Ambon (Antara Maluku) - The Deep Sea Research Center of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in Ambon will explore the mineral potential of submarine volcanoes forming in the Banda Sea.
"We will conduct research on submarine volcanoes and the mineral potential of the volcanic activity, such as manganese, phosphor, and others," Augy Syahailatua, the head of the research center, noted here on Thursday.
He explained that the research will focus on exploring the submarine mineral potential and the relationship with the Banda Sea`s ecosystem and the current patterns in the Pacific Ocean as well as the upwelling and downwelling that occur every six months.
"The Banda Sea is very fertile. It lays on the subduction zone of Eurasia and Indo-Australia crusts, but the movement is not as active as the one taking place in Sunda Strait`s crust," Augy explained.
According to him, this time, the research center has conducted research on the marine geological potential related to the small islands in the deep sea.
"We have been researching the potential of the coastal area. For deep sea research, we need more advanced devices, for instance, the tool to sample the sediments located at a depth of five thousand meters," Augy remarked.
The research center will also expand its submarine exploration on a micro scale, such as the biological marine potential that encompass genetics and taxonomical species.
