Distribution of nodules and associated features in the Central Indian Basin: observations from seabed photogarphs

Abstract

Observations from more than one thousand seabed photographs, have brought out various factors which influence the distribution of nodules, sediments and rocks and as a result six different phases have been identified for their distribution with respect to different topographic domains. Empirical relationships have been developed for nodule abundance estimation. Digitization of photographs was carried out using a specially designed interactive software (PHDIG) and the results were catalogued in standard format (SPHINCS) developed for photography data in dBASE III+. The photographic observations have helped in classifying the seafloor, as nodule dominant, sediment dominant and rock dominant, based on the coverage and abundance data; which will be useful in selection of the mine-site as well as a suitable mining system