Video: Soil Testing Vehicle Dives Deep

DEME Group's GSR (Global Sea Mineral Resources) exploration activities in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) during the company's 2017 Pacific campaign narrowed in on three major elements: resource assessment, technology and environment.

To verify resource estimates undertaken during GSR's 2014 and 2015 campaigns, nodules were collected using deep-sea dredges and box cores.

The technological aspects involved the deployment of Patania I, the first tracked soil testing device vehicle to reach and travel the seafloor at depths of more than 4,500 m. The vehicle is the first of a series of three that will validate environmental performance in the deep sea. It was engineered in-house by GSR and built in collaboration with De Meyer in Belgium.

Meanwhile scientist from both GSR and independent research institutions collected baseline data to better understand sites that may be subject to mining in the future and ensure that any such activities only proceed once the environment impact has been judged acceptable by the international community.