Exploring the Deep

(Deep-Sea Diving on the Central Indian Ridge)

Prof. A.K. Chaubey

e-mail: akchaubey@iitism.ac.in

L18: 15.02.2023
 Tectonic Plates
[Tectonic Plates  Outer rigid layer (~70-100 km thick) of the earth]

Divergent Plate boundary Convergent Plate boundary Transform Plate boundary

Picture of our Planet Earth, where
we live on, and its interior
Divergent Transform Convergent Continental Rift Zone
Plate Boundary Plate Boundary Plate Boundary (Young Divergent Plate Boundary)

Island Arc

Lithosphere
Continental Crust
Asthenosphere
Hotspot

We should live in harmony with nature

Divergent Plate Margin

India

Divergent
Plate Margin
 Scientific Observations at Sea:
 Using satellites
 Using air planes
 Using research ships
 Using deep towed sensors
 Using submersible for in-situ observations

Difficulties in In-Situ Investigations:

 Electromagnetic waves do not penetrate deep into
sea water.
 High Pressure (1 atmosphere for every 10 m
depth) & low temperature (~1oC) at deep water depth.
Why do we need deep submersible?
 To conduct marine science
experiments in situ into the
deep sea.
 Deep Sea Manned Submersibles

Nautile (France,1985) Mir (Russia,1987)

Deep Sea Manned Submersibles

Alvin
(USA,1964)

Shinkai 6500
(Japan,1989)
Deep Sea Manned Submersibles

Jiaolong (China, 2010)

Participation in Nautile
Main objectives of the dive:
 to measure gravity and three-
componenet magnetic field of
the earth,

 to collect rock samples for dating

and magnetic property determination

 to investigate the morphological

and tectonic features of the seafloor
Dive Location

Dive
area
High resolution bathymetry of the dive area
Major component :

(i) Pressure Hull

(ii) Propellers & Thrusters

(iii) Buoyant Materials

(iv) Scientific Instrument

(v) Power System

 Submersible Track

Actual Track

Planned Track
Features on
Ocean Floor
Features on
Ocean Floor
Major Contributions of Deep
Sea Manned Submersible
 Project FAMOUS (French-American Mid-Ocean Undersea
Study) discovered & sampled fresh pillows lavas and lava
flows at divergent plate boundary

 Discovery of Hydothermal vent and vent animals in the EPR

 Discovery of chemosynthetic animals (not dependent on

photosynthesis) – a profound impact on biology of 20th
century

 Locating and assisting in recovery of lost objects

Submersible, ROV & AUV
 New technology such as Remotely Operated
Vehicles (ROV’s) and Autonomous
Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in reality are
complementary.

 New technology will only enable, not reduce

the need for man’s presence in these hostile
environments.
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Deep Sea Mining Technology and EIA
PMN sites in the Central Indian Ocean Basin
Distribution of marine minerals on different seafloor topographic features
Poly Metallic Nodules in the CIOB
 Dense Poly Metallic Nodules

Poly Metallic Nodules Crust

 Poly Metallic Nodules

Poly Metallic Nodules with animal

Seabed walking test of collector prototype of COMRA

COMRA: China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association

Poly Metallic Nodules in the Pacific Ocean
A schematic diagram showing the processes involved in deep-
sea mining for the three main types of mineral deposit.
COMRA proposal for a deep-sea nodule commercial mining system
Deep-sea mining and its potential impacts on ocean environment
 Conventional “crawl and pump” method (Left)
and Proposed “swarm and raise” method (Right).
Deep Sea PMN Mining with Robots
Oceanfloor
habitats
 Thank you for
your kind attention