An international team on the CSIRO research vessel Franklin has found dramatic evidence of undersea eruptions in the Bismarck Sea occurring at the same time as the 1994 Rabaul eruption.

RV Franklin berths in Townsville on Monday morning
(3 November).

Leader of the expedition, CSIRO's Dr Ray Binns, says that the researchers are returning with volcanic chimneys containing copper and gold collected from the sea-bed.

"New kinds of mineral formation were first found in the Bismarck Sea in 1991," said Dr Binns. "These deposits are formed from submarine volcanic hot springs rich in copper and gold.

"The data which we have collected over five expeditions will help geologists in the land-based mineral exploration industry interpret ancient mineralised environments and detect subtle signatures that mean orebodies lie nearby," said Dr Binns.

Media representatives are invited to board the RV Franklin and observe unloading of samples from mid-morning on Monday.

VHS footage of undersea chimneys available.

More information from:
Dr Ray Binns 018 288 648 from Sunday night;
c/- Seagulls Motel 077 213 111 Monday night

Judy Thomson 02-9490 8757