Exploring Ocean Floor Geodiversity in Relation to Mineral Resources in the Southwest Pacific Ocean

The future extraction of mineral resources may irreversibly damage ocean floor geodiversity in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. Therefore, understanding spatial distribution relation to is important. For that purpose, we first developed a index map western Ocean including information openly available digital layers four components: seafloor geomorphology, sediment thickness, bathymetry and roughness. Second, analysed how these components contributed index. Finally, correlations between three (seafloor massive sulphides, polymetallic nodules cobalt-rich crusts) index, its components, age were calculated. results showed environment time necessary for formation predominantly related component floor, lesser extent roughness, geomorphology thickness components. We conclude contribute an improved abiotic diversity can be optimized by using higher resolution data. suggest could considered resource support responsible mining help limit environmental damage.