The GSI, as partner and Work Package 7 (Minerals) leader of EMODnet Geology Phase II, are compiling information on cobalt rich ferromanganese crusts. EMODnet partners are submitting the mapped extent of cobalt rich ferromanganese crusts and established information; here you can view data collated thus far. Cobalt rich ferromanganese crusts are metallic mineral deposits that often form at depths between 400 to 4000 metres, as thin layers on the flanks of seamounts and submarine volcanoes. The crusts accumulate when manganese, iron and trace metals including cobalt, copper, nickel and platinum dissolved in sea water are precipitated onto the volcanic substrate. Marine ferromanganese crust deposits are potential mineral resources that contain base metals and strategic and critical elements such as cooper (Cu), cobalt (Co), vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), platinum group elements (PGEs) or rare earth elements (REEs). Traditionally, marine precipitates are defined as: a) purely hydrogenetic when all constituents are derived from cold seawater, (b) diagenetic, when all constituents are derived from cold sediment pore water; and (c) hydrothermal when precipitation occurs in the vicinity of hydrothermal vent sites from fluids with temperatures higher than ambient bottom waters. Hydrogenetic Fe-Mn crusts occur throughout the global ocean on seamounts, ridges and plateaus, where currents have kept the rocks free of sediment for millions of years. Some ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crusts exhibit a mixed origin, primarily either hydrothermal-hydrogenetic or hydrogenetic-diagenetic.

This dataset contains the main habitats maps from the SCI (Site of Community Importance) ÔÇ£Banco de GaliciaÔÇØ. The Galician Bank is a deep underwater mountain located at the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, 180 km from the Galician coast (in the north-east Atlantic Ocean). Its summit is located at a depth of between 650 and 1,500 metres. Its steep slopes descend from the summit to the abyssal plains located 4,000 meters below sea level. This study was supported by the INDEMARES-LIFE+ Project, EC contract INDEMARES-LIFE+ (07/NAT/E/000732): Inventory and Designation of the Natura 2000 network in marine areas of the Spanish State (www.indemares.es/en). This work was coordinated by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, www.ieo.es) and the Biodiversity Foundation (www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es). The interpretation has been made possible thanks to direct and indirect samplings and geophysical data from campaigns "ECOMARG09", "INDEMARES_BANGAL0810", "INDEMARES_BANGAL0711" and "RADPROF0912". Habitats are classified according to EUNIS nomenclature and the List of Marine Habitats in Spain (LPRE, that itÔÇÖs classified hierarchically and was completed and published in March 2013).

This dataset contains the main habitats maps from the SCI (Site of Community Importance) ÔÇ£Sur de Almer├¡a - Seco de los OlivosÔÇØ. Seco de los Olivos is a seamount situated in the Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean, southeast Iberian peninsula). This study was supported by the INDEMARES-LIFE+ Project, EC contract INDEMARES-LIFE+ (07/NAT/E/000732): Inventory and Designation of Marine Natura 2000 Network areas in the Spanish seas (www.indemares.es/en). This work was coordinated by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, www.ieo.es) and the Biodiversity Foundation (www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es). The interpretation has been made possible thanks to direct and indirect samplings and geophysical data from campaigns ÔÇ£OCEANA I-2010ÔÇØ, ÔÇ£OCEANA II-2011ÔÇØ, ÔÇ£OCEANA III-2012ÔÇØ and ÔÇ£INDEMARES_SECO1012ÔÇØ. Habitats are classified according to EUNIS nomenclature and the List of Marine Habitats in Spain (LPRE, that itÔÇÖs classified hierarchically and was completed and published in March 2013).

This dataset contains the habitats map from the SCI (Site of Community Importance) ÔÇ£Volcanes de fango del Golfo de C├ídizÔÇØ. The Gulf of Cadiz is located in the eastern sector of the North Atlantic Ocean, to the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Mud Volcanoes are seafloor edifices, of a usually conical geometry, that result from the release of mud, hydrocarbon and fluids in gas-rich areas over pressured sediments. This study was supported by the INDEMARES-LIFE+ Project, EC contract INDEMARES-LIFE+ (07/NAT/E/000732): Inventory and Designation of the Natura 2000 network in marine areas of the Spanish State (www.indemares.es/en). This work was coordinated by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, www.ieo.es) and the Biodiversity Foundation (www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es). The interpretation has been made possible thanks to direct and indirect samplings and geophysical data from campaigns INDEMARES_CHICA (CHICA0610, CHICA0211, CHICA1011 and CHICA0412). Habitats are classified according to EUNIS nomenclature and the List of Marine Habitats in Spain (LPRE, that itÔÇÖs classified hierarchically and was completed and published in March 2013).

