The Ocean Drilling Committee (ODC), an international research body, plans to drill a base metal deposit off the coast of British Columbia next summer. The drilling plan was announced by Jake Epp, federal minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, in February, and is part of an international research initiative to study the geology of the world’s ocean floors.
Canada has been a member of this nineteen country consortium since its formation in 1985.
The research will take place in the Middle Valley area of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, about 200 km off the coast.
The specific purpose of the drilling is to conduct research into the ore-forming processes, thereby providing information which might be useful in the exploration of base metal deposits. It should also help determine the conditions that are conducive to the creation of sulphide deposits of zinc, lead, silver and copper in Canada.
In addition, the research is expected to provide valuable information on global climate change during the last 100,000 years. Sea floor sediments preserve a detailed record of the climate, including identifiable periods of glaciation, volcanism and earthquake activity.
Through this study, scientists hope to determine whether global climate changes today are part of historical patterns or the result of environmental pollution.
The Joides Resolution, which will be ODC’s research vessel, has the capability to drill down to 8,230 metres to retrieve sea floor samples.
The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Resources stresses that all environmental aspects of the research will be thoroughly studied and that all the normal environmental reviews will be done.
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