Automated seafloor massive sulfide detection through integrated image
segmentation and geophysical data analysis: Revisiting the TAG
hydrothermal field
Abstract
Accessible seafloor minerals located near mid-ocean ridges are noticed
to mitigate projected metal demands of the net-zero energy transition,
promoting growing research interest in quantifying global distributions
of seafloor massive sulfides (SMS). Mineral potentials are commonly
estimated using geophysical and geological data that lastly rely on
additional confirmation studies using sparsely available, locally
limited, seafloor imagery, grab samples, and coring data. This raises
the challenge of linking in-situ confirmation data to geophysical data
acquired at disparate spatial scales to obtain quantitative mineral
predictions. Although multivariate datasets for marine mineral research
are incessantly acquired, robust, integrative data analysis requires
cumbersome workflows and experienced interpreters. Here, we introduce an
automated two-step machine learning approach that integrates automated
mound detection with geophysical data to merge mineral predictors into
distinct classes and reassess marine mineral potentials for distinct
regions. The automated workflow employs a U-Net convolutional neural
network to identify mound-like structures in bathymetry data and
distinguishes different mound classes through classification of mound
architectures and magnetic signatures. Finally, controlled source
electromagnetic data is utilized to reassess predictions of potential
SMS volumes. Our study focuses on the Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse (TAG)
area, which is amid the most explored SMS area worldwide and includes 15
known SMS sites. The automated workflow classifies 14 of the 15 known
mounds as exploration targets of either high- or medium-priority. This
reduces the exploration area to less than 7% of the original survey
area from 49 km2 to 3.1 km2.