BMR Cruise 106: Seabed Morphology and Mineral Resources Around Christmas Island

A 28-day research cruise from 7 January to 4 February 1992 collected about 2500 km of high-resolution reflection seismic and bathymetric data around Christmas Island. The project, conducted by Geoscience Australia's BMR, aimed to assess seabed morphology, sediment thickness, and offshore mineral resources like manganese nodules and crusts. The resulting data was intended to inform geological reviews and seabed boundary negotiations with Indonesia.

Use Cases

• Map seabed morphology and sediment thickness based on seismic and bathymetric data.
• Assess manganese nodule abundance and metal grades (Cu, Ni, Co) on the deep-sea floor.
• Evaluate manganese crust thickness and metal grades on volcanic ridges.
• Model regional geology and sediment facies for resource exploration.

Strengths

• Data collection involved a dedicated 28-day geoscience cruise with specific acquisition goals.
• The cruise plan included about 2500 km of high-resolution reflection seismic and bathymetric data.
• Project context includes specific geological details, such as sediment thickness (100-300m) and nodule metal grade references (2.55% Cu+Ni+Co).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last updated 2026-03-25 15:31:08.776665; freshness should be verified as the underlying data is from 1992.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Data acquired during the BMR Cruise 106 of R.V. 'Rig Seismic' using high-resolution reflection seismic, bathymetry, and sampling.

Time Range

Primary data collection from 7 January to 4 February 1992.

Freshness

Metadata last updated 2026-03-25; underlying data collected in 1992.

Geography

Offshore zone around Christmas Island, Indian Ocean (approx. 10°30'S, 105°40'E).