the Solomon Islands.
data for certain oil expl?ration boreholes; such
In April 1977 CCOP/SOPAC Techsec completed a
data sho~ld ~rove ~seful In the study. Th~ Jappreliminary evaluation of oil company data on
anes~ ~clentlsts wl11 shortly pres~nt a br~ef
open file in the Ministry of Natural Resources
p:ellDllnaryreport on the w?rk; thls.work ~s.a
(Geological Division) in Honiara.
pl10t to more advanced studles, and In addltlon
a member of the Survey's staff will go to Japan
This evaluation was published as South Pacific
to attend a course on heat-flow theory and techMarine Geological Notes Vol.l, No.5 (April 1977).
iliques.
.
B. Other Activities
Acknowledgement IS made here to the Japan International Co-operation Agency for the temperOther survey activities in the Solomon Islands
ature-recording equipment given to the Geological during the last year have been land-based, but
Survey at the completion of the recent study toare summarised below as background information
wards the end of September.
for participants as they bear indirectly cn pro. .
posals for future offshore activity.
Th·IS study re 1ates to th e d'Ivlslonal
programme
whic~ it is hoped will start ~ext year, to.
(1) The Western Solomons Mapping Project
examlne t~e geothe:mal areas In Papua New GU1~ea
Under U.K. Technical Cooperation arrangements,
to.e~tabllsh some Ide~ of energ~ r~sourc~ aV~llthe Institute of Geological Sciences (London)
ab~llty. ~n preparatlo~ for thlS In~e~tlgatl?n
has provided a 7-man team to undertake a prow~lch he.wl1l lead, Nat~onal Geophysaclst Robln
gramme of 1:50 000 geological mapping and geoBl1l Moalna, has been glven some valuable prac.
tical in-house experience in New Zealand and
chemlcal surveys of the western Solomons.
the United States and will go to Japan to
The present project, to map the Shortlands
attend the course mentioned above.
.and Choiseul, began in early 1976 and is now
56
well advanced. Field work in the Shortlands and
over approximately 65% of Choiseul is now complete.
'
1
.
. d
f
..
Th e Ch 01seu proJect 1S ue or complet10n 1n
1979, and a proposal for a second 3-year pro- .
gramme (1979-81) to ~ap the New Georgia Group 1S
be1ng formulated.
This programme means that there will be a
regular, monthly shuttle service running between
Honiara and Choiseul, and later between Honiara
and New Georgia, and the opportunity might be
taken to undertake marine surveys across the
relevant sea lanes.
(2)
Seismograph
Power
Investigations into the potential of the Paraso
geothermal area on Vella Lavella, New Georgia,
advanced a further step when Dr Giggenbach of
the Chemistry Division of New Zealand DSIR conducted a survey in April this year. This survey
was completed in the course of a New Zealand bilateral aid project.
TONGA
It is planned to instal two more portable units
on Savo Island complete with a teleseismic link
to Honiara. The University of the South Pacific
has offered to assist in the installation of the
equipment.
Hydrometric
Geothermal
Network
The Geological Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources continues to operate a limited
seismograph network within the Islands.
.
.,
At p:es~nt a world-w1de stan~ard1sed se1smograph 1S 1nstalled.at MNR, Hon1ara, and 2 Spre~gnether portable se1smographs are operated at G1Z0
(New Georgia) and Santa Cruz.
(3)
Licences held by Mitsui Mining and Smelting
and Pacific Aluminium Ltd over the bauxite deposits on Rennell and Wagina respectively have been
allowed to lapse earlier this year.
Network
An island-wide hydrometric network is being installed to collect rainfall and run-off data as
a first stage in making an assessment of the
hydroelectric potential of the Solomons. On
Guadalcanal the major Lungga hydro scheme, which
is expected to be funded by the ADB, was the subject of a feasibility study earlier this year.
The proposal is to construct a rock-filled dam
across the River Lungga 14 miles upstream from
its mouth, in a narrow, limestone gorge 160 ft
wide and 200 ft deep.
As this project should serve the increasing
power and energy demands of Guadalcanal without
resorting to diesel generation until at least
the mid-to-late 1990s, and should increase the
firm capacity of Guadalcanal in stages from
about 2.1 MW to approximately 6 MW (first stage)
and ultimately to 10 MW.
Mining and Prospecting
Activities
Legislatio~ to ~ermit offshore prospect~ng for
petroleum 1S ~e1ng f~rmulated,.and ~o ~1cences
to prospect w111 be 1ssued unt11 th1s 1S completed.
