Impact of offshore placer mining experiments (PLAMEX) on the sediment size and heavy minerals

Abstract

Two offshore placer mining experiments (PLAMEX) were conducted using submersible pumps specially designed by Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur (India) at 8 m water depth in Kalbadevi Bay (PLAMEX-I), Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and off Paradip (PLAMEX-II), Orissa, to determine the effects on sediment grain size and heavy mineral assemblages. The PLAMEX-I results for the sediments off Kalbadevi Bay showed no major effects on the average sand, silt and clay, grain size, and the heavy mineral percentages. The PLAMEX-II results for the sediments off Paradip showed mixed effects due to the dynamic environmental conditions