This dataset contains the habitats map from the SCI (Site of Community Importance) ÔÇ£Sistema de ca├▒ones submarinos de Avil├®sÔÇØ (Avil├®s Canyon System). The Avil├®s Canyon system is located in the eastern sector of the North Atlantic Ocean, on the continental margin to the north of the Iberian Peninsula. It is structurally a highly complex area, where the continental shelf in the Bay of Biscay is deeply affected by the action of tectonic compression, containing important geomorphological elements; these include: three great submarine canyons, a marginal platform and a tall structural rocky mass. This study was supported by the INDEMARES-LIFE+ Project, EC contract INDEMARES-LIFE+ (07/NAT/E/000732): Inventory and Designation of the Natura 2000 network in marine areas of the Spanish State (www.indemares.es/en). This work was coordinated by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, www.ieo.es) and the Biodiversity Foundation (www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es). The interpretation has been made possible thanks to direct and indirect samplings and geophysical data from campaigns INDEMARES (AVILES_0710, AVILES_0410, AVILES_0412-0912). Habitats are classified according to EUNIS nomenclature and the List of Marine Habitats in Spain (LPRE, that itÔÇÖs classified hierarchically and was completed and published in March 2013).

The result of a multidisciplinary field survey of the Haig Fras SAC which was initiated in January and completed during March/April 2011. The current study was initiated to investigate the extent of Annex I reef habitat at Haig Fras. Cefas and JNCC collected full-coverage multibeam bathymetric and backscatter data and associated ground-truthing data. This data has been analysed to update the extent of the Annex I reef and produce a broadscale habitat map. Seven biotopes were identified from drop camera transects with the predominant biotope characterised by Devonshire cup corals, sponges and crustose communities on wave-exposed circalittoral rock. The broadscale habitat map indicates the presence of four main biotopes; high energy circalittoral rock, moderate energy circalittoral rock, deep circalittoral coarse sediment and deep circalittoral sand.

This report describes the results from an interdisciplinary field survey aimed at identifying the location, extent and condition of Annex I habitat features in the Large Shallow Inlet and Bay of The Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC. The habitat features of interest are (i) subtidal boulder and cobble communities, and (ii) Sabellaria spinulosa reefs. Information presented is intended to serve as a baseline for future monitoring of the identified features. Acoustic sidescan data were acquired from selected areas within the broader SAC area, together with grountruthing samples representative of distinct acoustic signatures. Groundtruthing techniques included the acquisition of video and still images of the seabed and of sediment and faunal sample. Of particular interest was an area to the north of the eastern Well survey area between 10 and 47 m deep which exhibited a high density of hard and rugged features, confirmed as boulder and cobble reef on chalk bedrock by the photographic record. This area also harboured a high number of epifaunal taxa not observed in the surrounding sediments. The area has been delimited and covers approximately 470 ha. The acoustic record did not reveal the occurrence of areas of Sabellaria spinulosa reef. Infaunal samples did collect representatives of this species but in densities too small to be considered as reef. At most sites where S. spinulosa was observed, the abundance and diversity of the whole infaunal assemblage was higher than in areas where S. spinulosa was absent. Analysis of both infaunal and epifaunal assemblages revealed several distinct communities throughout the survey area.

A map of EUNIS habitats derived from seabed substrate map and modelled data including EUSeaMap wave base and kinetic energy (wave and current) at the seabed.

In May 2008 (18-27 May), a survey commissioned by JNCC undertook seabed habitat investigations of two Areas of Search (AoS) for offshore SACs. The objectives of this survey, within the Submarine structures in the mid-Irish Sea AoS and the Solan Bank AoS, were to acquire high quality acoustic data capable of identifying and delineating habitats listed under Annex I of the 1992 EC Habitats Directive; primarily the Annex I habitat Submarine structures made by leaking gases in the former AoS and Annex I Reef habitat in the latter AoS. Surveys consisted of both broad-scale and fine-scale acoustic techniques, utilising sidescan sonar and multibeam swathe bathymetry, along with a variety of ground-truthing techniques including towed and drop down video/stills and Hamon grab sampling. A Rock dredge was also used at a few stations in order to gather samples of epibiota from hard substrata to assist with the taxonomic identification of the video and still images. The range of sampling techniques employed ensured that any Annex I habitats could be adequately described and characterised. For both AoSs survey planning and interpretation of survey data utilised extensive pre-existing data sets.