Encour~ging int~res~ has be~n shown by a nu~ber of 011 compan1~s ~n app~y~ng to prospect 1n
and '11
1t b1S ant1c1pated
that a numbthe Solomons,
f I'
k
h
er 0
1cenc~s W1.
~ ta en out as soon as t e
necessary leg1s1at10n 1S enacted.
Onshore, there are no current mining tenements.
Current Prospecting Licences are now held by
R.M.G. Services Pty to prospect San Gorge for
all minerals, while Essex Minerals (US Steel)
hold a licence over the Florida Islands to prospect for copper, lead, zinc. gold. silver. nickel. selenium, manganese. chromite. and asbestos.
Note Results of "Tonga Offshore Survey, 17 September - 2 October 1977" (document NR!CCOP!SOPAC
(6) CR. 14) are summarised in paragraph 30,
Sixth Session TAG Report and will be published
in South Pacific Marine Geological Notes.
.
WESTERN SAMOA
Note Results of "Western Samoa Offshore Survey,
20 July - 11 August 1977" (document NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 7) are summarised in paragraph 31,
Sixth Session TAG Report and will be published
in South Pacific Marine Geological Notes.
REGIONAL STUDIES
14. PARTICIPATION OF FRENCH RESEARCH
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STUDY OF MARINE GEOLOGYGEOPHYSICS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC 1977
(From document
NR!CCOP!SOPAC
(6) CR.
22)
The French Delegation on behalf of
ORSTOM and CNEXO
.
A. Survey 1n the Cook Islands Area
During cruises organized by ORSTOM* it was considered useful to carry out bottom samplings
(polymetallic nodule research) when these studies were compatible with the other aims of the
cruises. These samplings were realized in
accordance with CNEXO+!ORSTOM agreement with
equipment designed and supplied by CNEXO.
During "Danaides 2", an ORSTOM physical oceanographic cruise on board N.O. Coriolis, 9 stations were recognized, and 35 drops of free fall
grabs were realized (3 - 6 February 1977).
During the "Geotransit 2" cruise, carried out
by the ORSTOM geology-geophysics team on a
. of N.O. cox iol
, i»
. from Papeete to Noumea,
erossang
14 stations were recognized, and 70 drops of
free fall grabs were realized (29 March - 5 April
1977).
* Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre Mer
+ Centre National pour l'Exploitation des oceans
57
The locations of these 23 stations were chosen
to complete a preliminary survey carried out
over the same area in 1976 by CCOP/SOPAC and the
Cook Islands Government.
Details of these surveys are available in a
Preliminary Report issued by ORSTOM, Noumea,
1977 (see document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 20).
points (4 paper-recording stations, 6 digital
stations from Cornell University) and eight submarine OBS stations (from Texas University). The
permanent stations of the ORSTOM network com~
pleted this ne~work. The network allows very
accurate 10cat10n of nume:ous hyp~centres ~f
small earthquakes. ~e.a1m of th1s operat10n
was to study four pr1nc1pal problems :
B. Survey in the Tonga Area
During the ORSTOM EVA cruise, from 25 April to
12 May, ten bathymetric, magnetic, and continuous single channel seismic reflection .(air gun)
profiles were carried out across the Tongan
archipelago between 20 and 250 S.
1. Is there a connection between the shallow
seismicity located behind the New Hebrides arc
and the back-arc trough? The locations and
focal mechanism of these events should provide
important information of the origin of these
back-arc troughs and their present evolution.
This mission recorded a total of 2 600 nautical
miles of profiles. The distance between each of
these nearly parallel profiles varies between 20
and 40 miles, which, because of navigation by
satellite, should allow a precise morphostructural study. Be~ause of.the nature of the
oce~n.f~oor, penetr~t10n was 1rregula:, ~nd,the
def1n1t10n of certa1n reflectors was 1nd1st1nct.
During this cruise, 7 stations of 4 CNEXO-type
free fall grabs were carried out east of the
Tongan trench at the bathymetric, magnetic,
..
fl t'
f'l
d
All th
se1s~1c re ec 10~,pro 1 es en s.
e
samp es were nega 1ve.
A Tongan Government Observer was on board
durin~ part of the mission. The :esults o~ the
samp11ngs and
. the geology-geophys1c record1ngs
were commun1cated to the Government of Tonga.
2. Are the surface earthquakes divided into distinct spatial groupings which correspond to distinct deformational processes within the subduction system?
3. The few earthquakes occurring in the upper
part of the subducting plate seem to be associated with the ruptures of the lithosphere due to
the extreme curvature b efore 1'ts SUbduct'10n.
