Creation of a literature database for the localization, cartography and evaluation of deposits by GSI

The significant increase starting from the last 1970s in the market demand for metals such as Cu, Ni, Co and rare-earth metals for commercial use has prompted mining companies to focus on potentials deposits of poly-metal nodules in deep waters. The focus was on the volcanic environment and especially in sectors where hydrothermal emissions are able to produce high concentrations of minerals with high economic potential. Mining in the marine environment is one of the open issues at an international level, on which scientific research continues to invest resources. In the framework of the Marine Hazard project, a collection of 265 scientific manuscripts about deposits by submarine hydrothermal systems (GSI) was carried out in order to create an integrated system of knowledge and skills able to deal the environmental risk, with specific reference to the exploitation of georesources in the marine environment. The integration of information was developed in a specific georeferenced database system (GeoDatabase), added into a GIS type architecture for the management and sharing of geographic and geospatial information (the so-called “Spatial Data Infrastructure”, SDI5). Moreover, a specific Web-GIS type application was implemented for the consultation and the online use of the geospatial information (e.g. thematic maps, etc.) produced during the project activities.