This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during PACMANUS 1 / PACLARK 5 cruise (FR08/91) on RV Franklin 24 September to 14 October 1991 in Western Woodlark Basin and Eastern Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. These data include logged station coordinates and information for sediment grabs and cores, CTD/hydrocast operations and samples, camera/video tows and footage, bathymetric surveys and geological and fauna samples. Cruise FR08/91 was an outstanding success and achieved all major objectives, significantly expanding geological knowledge of two key areas of sea floor comparable with the environments of ancient "volcanogenic massive sulfide" (VMS) orebodies. Highlights were the discovery of a new active hydrothermal field ("PACMANUS") forming sulfide deposits associated with dacite in the eastern Manus Basin, and the acquisition of cored sections through low temperature Fe-Mn-Si oxide deposits on Franklin Seamount, a basaltic andesite volcano in the western Woodark Basin. Operations comprised a total of 30 rock dredges, 18 gravity cores, 13 camera-video tows, and 14 CTD-hydrocasts was conducted in the two areas in addition to 12 kHz echosounding. Total distance covered was 2479 nautical miles, of which 360 miles was between stations in the 2 areas of operations and the remainder was in transit.

This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during PACMANUS 3 (FR10/96) on RV Franklin 23.11-17.12.1996 in Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. These data include logged station coordinates and information for sediment grabs and cores, CTD/hydrocast operations and samples, camera/video tows and footage, bathymetric surveys and geological and fauna samples. The aims of PACMANUS 3 cruise were to search for and study submarine hydrothermal deposits at several locations in the Bismarck and Solomon Seas, PNG, especially at the PACMANUS and Tumai Ridge sites defined by cruises FR08/91, FR05/93 in the Eastern Manus Basin. With very little time lost through breakdowns or bad weather, in 12 days 6 hours on station we conducted 39 dredges, 10 grabs, 19 sediment cores, 21 hydrocasts and tow-yos, 16 camera-video tows, and 13 echo-sounder traverses, covered by the issuing of 56 Operation Plans. A total of 236 km of cable was hauled, and a distance of 3490 miles sailed.

This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during PACMANUS 4 (FR09/97) on RV Franklin 8.10-3.11.1997 in Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. These data include logged station coordinates and information for sediment grabs and cores, CTD/hydrocast operations and samples, camera/video tows and footage, bathymetric surveys and geological and fauna samples. The principal aims of PACMANUS IV (FR09/97) were to conduct further studies of seafloor hydrothermal activity at the PACMANUS and SuSu Knolls sites defined by cruises FR-08/91,FR-05/93 and FR-10/96 in the eastern Manus Basin, Bismarck Sea, and to test other volcanic edifices in the vicinity for hydrothermal activity. With only about 8 hours lost through equipment malfunction, during 12 days 10 hours on station we conducted 36 dredges, 18 grabs, 10 sediment cores, 14 hydrocasts and tow-yos, 15 camera-video tows, and 4 deployments of a vent fluid sampler. Twelve echosounder profiles with specific geological objectives were collected, partly during transit, and 59 operations plans involving 272 way-points were issued. A total of 207 km of cable was hauled, and a distance of 3100 miles sailed.

This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during PACMANUS 2 (FR05/93) on RV Franklin 4-24 June 1993 in Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. These data include logged station coordinates and information for sediment grabs and cores, CTD/hydrocast operations and samples, camera/video tows and footage, bathymetric surveys and geological and fauna samples. Cruise FR05/93 of RV FRANKLIN was the second expedition to the eastern Manus Basin and the sixth cruise overall to PNG waters in a collaborative research program led by Ray Binns (CSIRO Division of Exploration and Mining, Australia) and Steve Scott (Department of Geology, University of Toronto, Canada) and involving scientists from Papua New Guinea, Australia and Canada. The overall aims of this program have been to locate and study modern analogues of ancient "volcanogenic massive sulfide" orebodies associated with felsic volcanism, in order to develop new concepts and techniques for the land-based mineral exploration industry.

This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during BISMARCK cruise (FR02/02) on RV Franklin 1-25.3.2002. These data include logged station coordinates and information for dredges, sediment grabs and cores, CTD/hydrocasts, echosounder and camera/video operations, and geological samples. BISMARCK-2002 (FR-02/2002) was the first of two back-to-back legs during which CSIRO Exploration and Mining this year continued its study of hydrothermal mineral formation in marginal basins and volcanic arcs of the South West Pacific Ocean. The general aim was to study modern seafloor hydrothermal ore-forming activity in order to develop improved methods of exploring for ancient mineral deposits on land that originally formed by similar processes. This approach avoids the problems of metamorphism and deformation that can confuse direct genetic investigations of ancient ore bodies themselves. Commencing at Cairns and ending at Rabaul, the cruise focussed on the Western Bismarck Volcanic Arc from Umboi and Ritter in the east to the Schouten Islands in the west. During the final days several sites north of New Britain and near our previous operations in the Eastern Manus Basin were also examined. At the 51 features examined, 204 operations were conducted. A total of 136 out of these operations involved over-the-side deployments of the CTD, dredge, grab, corer, and bottom-tow video system. A plethora of laboratory research deriving from this expedition will contribute to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of land-based mineral exploration and mining, to assessments of the feasibility of future exploitation of seabed mineral resources, and to basic geoscience.

This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during BINATANG cruise (FR03/2000) on RV Franklin 14.4-4.5.2000 in eastern Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. These data include logged station coordinates and information for sediment grabs and cores, CTD/hydrocasts, echosounder and camera/video operations, and geological, fauna and microbiology samples. The major aim of BINATANG cruise was to collect samples at actively-venting seafloor hydrothermal sites in the eastern Manus Basin, PNG, from which microbes would be extracted for culturing and use in a new CSIRO multi-divisional research initiative "Biological Applications in Mining and Mineral Processing". These collections were authorised by an contractual agreement between CSIRO Exploration and Mining, and the responsible government authority PNG BioNet.A second objective was to deploy and test towed deep-submergence geophysical sensors being developed in CSIRO to facilitate future seafloor mineral exploration and mining. Finally, geological investigations were aimed at supplementing outcomes of four previous PACMANUS cruises with Franklin (1991-97). Among geological outcomes, a highlight receiving worldwide publicity in the print and electronic media was the chance collection of the largest sulfide chimney specimen ever recovered from a submarine hydrothermal site. Weighing close to a tonne and 2.7 metres tall, this structure named Bikpela (Big Fellow) is composed almost entirely of the zinc mineral sphalerite. We demonstrated that, with accurate ship handling and precision dredging at previously surveyed sites, voluminous samples of sulfide chimneys can be collected from which hyperthermophilic microbes formerly active at elevated temperature were extractable.

The BSI radiometer was deployed on 12 occasions on the Franklin 7/97 cruise in the area off the mouth of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. Deployments took place between 10:30 am and 3:00 pm, usually only once daily. Casts were taken near CTD stations.

This dataset contains temperature data from the TOGA/WOCE transect PX3/PX5 between NE Australia and Japan. The coverage of this transect is partial. Data have been collected since August 1986 and are ongoing. The transect is repeated approximately 8 times a year. The data were obtained from XBTs (expendable bathythermographs) deployed via merchant vessels, and are now managed by the Joint Australian Facility for Ocean Observing Systems (JAFOOS), a collaborative venture between CSIRO Marine Research and the Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre (BMRC).