Are these events related to the important faulting observed in the morphology?
. .
.
4. Are the earthquakes w1th1n the subduct1ng
plate at depth to 60 km divided into two types,
one situated in the upper part of the subducting
plate and the other in the lower part?
This distribution could originate from the
extreme curvature 0 f the subduct'
1ng p 1ate as 1't
b d d
d
en s ownwar s.
Further details of this cruise are available
,.
..
in a Preliminary Report issued by ORSTOM, Noumea,
A ~ne day m~crose1sm1c1ty survey was also .
Jul 1977 (see document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 21). carr1~d out w1th 3 ?BS plus nearby land stat10ns
y
on An1wa and Tanna 1slands. The OBS network had
C. Survey in the New Hebrides Area
a spacing of 10 - IS km, and,was designed to locate shallow earthquakes wh1ch were too small to
(1) EVA 3 cruise - New Hebrides Leg
be recorded by tpe main network. SO earthquakes
From 30 May to 12 June a close network survey
of very small magnitude were recorded. These
with 5 - 10 mile spacing including bathymetric,
earthquakes are related to the faulting between
magnetic, and continuous single channel seismic
the arc and the back arc trough, and a number of
reflection profiles was continued by ORSTOM
them can be very accurately located relative to
within the framework of the EVA III cruise
bathymetric features.
across the southern region of the New Hebrides
arc. This detailed survey, which began in 1976,
.Eleven se~smic refracti~n profi~es were carprovided interesting results on the process of
r1ed out ~s1ng.the submar1ne stat10ns d~veloped
formation of the island arc and, particularly,
by the Un1vers1ty of Texa:. The follow1ng
on the accretionary prism. It appears that,
structures have been stud1ed :
from a morphologic point of view, the classifi..
.
d I
cation of an arc in terms of a single type is
Subduct1ng 0~ean1c plate (prof1les VII an X),
difficult. It is observed from the survey corTrench (prof1le V!),
ridor perpendicular to the arc, some 100 km in
Upper slope (prof~les VIII and X),
width, that the accretionary prism varies considInsular arc (prof1les.V and IX),
erably according to the preponderant influence
Back ar~ trough (prof1les I and IV),
of three constitutive factors : deposits from
Depress~ons East of the back arc trough
·
.
t
.
..
d
(profi le II),
the vo 1can1C arc, 1n rUS10ns ~n s~tu, an
N
h F' ,. PI
(f'l
III)
deposits from the subducting plate.
ort
1J1 ateau pro 1 e
.
Eight profiles (profiles 1 - 8) were carried
(2) EVA 4 and EVA 5 Cruises
out using a 5 litre-I-shot per minute air gun
Cooperation by the New Hebrides Mining and Geoallowing a recording on the OBS of up to 18 km.
logical Office, ORSTOM, Cornell University, and
.
,.
the University of Texas in the framework of the
,Three prof1les were carr1ed out w1th exploEVA IV cruise, enabled a temporary, Close-spaced
S1ves:
network (30 - SO km) of seismological stations to
profile IX : the recording was made by the OBS
be set up in the southern region of the New
(3) and the land stations (3) at the same time.
Hebrides from 5 August - IS September. This netThe dynamite charges used for the shots were
work was composed of ten land stations at seven
from 25 to 200 kg;
58
profile X : length, 80 km ; 33 firings of 1 - 40 kg
of dynamite every ten minutes;
understanding the mechanisms of earthquake
generation and at earthquake prediction.
profile XI: length, 60 km ; 26 firings of l-36kg
of dynamite every ten minutes.
Pd.nalIy , still within the framework?f the,cooperat10n between ORSTOM, the New Hebr1des M1ning Office, Cornell University (Professor Bloom),
a two-month survey is carried out each year on
neotectonic problems by means of a study of uplifted coral reefs. These surveys are logistically supported by the New Hebrides Geological
Survey.
Notes A. Reports on marine activities of the
Geological Survey of Japan in the northern hemih re (docum
NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR 43 CR
sp e
ents
•
,
.
44',CR. ~5, CR. 46, CR. 47: and CR. ,48) are summar1sed 1n paragraph 34, S1xth Sess10n TAG Report.
B. A report on the regional geochemical reconnaissance survey of submarine metalliferous
sediments in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean
(document NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 24) is summarised in paragraph 34, Sixth Session TAG Report.
C. A report on U.S. Geological Survey offshore activities (document NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR.
54) is summarised in paragraph 39 Sixth Session
TAG Report.
