Seabed mineral resources exploration
Manganese nodules, manganese crusts, seabed hydrothermal deposits, rare earth sediments and methane hydrate are known to exist on the deep seafloor. Deep Ocean Resources Development Co., Ltd. (DORD) has the tenements for manganese nodules in the open sea on southeast of Hawaii Island. JOGEMC has the tenements for manganese crusts on several seamounts in the open sea southeast of Minami-torisima Island. It has been confirmed that hydrothermal massive sulfides exist in Okinawa and the Izu-Bonin island arc within the EEZ of Japan.
We have conducted works for manganese nodules in cooperation with SMM since SRED's establishment. Geologists and geophysicists transferred to DORD from 1995 and gained experience of exploration for manganese nodules, manganese crusts and hydrothermal deposits through getting hands-on experience on board the research vessel Hakurei-maru No.2, which JOGMEC owned.
Resources analysis of manganese nodules, data analysis of acoustic surveys, ore dressing and smelting studies and economic evaluation have been entrusted by DORD since 2001 when DORD obtained the exploration license of manganese nodules from International Seabed Authority (ISA).
Works for the smelting of manganese crusts, data analysis of environmental surveys, and resources analysis have been entrusted by JOGMEC from 2000's, in addition to recent works for mining and ore dressing of seabed massive sulfides.
Reporting in the Workshop on Environmental Management of DSM Activities in JICA Fiji project
Manganese nodule and sectional specimen
Inquiry · Order
Sumiko Resources Exploration & Development Co., Ltd
Exploration and Environmental Survey Department
Address: 33 Mori Bldg. (5F), 8-21 Toranomon 3-chome,
Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001, Japan
TEL：+81-3-5405-2172 /
FAX：+81-3-5405-2175