BINATANG Geoscientific Data 2000

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.