This Work Package includes the gathering, evaluation and synthesis of all the existing data and information (e.g. scientific publishes, results from other scientific projects, internet research) referring to MA deposits. The desirable collection of such information refers to: (i) MA deposits in a European and National level; (ii) the geo-environment of existing MA deposits; (iii) the available prospecting tools and methods; (iv) the sedimentological constitution of MA; (v) the investigation of several dredging methods in different geologic and oceanographic environments; (vi) the study of the potential environmental impacts on the sea bed (benthos), the water-column and the nearby coast; (vii) the European and National legislation for the prospecting and extraction of MA; (viii) the exploitation possibilities of MA by the Greek industry.

WP-2 includes the following five (5) tasks:

Description / Methodology: This task includes the compilation of any information referred to the Greek shelf and related to potential existence of MA deposits. This information refers to the collection and study of the existing knowledge concerning seabed morphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy of upper (Quaternary) marine deposits in Greece. The inquiry will focus on publications in Greek and international scientific magazines, and in congresses’ proceedings. In addition some information may be extracted from submarine cable launching projects. In particular, the research will focus in water depths

Deliverable: D7- Available information on the presence of MA deposits in Greece (Technical Report)

 Task 2.2. European experience in MA prospecting, dredging and usage

Description / Methodology: This task aims to the transfer of the European experience in prospecting and dredging of MA, including the necessary studies of environmental impacts and the legislation involved. The sub-tasks refer to: (i) prospecting and dredging methods, (ii) type and availability of MA deposits, (iii) dredging related legislation – study specifications of environmental impacts and (iv) exploitation (management) of MA. The task is organized by Prof. M. Collins, due to his long experience in subaqueous sedimentology and especially to the MA dredging in the Great Britain’s continental shelf and to his advisory role in the English Company of MA deposits exploitation (Seven Sands). In addition, efforts will be placed upon the utilization of the results of two relatively recent European projects, SANDPIT and EUMARSAND; in the latter Prof. M. Collins, S. Poulos, A. Velegrakis and A. Uriarte have participated.

Deliverable: D8- MA deposits in EU (Technical Report)

 Task 2.3. Potential industrial use of MA

Description / Methodology: The aim of this task is to describe the industrial use of MA at national and international level, according to their specific characteristics (e.g. physical, mineralogical, chemical, etc) and their contribution to the compressive strength, adsorption, and thermal conductivity of end products. This action involves the cooperation (exchange of information and knowledge) with Greek companies that already produce and/or use such materials (nowadays of terrestrial origin) as in the case of MATHIOS Refractories, TITAN/Interbeton, HERCULES/Lafarge, YTONG, KERACOLL, DUROSTICK, etc. At the same time, the possibility of further exploitation of MA deposits in other (pioneer) industrial uses will be investigated further in relation to their specific mineralogy. Furthermore there will be an effort to determine the volume of the potential deposits, which will make them economically valuable in relation to their prospecting and dredging process.

Deliverable: D9- Potential industrial usage of MA (Technical Report).

 Task 2.4. Assessment of the volume required for beach nourishment in Greece

Description / Methodology: This task is based on the determination of the volumes expected to be required for the replacement of beach zones under erosion, either through human interference, or through the anticipated sea level rise due to climate change. For this purpose, there will be an assessment of the total coastline length that includes beach zones, based on the results from the European project EUROSION (2003) and the collection of the available published data and information from Greece. Subsequently and after consideration of beach zone morphodynamic characteristics, there will be an effort to estimate the volume of MA, needed in near future. For the implementation of this task, methodologies applied in other countries (e.g. Italy, USA, Australia) will be evaluated and, secondly, a quantitative estimate in a number of Greek beach zones under erosion will be contacted.

Deliverable: D10- Estimated volume of MAs needed for beach nourishment. (Technical Report)

 Task 2.5. Data base development for the storage and utilisation of all the information gathered

Description / Methodology: The scope of this is the development of a Data base in a GIS friendly environment, for the storage and easily accessible format of all the information gathered for possible or/and proven MA deposits in the Greek shelf. The final structure of the database will consist of sequential thematic categories that correspond to different information levels, such as those refer to: (i) subaqueous geomorphology, (ii) stratigraphy deposit features, (iii) seabed sedimentology, (iv) oceanographic characteristics, (v) anticipated environmental impacts, (vi) socio-economic parameters.

Deliverable: D11- Database description and function protocols