'
This adaptation of the methods used should
allow on the one hand a detailed study of the
superficial layers (short profiles, depth of
investigation 5 - 7 km), and on the other a study
of the deep layers which constitute the crust
down to the upper most mantle (long profiles).
,
"
F1nally, ORSTOM 1S carrY1ng out~ from ~5 September to 15 October, a rock dredpng crui se m
the South of the New Hebridian arc (EVA V cruise)
using N.O. Noroit. These samplings represent the
logical follow-up to the former detailed survey
of bathymetric, magnetic, and seismic reflection
profiles. A geologist of the New Hebrides Geological Survey is participating in this mission.
(3)
Other Activities
in the New Hebrides
A programme of D\onitoringd7formations of the
Earth~s surface near the,ma1n zone o~ thrust
fault1ng of the New Hebr1des subduct10n system
is now operating successfully. ,This.is a joint
programme of ORSTOM, Cornell Un1vers1ty, and the
Mining Office of New Hebrides. A network of
tiltmeters, bench marks (for geodetic releveling), and tide gauges monitors tilt and vertical
motions in an attempt to observe pre- and postseismic deformations associated with large shallow earthquakes. The programme is aimed at
H.
Exploration for hydrocarbons
15. PETROLEUM RESOURCES IN CCOP!SOPAC
MEMBER COUNTRIES
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC
~. A list of 14 projects in the International
Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) that
share common goals with projects in the CCOP!
SOPAC Work PrograD~e were presented (document
NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 49) - see paragraph 81,
Sixth Session TAG Report.
(6)/12)
Note by the CCOP!SOPAC Technical Secretariat
Interest by the private sector in the petroleum
potential of the Kingdom of Tonga is escalating.
Earlier this year, Delta Exploration Company was
contracted by Webb-Tonga to do a preliminary
vibro-seis survey. The survey, in March of this
year, has been estimated to cost Webb Resources,
the parent cOIl:pany
of Webb-Tonga, as much as $ll:i
million. Promising results were obtained, indieating the presence of structure considered
favourable for accumulation of petroleum. The
company is now seeking drilling equipment. Onshore drilling on Tongatapu is expected to begin
sh?rtly contingent on the availability of a
dr1lling rig. By the time the drilling operation
is completed the company estimates that as much
as $5 million will have been spent on the combined seismic survey and drilling operation.
The presence of ·source rocks and appropriate
thermal history, in addition to the presence of
favoura~17 geological s~ruc~ure and traps, is,
prerequ1s1te to develop1ng 1nterest by the pr1vate sector. In this regard it would be particularly advantageous for the Technical Secretariat
and the UNDP Project to have access to equipment
capable of detecting small concentrations of
hydrocarbons dissolved in seawater for use during forthcoming CCOP!SOPAC Member Country Offshore Surveys.
16. DEVELOPMENTS IN HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION
IN NEW ZEALAND AND THE SOUTHWEST
PACIFIC ISLAND REGION IN 1976
(Abstract only from ~ocument
NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6) CR. 15)
R Ka
H. " tz
New Zealand Geolog1cal Survey, DSIR,
New Zealand
With regard to potential hydrocarbon resources
in other member countries, in particular in Fiji
and the Solomon Islands, attempts should be made
to estimate past temperature gradients and determine the thermal history of areas where structure
is present which is considered favourable for
In New Zealand, offshore drilling continued.
Five wells were drilled in water depths from 50
to 480 m, amounting to a total depth of 17 489 m;
this is an increase of 43%. All were dry and
were abandoned, though significant gas and some
oil shows were encountered in Toroa-l, which is
entrapment and accumulation of hydrocarbons.
the first wildcat in the newly discovered, very
59
large Great South Basin, where sediments in
excess of 5 km are indicated by seismic profiles.
Marine seismic surveys were conducted both in
the Great South Basin and in the Taranaki Basin,
and amounted to 6378 km. Onshore two more shallow wells were drilled in the subcommercial
Moturoa field, but no production has been obtained so far. The Kapuni field nearly tripled its
production to 1421.248 M cu m o~ gas and
600 328 cu m of condensate; thIS corresponds to
137.5 MMCFGD and 10 345 bid of condensate. Concessions further decreased to 2974.6 sq mi.
(7 704.2 sq km) on land, and to 229 081 sq ml
(593 319.8 sq km) offshore; a further 38 047 sq
mi (98 541.7 sq km) offshore concessions will expire on 30 September 1977.
