With the use of GIS and geostatistical modelling techniques, we helped the Cook Island Seabed Authority to assess the potential for economic deposits of polymetallic nodule in their exclusive economic zone.

1. POLYMETALLIC
NODULE DEPOSITS
in the
COOK ISLANDS EEZ
Using GIS to better assess the mineral and
economic potential for polymetallic nodule
deposits in the Cook Island Exclusive Economic
Zone
Elisa Puccioni
Senior GIS Analyst
at Kenex Ltd

2. The Cook Island Exclusive
Economic Zone spread over 2
million of km2.
The total cumulative land area
of the Cook Islands is 237 km2
giving it an ocean/land area of
c. 8440:1
This makes it a large Ocean
Island State as well as a
Pacific Small Island Developing
State (PSIDS).
The EEZ
Seabed mineral exploration
within the EEZ began in the
1960s. The 1970s surveys
resulted in the discovery of
significant MN resources.
Surveys from 1985 to 2000s
by the Japan-SOPAC
delivered a range of data and
models including a
systematic survey of much
of the EEZ.
The complex morphology of
the EEZ includes
seamounts, abyssal hills,
abyssal plains, atolls,
troughs, and a major
plateau.
North Penrhyn Basin
South Penrhyn Basin
Samoan Basin
Southwest
Pacific Basin

3. Tourism
50%
Services
38%
Industry
8%
Agriculture
4%
$25,000 - $50,000 7%
$10,000 - $25,000 28%
0-$10,000 51%
No Income 13%
$50,000+ 1%
COOK ISLAND GDP % AND INCOME (2017) SEABED MINERAL EXPLORATION
Deeper knowledge of the
ocean’s resources
Improve the Cook Islands’
quality of life
New job positions and
upskilling Cook Islanders
More investment in
services and education
Environmental impact to
be quantified
Possible impact on
Tourism and Fishery
Cultural belief
Logistics for processing
and transportation
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4. Tourism
50%
Services
38%
Industry
8%
Agricultur
e 4%
$25,000 - $50,000 7%
$10,000 - $25,000 28%
0-$10,000 51%
No Income 13%
$50,000+ 1%
COOK ISLAND GDP % AND INCOME (2017) SEABED MINING EXPLORATION
Deeper Knowledge of
the ocean’s
resources
Increment in
life quality
New job positions and
funding
More investment in
infrastructure and
services
Environmental Impact
Tourism and Fisheries
Impact
Cultural Issues
Logistic and
infrastructure issues-
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5. 20192017
2018
201620152013
2009
2012
SBMA
2009: the world
first Seabed Act
is created by
the CI
government
2012: the SBMA
is established
KENEX
First projects
with SMBA:
GIS database
from historic
cruise data
First geological
potential model in
the EEZ
SBMA
CI Prospecting
and Exploration
Regulations;
the Seabed
Minerals
Amendment Act
First official
tender for
exploration
KENEX
Probabilistic
evaluation of the
EEZ seabed
mineral acreage
and economic value
KENEX/SBMA
Enterprise GIS
database for
managing
applications and
licenses
SBMA
2017: SBMA
become part of
the Marae Moana
project
KENEX/SBMA
2018: new GIS
enterprise
infrastructure
and new areas
for tender based
on GIS models
The new
official
tender
opens
TIME LINE
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority & Kenex collaboration

6. 20192017
2018
201620152013
2009
2012
SBMA
2009: the world
first Seabed Act
is created by
the CI
government
2012: the SBMA
is established
KENEX
First projects
with SMBA:
GIS database
from historic
cruise data
First geological
potential model in
the EEZ
SBMA
CI Prospecting
and Exploration
Regulations;
the Seabed
Minerals
Amendment Act
First official
tender for
exploration
KENEX
Probabilistic
evaluation of the
EEZ seabed
mineral acreage
and economic value
KENEX/SBMA
Enterprise GIS
database for
managing
applications and
licenses
SBMA
2017: SBMA
become part of
the Marae Moana
project
KENEX/SBMA
2018: new GIS
enterprise
infrastructure
and new areas
for tender based
on GIS models
The new
official
tender
opens
TIME LINE
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority & Kenex collaboration

