Technology
Tokyo University
and National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) developed
a technology to search veins of rare metals and precious metals in deep sea with
the help of subtle changes of gravity. The research team will conduct the exploratory
test using an unmanned submersible with built-in gravity measurement equipment
this September to pave the way for the exploration of abundant submarine
resources in the sea near Japan.
The research team
developed the method to know whether or not a vein exists by paying attention
to the fact that density increases and gravity increases slightly if a mass of
heavy metals exists under the ground. The unmanned submersible “Urashima” that
belongs to Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology will be loaded
with gravity measurement equipment, and will go round the ocean floor about
1,000 m below the sea surface for research for three days off Shizuoka
Prefecture. Following the official approval of Japan’s continental shelf by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (OLCS) of the United Nations,
the Japanese government decided to expand the activities to explore undersea
resources. The research results achieved by the research team will be presented
on May 22 in the Japan Geoscience Union Meeting scheduled for a four day period
between May 22 and May 25 in Makuhari Messe of Chiba Prefecture.
The unmanned submersible "Urashima"
"Urashima" in action
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