In Tonga, a 3000 sq mi (7700 sq km) exploration licence was granted to Webb-Tonga which
plans to do a detailed seismic survey on the
island of Tongatapu before drilling a deep test.
In Fiji, only one block is now held under
licence, but this will expire in August 1977.
A total of eleven blocks with 32 895 sq Dli
(85 198 sq km) will thus be available for concessions.
and Solomon
Islands,
..In the New Hebrides
..
.
. there
IS stIll no le~17lat:on for 011 exploratIon, and
no further actIVIty IS reported.
In Papua New Guinea, two wells were drilled to
a combined depth of 4125 m; this is 39% of last
year's drilling depth. Seismic surveys were
conducted on land and offshore to a total of 688
and 2047.7 km respectively. Further considerable changes in licence holdings have occurred.
1.
(6) CR. 40)
R.N. Ricp~.ond
Mineral Resources Division
Fiji
'
No oil exploration was carried out in Fiji
waters during the past year. The only exploration licence for the Eastern Viti Levu area
(Block D) lapsed last year while the companies
reorganised themselves and applied for a new
licence
.
In 1977 the two co~panies involved, Love Oil
Comp~ny and Interna~lonal ~etroleum Company,
applIed for a new lIcence l~ the same ar~a under
the name of Da~ota ExploratIon Ltd: :helr work
programme consIsted of $180 000 seIsmIC exploration in the first year followed by a $2.5 million drilling programme in the second and third
years. The Government approved the licence in
August 1977.
Th e on 1y 0th er area t0 draw any mt.eres
.
t IS
.
the Bligh Water concession which had been reIinquished by Southern Pacific Petroleum in 1976.
One American company is currently negotiating
for an option over the area with an initial programme of reinterpretation of the geophysical
data in the area with particular regard to the
location of a nearby heat source for the generation of hydrocarbons.
B. A paper "Managanese Nodules in the South
Pacific: a review" by G.P. Glasby, N.Z. Oceanographic Institute, Wellington, was also presented (NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 19).
Potentials for sea-floor minerals
18. POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE OF METALLIFEROUS
SEDIMENTS ON THE FIJI PLATEAU
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)/8)
Note by the CCOP!SOPAC Technical Secretariat
Based upon preliminary descriptions, cores obtained on the Fiji Plateau by the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics (HIG) appear to contain metal-.
liferous sediments. Some of these cores were
obtained from areas of very high heat flow that
are suspected to be near spreading centres. In
addition, piston cores may have been recovered
by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in
60
(Document NR/CCOP/SOPAC
Sea floor manganese nodules
Notes A. Preliminary reports on nodule surveys
in Cook Islands issued by ORSTOM, Noumea, (document Nr!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 20) and near Tonga
issued by CNEXO, Paris, and ORSTOM, Noumea,
(document NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 21) are sununarised in paragraph 33, Sixth Session TAG Report.
J.
17. STATUS OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION
IN FIJI 1977
the vicinity of other spreading centres on the
Fiji Plateau. The metal ion content of the HIG
cores ne~ds b~ analysed, prefera~ly before ~urther crUIses In search of metallIferous sedlments on the Fiji Plateau.
Inquirie7 also should be made to determine if
the.metal Ion content of the cor~s collected by
~cr:pps ha7 been analY7ed, and, If not, whether
It IS poss:ble to acqUIre samples of those cores
for analySIS.
High resolution seismic reflection profiling
has proved to be a useful technique for delineating areas of metalliferous sediment. Horizons
enriched in metalliferous sediment commonly exhibit high reflectivity in the sonic frequency
range 100 - 500 Hz and appear as sharp, welldefined layers on reflection profiles. If examination of piston cores taken on the Fiji Plateau reveals the presence of metalliferous enrichment, reflection profiling investigations would
be warranted and should be undertaken to ascertain thickness and extent.
19
EXPLORATION FOR PRECIOUS CORAL
.
(Document
NRICCOPISOPAC
(6)13)
Note by the CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat
Various species of pink coral (Corralium species)
including the ancient precious red coral (c. rubrum), red corals (c. japonicum and c. nobile),
pink coral (c. elatius), and white coral (c. konojoi), among others, are considered to be
precious and of commercial importance. Price
depends on size, state, and colour. Size is
measured by branch diameter; the largest are the
most valuable. State refers to the living condition of the coral, and ranges from corals collected alive to those which have fallen to the
bottom and are in various stages of decomposition. The best grade is considered to be the
medium pink (angle skin) variety, which brings
$300 per pound wholesale. The next best grade
is the light red variety (up to $150 per pound
wholesale). The lowest grade is the white variety (up to $50 per pound). Finished prices
for precious coral range between $2 and 20 per
mOmD'e*.
