SEAMOUNTS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO CONFIRM THE NATURE OF THE CRUST AND TO LOCATE POSSIBLE MINERAL-RESOURCES FOR DREDGING

Study of bathymetric data for the distal Bengal Fan reveals the presen ce of positive topographic features resembling seamounts. These featur es exhibit a relief of about 800 m above the surrounding seafloor at 4 ,400 m and are associated with large-amplitude magnetic and gravity an omalies. Magnetic model studies suggest that one of the seamounts evol ved along with the oceanic crust represented by the magnetic isochron A32 (similar to 72 My), while the other seamount was emplaced over the Cretaceous Quiet Zone Crust with reversed polarity. The seamounts stu died provide an environment for possible locations of polymetallic enc rustations. Morphology of the seamounts depends on several factors, in cluding physical and chemical composition of the magma, eruption style , sediment thickness, maturity of underlying crust, and time of origin . Studying the seamounts together with integrated geophysical and phys ical data gave useful indications of their evolution and the existence of possible mineral deposits.