7. Cruises:
1974 - Tangaroa
ORSTOM, Nomea – 1977 – R.V. Coriolis
ORSTOM, Noumea – 1978 – R.V. Sonne
CCOP/SOPAC – 1976-1981
Geological Society of Japan (JICA) – 1980 – Hakurei-
Maru No. 2
JICA – 1983 – Hakurei_Maru GH83
JICA/SOPAC – 1985 & 1986 – Hakurei-Maru No. 2
Australian and New Zealand Governments – 1986
1987 – Thomas Washington Cruise
JICA/SOPAC – 1990 – Hakurei-Maru No. 2
1997 - HMNZS Tui Cruise
JICA – 2000 - Hakurei-Maru No. 2
Digital + Paper Data > 60 reports to check!
The historic GIS database (HENS)

8. The historic GIS database (HENS)
40 shapefiles with locations,
abundance and metal % data
+ 1,000 linked pictures

9. What is a
geological potential
model?
Rigorous
mineral systems
approach
Training and
Evidence data
availability
GIS
geostatistical
model tools
Target
areas with the
highest potential
(known and new!)
Data Driven or
Expert Based
models

10. Hydrogenetic
Diagenetic
Hydrothermal
Halmyrolitic
Biogenetic
FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES
Smooth surface texture
(related to hydrogenetic)
Intermediate to rough
surface texture
TWO GENERAL CLASSES
DEPOSIT MODEL
Nodule morphology and formation

11. Depth > 4,000m
Siliceous/pelagic sediment (no calcareous)
Below Carbonate Compensation Depth
Low rate of sedimentation
Deep steady currents
CONDITIONS
Large variations in bathymetry
Two major ocean currents:
- Antartic Bottom Water
- Southern Equatorial
Nodule abundances vary greatly from
North to South
LOCAL MORPHOLOGY
DEPOSIT MODEL
Local morphology and conditions

12. 01
02
03
WEIGHTS OF EVIDENCE MODEL
Data-driven model.
Prior probability value: 0.0001449
TRAINING POINTS
57 known deposits from the HENS DB
with Mn Nodule Abundance > 30 kg/m2
STUDY AREA
The extent rectangle of the EEZ
(~ 4.000.000 km2)
Geological potential
model setting

13. Features tested:
Geology
Volcanic features
Seafloor slope
Bathymetry
Carbonate
compensation depth
Sedimentation
Geochemistry
Step by Step
A DEPOSIT MODEL for polymetallic
nodules is defined based on the
mineral system (Wyborn et al. 1995)
All available data relating to the
nodule deposit model in the EEZ is
compiled
DEPOSITION AND
PRESERVATION
Sediment Thickness
CCD
Mn/Fe Ratio
FORMATION AND
TRAP
Seafloor Depth
Seafloor Slope
SOURCE OF
METALS
Volcanoes
Lithology

14. Spatial correlated variables:
Lower Cretaceous Geology
<50 km distance from
seamounts
Low seafloor slope (0.1 deg)
< -4800m depth
< 100m sediment thickness
Below CCD
Mn/Fe ration < 1.2
Step by Step
The Weights of Evidence model is run to
assess and weight the data based on the
relationship to known locations of nodules
The data are statistically combined to create a single
Geological Potential Map showing the areas most
likely to contain economic nodule deposits.

15. Area (km2)
4.000.000
392,750
217,500
82,750
53
23
%
100%
10%
6%
2%
93%
40%
Study Area
Above prior probability
Very prospective
Highly prospective
TP in very prospective
TP in highly prospective

17. Geological Constrain for the Acreage
Evaluation model
(RESULTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL)
Using the Results
GIS geostatistical tools to interpolate
nodule coverage
CONSTRAINED TO GEOLOGICAL
SUITABLE AREAS
Estimated tonnes/km2 of nodules
Derived % and estimated tonnes/km2
of metals
Calculated eventual value per metal
(US$/tonne)

18. Identify potential areas
of research focus for
any future exploration
activity to increment
the knowledge of the
ocean and its resources.
KNOWLEDGE
Evaluate meaningfully
the exploration acreage
and possible nodule
coverage through using
probability values to
constrain estimations.
EVALUATION
Prepare and select
acreage for tender,
determining areas to be
set aside for economic,
strategic and/or
environmental reasons.
PLANNING
Both the HENS
database and the
modelling results are
part of the tender
package to promote
investment in the CIEEZ.
MARKETING
Sharing the results
enables the industry to
make an estimate of the
geological potential of
given locations and plan
exploration programmes.
INDUSTRY

19. THANK YOU!
Any questions?