In the Pacific, commercial grades of precious
coral have been found at depths between 90 and
450 m. The best grades in an area occur at the
greatest depth. Growth is favoured on vertical
faces and on calcareous (or calcareous-veneered)
substrates which are sediment-free and are
bathed by relatively strong currents. Growth
is on the order of 5 mm per year, and thus it
takes 50 years or more to regenerate a bed aftel
harvesting. Distribution of coral beds is
patchy and dispersed, making discovery infrequent and prospecting difficult.
r~rvesting is accomplished using tangle hanks
made from salmon nets with a mesh stretched
length of about 100 mm. Four or five tangle
hanks, each about 1.5 m in length, are tied to
a weight. Usually one weight is attached to
each towing line, which generally consists of
one-half inch hemp or polyurethane line. Ship
power is never used to dredge for coral, rather
the gear is pulled over the bottom while the
* One momme is equivalent to 3.75 g or 1.3 oz.
62
ship is drifting with the current. Dredging is
generally upslope. A ratio of 1 : 1.2 - 1 : 1.5.
between water depth and rope out is maintained.
The gear is usually dragged on the bottom for,
20 - 60 minutes. On very rough bottom, gear loss
may be as high as 50%.
Black coral (Order Antipatharia) is much less
1 bl th
i.nk
1
Bl k
1 (
,
va ua e
~n P1~ cora,
ac. cora
Ant1pathes spec1es) 1ncludes approx1mately 150
species, only four of which are used commercially.
Antipathes grandis is used for jewellery manu£acture in'Hawaii. Large beds exist off Lahaina,
Maui and southwestern coas ts of Kau i , Wholesale
prices generally.vary around $7.50 per pound.
Commerical black coral is usual Iy found at .
depths greater than 30 m. It has a growth rate
of about 30 mm per.year and a maximum longevity
of about 100 years. Black coral is generally
harvested by scuba divers at depths between 40
and 80 m. Colonies or "trees" are dislodged
from the bottom by means of an axe or sledge.
.:
" ,.
20. OFFSHORE EXPLORATION FOR LAND FILL
AND CONSTRUCTION GRADE SAND
(Document
NRICCOPISOPAC
(6)16)
Note by the CCOP/SOPAC Technical Secretariat
The offshore environments in several CCOP/SOPAC
member countries, in particular the Cook Islands,
the Gilbert Islands, and Western Samoa, are considered analogous to the islands of the Hawaiian
chain. Reconnaissance surveys off leeward Oahu
indicate that a considerable volume of sand has
been ch~nnelled into,the dee~er ~aters offshore.
Reconna1ssance sand 1nventor1es 1n coastal areas
off~hor~ of leeward Oahu have revealed sand
bod~es 1n water de~ths betw~en 60 and 30? f~ .
est~mated to conta1n approx~mately 370 m1ll~on
cub1c yards of sand. Samp11ng of the depos1ts
indicates,a fine grained calc~:eous sand similar
to, ~ut ~1ner than, most Hawa11an beach sands.
Cons1der1ng that less than one-half of the
coastal area offsh~re of Oahu,has been s~r~eyed
and th~t an econom1cally feas1ble sand m1n1ng
operat10n has been conducted off the much younger
island of Hawaii (see Techsec Note NR/CCOP/SOPAC
(6)/2), and in view of the many analogues to the
islands of Hawaii in the CCOP/SOPAC region, offshore sand lenses and bodies may be considered
to constitute a very large resource potential in
South Pacific offshore areas.
"
,
Note. Observat10ns concer~1~g the need to,mon1tor
t~e 1mpac~s of offshore m1n1ng on the e~v~ronment,
w1th part1cular reference to offshore m1n1ng of
sand were received from D. Medford, Centre for
Applied Studies in Development, University of the
South Pacific, Fiji (document NR/CCOP/SOPAC (6)
CR. 50).
K.
National jurisdiction over offshore mineral
resources
Note Three documents were submitted for information :
ted by the ESCAP Secretariat (NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6)
CR. 5).
1. "Results of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea" submitted by the
Project Office (CCOP) (NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 2).
"
.
.
.
~. Map sho~lng appro~lmate bou~darles of pro~
posed 200 mlIe excluslve economlC zones" submlt-
3. "A morphologic guide to the continentaloceanic crust boundary around New Zealand" by
L. Carter, J.V. Eade, J.S. Mitchell, and B.J.
Rees, N.Z. Oceanographic Institute, Wellington
(NR!CCOP!SOPAC (6) CR. 17).
