THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SEEKS PARTNERS TO COMMERCIALIZE A NEW SUB-SEAFLOOR MARINE AND METALLIC DEBRIS DETECTION TECHNOLOGY DESC: The US Geological Survey (USGS) is actively seeking industrial partners and collaborators for the commercialization and further development of an innovative new marine exploration technology. A USGS research scientist has developed a new approach integrating electrical and ocean engineering, physics, and geology concepts into a technology that can directly map certain metallic-luster minerals and metallic debris buried beneath the seafloor. The technology is based on the principle of induced polarization ("IP"), a physical property different from seismic velocity, resistivity/conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, or density. Sea-trials have been conducted at four different sites on the Atlantic Continental Shelf and Gulf of Mexico that have proven that this approach can detect -- at depths in excess of 5 meters below the seafloor -- pyrite, titanium-bearing minerals (black sands), metallic fragments from wrecks (and by implication UXO), buried pipelines, cables, etc. The prototype system is capable of acquiring large amounts of data over a broad area in short time periods. For example, in a recent one day field test off Cape Fear, North Carolina the system provided simultaneous information on IP and resistivity from approximately 37,000 stations. The acquired data was taken at two different depths of penetration, and offered latitude and longitude measurements thereby permitting precise returns to locations of interest. In addition to metallic-luster minerals and buried metallic debris, preliminary testing indicates that the technology can be used to map urban waste dumped at sea, as well as human modifications to sediments in sensitive bays and estuaries. The technology is described in greater detail at the following URL:http://minerals.usgs.gov/east/wynn/5offshor.html. THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. The USGS is especially interested in collaborations with partners that can assist in improving the sea floor streamer, and the graphic presentation system. Companies interested in working with the USGS or in discussing the technology further should contact Julia Giller, Technology Enterprise Office, US Geological Survey, 211 National Center, Reston, VA, 20192, phone (703) 648-4403; or fax (703) 648-4408. WEB: click here to obtain additional information on the, http://minerals.usgs.gov/east/wynn/5offshor.html. E-MAIL: click here to contact the Technology Enterprise Office, jgiller@usgs.gov. Posted 03/23/00 (W-SN437376).

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