This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during TELVE cruise (SS02/03) on RV Southern Surveyor 14.3-3.4.2003 in Tonga and Eastern Lau Basin. These data include logged station coordinates and information for dredges, CTD/hydrocasts, echosounder and camera/video operations and geological samples. The TELVE expedition completed 70 dredges, 31 tow-yos, 14 vertical hydrocasts, 9 echo-sounding traces, 2 camera tows, and 1 drogue test. The major scientific objectives of the cruise were a study of the hydrothermal plume activity of the Tofua Arc and adjacent Valu Fa back arc Ridge coupled with sampling of the sea floor with grabs and dredges. Sampling was conducted along the axis of the Valu Fa Ridge, the Tofua Arc between about 21o 30” and 24o 10’S, and one transverse hydrothermal cast from the backarc to arc region at ~ 22o 30’S was done. More specifically, objectives of the voyage were: 1.Perform a continuous along-axis survey for hydrothermal activity along the three segments of the Valu Fa back arc spreading ridge. 2. To the extent possible, conduct a systematic survey for hydrothermal activity along the S. Tonga arc adjacent to the Valu Fa Ridge. 3. Compare (for the first time) the incidence and chemistry of hydrothermal emissions along the adjacent back arc ridge and volcanic arc sections. 4. Coordinate results of back arc ridge survey with RIDGE 2000 investigators slated to perform similar surveys further north on Lau back arc spreading ridges.

The Blue Habitats website has been established as a portal for information on the global distribution of marine ‘blue’ habitats. Knowledge on the distribution of blue habitats is an important input into ocean management, marine spatial planning and biodiversity conservation. Conservation International, GRID-Arendal and Geoscience Australia recently collaborated to produce a map of the global distribution of seafloor geomorphic features. The global seafloor geomorphic features map represents an important contribution towards the understanding of the distribution of blue habitats. Certain geomorphic feature are known to be good surrogates for biodiversity. For example, seamounts support a different suite of species to abyssal plains. A detailed description and analysis of the global geomorphic features map can be found in in the scientific paper published in Marine Geology (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011). The map and the underlying spatial data can be accessed from this website.

This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during PACLARK 2 (FR01/88) cruise on RV Franklin 8-28 January 1988 in Western Woodlark Basin and Goodenough Bay,Papua New Guinea. These data include logged station coordinates and information for CTD/hydrocasts, dredges, sediment cores, bathymetric surveys and camera tows. Please see the associated cruise report for details. Cruise FR 01/88 was undertaken to locate evidence of hydrothermal activity in the Western Woodlark Basin (east of Papua New Guinea) and Goodenough Bay, and to map submarine geology in an area of ocean ridge propagation into a continental margin. Survey methods included bathymetric profiling, magnetometer surveys, dredgers and gravity corers, a deep-tow camera system, and CTD casts with other associated instrumentation including a transmissometer. Numerous rock, sediment and water samples were collected for laboratory study. Related cruises are FR 02/86, FR 08/91, HMAS Cook - PACLARK III and RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh and MIR submersibles - SUPACLARK.

This dataset contains geoscientific data logged during SOLAVENTS cruise (FR03/02) on RV Franklin 26.3-21.4.2002 in Solomon islands. These data include logged station coordinates and information for dredges, sediment grabs and cores, CTD/hydrocasts, echosounder and camera/video operations, and geological samples. SOLAVENTS-2002 was the second of two back-to-back legs during which CSIRO Exploration and Mining this year continued its study of hydrothermal mineral formation in volcanic arcs and back arcs in the South West Pacific Ocean. Commencing in Rabaul and ending in Sydney, the expedition focussed in the eastern Solomon Islands between San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. Forty-three sites were surveyed, of which 4 were completed in significant detail. We conducted 254 operations and collected 486 rock and sediment samples, totalling around 2.7 tonnes of material, 323 water samples, and made 222 on-board methane gas and 218 pH, conductivity and free-iron analyses. Forty-four biological samples were recovered serendipitously during dredging operations. The aims of SOLAVENTS cruise were as follows: - To collect new marine geoscientific and geotectonic information on a hitherto little-explored but significant island-arc region, in the eastern Solomon Islands. Among the island arc-backarc systems of the southwestern Pacific, considerable petrologic and geochemical effort has been expended in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. However, there is an apparent gap of fundamental knowledge, between the eastern end of the Solomon arc and the northwestern end of the Vanuatu arc in terms of known volcanism, with the exception of one known subaerial volcano (Tinakula). - To document changes over a two year period of the active submarine Kavachi volcano. - To document the state of seabed sediments and water quality in Empress Augusta Bay, 13 years after the cessation of mining on Bougainville.

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.