L.
Additions to the bibliography of geology and
geophysics of the South Pacific
21. FIJI: 1977 ADDITIONS
(Document
(6) CR. 38)
NR/CCOPISOPAC
.
P. Rodd~ ..
...
Mi.ne'ra
I Resources Ddv i sion, F1Jl
1977: Petrography of samples from the
Waikuru Basalt and the Korombalavu Andesite
near Waikuru. Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Rep.
Buc klan,.
d G 1977": Wallevu to Tabla Tramway extension - report on slip failure at chainage
7400.
Sugar
& Partners,
Fawcett
Corp.
Report
to Fiji
(unpublished).
Chandra, A. 1977: Lamont Doherty offshore geophysical cruise report. Miner. Resour. Div.
Fiji
Note
BP 1612.
(unpublished).
Coulson, F.I.E. 1977: Groundwater exploration
in he Lautoka region: Miner. Resour. Div.
F~J~ Rep. 3.
(unpubl~shed).
Loki, S. 1977: Testing of clay from northwestern
Viti Levu. Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP
.t:
1617.
(unpublished).
Malahoff, A.; Feden, R.H.; Fleming, H.F. 1977:
Crustal extension processes in the Havre
Trough, South Fiji and New Caledonia Basins.
(Abstract). EOS 58(6) : 379 only.
Naisua, T. 1977: Report on fieldwork, April-May
1977.
Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP 1615.
(unpublished).
Rao, B. 1977: Geology of the Nandi region. Miner.
Resour
Div
FiJ'i Not
BP 13/3
(
bl' h d)
..
e
. unpu zs e.
Richmond, R.N. 1976: Earthquakes and tsunamis.
S. Pacific
Disaster
Seminar;
Miner.
(unpublished) .
Preparedness
Resour.
Div.
--1977: Drilling at the Government Shipyard, Walu Bay. Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note
BP 1/11.
(unpublished).
(unpublished)
---
1977: Geology of Ndoi, Ono-i-Lau. Miner.
Div. Fiji Note BP 1/12.
(unpublished).
1977: Geology of Vatoa (preliminary report). Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP 1/13.
Resour.
(unpublished).
1977: Panguna-Wau Symposium. Miner. ReDiv. Fiji Note BP 1/14.
(unpublished).
1977: Royal Society of New Zealand _ TongaLau Expedition, 1977: oceanographic cruise to
Lau. Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP 1115.
sour.
(unpublished).
1977: Phosphate on Tuvutha - final results
of survey. Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP
1/16.
(unpublished).
Rodda, P. 1977: Petrography of igneous samples
from the Munasavu area. Miner. Resour. Div.
Fiji Note BP 1/17.
(unpublished).
Weissel, J.K.; Watts, A.B.; Lapouille, A.; Karner, G.; Jongsma, D. 1977: Preliminary results
f:om rece~t geophysical. investigations in marglnal baslns of Melanesla. (Abstract). EOS
58(6):
504 only.
and Relief
Fiji
Note
BP 7/6.
22. NEW ZEALAND: 1976-77 ADDITIONS
(From docwnent
---
1977: Seismology and Fiji earthquakes.
Miner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP 7/7.
(unpublished).
Rodda, P. 1977: The geology of the Colo-i-Suva
park area. Hiner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP
1/8.
(unpublished).
--1977: Report on drill cores from Vatutu,
Nandi. Hiner. Resour. Div. Fiji Note BP 1/10.
(unpublished).
4.
.
NR/CCOP/SOPAC
(6) CR.
18)
.
K.B. Lewls
N.Z. ~ceanographic Institute
Welllngton, New Zealand
Carter, L. 1976: Seston transport and deposition
in Pelorus Sound, South Island, New Zealand.
N.Z. Jl mar. Freshwat.
Res. 10(2) : 263-82.
--1976: Cuvier Bathymetry. N.Z. Oceanogr.
Lns t: ; Chart,
Coastal
Series
1:200
000.
63
I
r
Carter, L.; Eade, J.V.; Mitchell, J.S.; Rees, B.
1977: A morphologic guide to the continentaloceanic crustal boundary around New Zealand.
NZOI aceanagr. Summ. 13 : 18 p.
Carter, L.; Heath, R.A.; Hunt, B.J.; Barnes, E.J.
1976: ~nstrume~t package to m~nitor sedimentwater 1nteract10n on the cont1nental shelf.
N.Z. J1 Gea1. Geaphys. 19(4) : 503-11.
C t
L' L " K B 1976" S b
t
t
ar er, .~ e~1s, ..
. u sur ace.s ruc ur~ and 1tS 1nfluence on nearshore sed1mentat10n
33-40.off southern Hawkes Bay. NZOI Rec. 3(5):
f
Cullen, D.J. 1976: Relict or Recent shelf morh 1
f F
S"
?
C
p 0 ogy east 0
oveaux tra1~"
omment.
N.Z. J1 Gea1. Geaphys. 19(4) . 532-4.
Davey, F.J. 1976: Normal geomagnetic field in
the vicinity of New Zealand. N.Z. J1 Gea1.
h
19' 759-69
Geap ys."
.
----- 1976: Satellite navigator results from
Fiordland, south-west New Zealand (Note).
N.Z. J1 Gea1. Geaphys. 19 : 743-50.
Doyle, A.C.; Singleton, R.J.; Yaldwyn, J.C. (in
press): Notes on geology, volcanic activity
and recent uplift on Curtis and Cheeseman Islands, Kermadec Group, S.W. Pacific. J1 R.
Soc. N.Z.
Eade, J.V.; van der Linden, W.J.M. 1977: Bellona
Bathymetry. N.Z. Oceanogr. Inst. Chart,
OCeanic Series 1:1 000 000.
Glasby, G.P. 1976: Manganese nodules in the South
Pacific. A review. N.Z. J1 Gea1. Geaphys.
19(5) : 707-36.
----- 1976: Surface densities of manganese nodules in the southern sector of the South Pacific. N.Z. J1 Gea1. Geophys. 19(6) : 771-90.
----- 1977: Geochemistry of sediment cores from
the Southwest Pacific. NZOI Rec. 3(7) : 49-56.
Glasby, G.P.; Hubred, G.L. 1976: Comprehensive
Bibliography of Marine Manganese Nodules.
Mem. N.Z. Oceanagr. Inst. 71 : 55 p.
Heath, R.A.; Carter, L.; Barnes, E.J.; Hunt, B.J.
1976: An instrument for remote monitoring of
sediment movement and associated hydraulic conditions on the continental shelf. N.Z. Engng
31 (10) : 242-3.
64
Herzer, R.H. 1976: Wellington Harbour Bathymetry.
N.Z. Oceanogr. Inst. Chart, Misc. Series 25,
1:25 000.
1977: Banks Bathymetry. N.Z. Oceanogr.
Inst. Chart, Coastal Series 1:200 000.
1977: Mernoo Bathymetry. N.Z. Oceanogr.
Inst. Chart, Coastal Series 1:200 000.
Howarth, R.J.; Cronan, D.S.; Glasby, G.P. 1977:
Non-linear mapping of regional geochemical
variability of manganese nodules in the Pacific
Ocea n , TIt
M'
rans. ns n .z
n , M e tall . 86B' . 84-B8 .
Landmesser, C.W.; ~roenke, L.W.; Glasby, G.P.;
Sawtell, G.H.; K1ngan, S.; Utanga, E.; Utanga,
A.; Cowan, G. 1976: Manganese nodules from the
South Penrhyn Basin, Southwest Pacific.
S. Pacif. mar. gea1. Notes 1(3) : 17-39.
L"
K B
C t
L 1976 D th
d"
t
ewa s , .. ; ar er,.
: ep s , se amen s
and faulting on each side of the Rongotai Isthmus, Wellington. NZOI oceanogr. Summ. 11 :
31 p.
"
Lewis, K.B. 1976: Turnaga1n Bathymetry. N.Z.
Oceanagr. Inst. Chart, Coastal Series 1:200000.
".
. .
Lew1s, V:J. 1977: B1b11ography of New Zealand
Submar1ne Geology 1866-1969. Mem. N.Z. Oceanagr. Inst. 64 : 32 p.
McDougall, J.C. 1976: Distribution of surface
sediments of Pauatahanui Inlet. NZOI aceanogr.
Field Rep. 7 : 8 p.
-----
1975: Cook Sediments. N.Z. Oceanogr.
Inst. Chart, Oceanic Series 1:1 000 000.
Pasho, D.W. 1976: Distribution and Morphology
.of Chatham Rise Phosphorites. Mem. N.Z. Oceanogr. Inst. 77 : 28 p.
"
Turner, C.C.; Eade, J.V.; Dan1tofea, S.; Oldnall,
R. 1977: Gold-bearing sediments on the continental shelf northern Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. s. Pacif. mar. gea1. Notes 1(6) : 5569.
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