中国多金属结核西示范区的结核小尺度分布特征

利用在中国多金属结核西示范区加密调查中获取的海底视像资料,通过水下定位数据处理和结核覆盖率计算,并结合多波束地形测量数据,从结核覆盖率分布角度对多金属结核的小尺度分布特征进行研究。研究结果表明:多金属结核分布与地形有一定的对应关系,在地形平缓区域,结核覆盖率变化较平缓,而在某些地形陡峭区域,由于块状结壳的形成,结核/结壳覆盖率出现明显的跃升;西示范区为结核高覆盖率分布区,结核覆盖率沿东西方向变化不大,由北向南呈增高趋势;地形坡度对结核分布有明显的影响,在区内0°~3.6°的坡度范围内,坡度越大,结核覆盖率越高。     

东沙群岛西南海区泥火山的地球物理特征

多道反射地震和CHIRP浅地层剖面显示在南海东沙群岛西南陆坡和白云凹陷东部陆坡之间的深水(600~1 000m)陆坡上矗立着一系列高出周围海底50~100m的丘形地质体,其内部地层发生褶皱,反射波呈现杂乱和空白,海底声波屏蔽严重。浅地层剖面还显示丘状构造带有气体羽状构造,从海底进入水体高达50m。海底沉积取样分析表明,这些海丘区的表层分布着生物成因的致密碳酸盐结核。可以推断东沙西南的丘形地质体就是泥火山带,并且可能是一个重要的水合物潜在区。东沙西南海区泥火山表现出构造挤压和带状分布的特点,不同于南海北部神狐和九龙甲烷礁已发现水合物区的非泥火山,也不同于全球其他典型被动大陆边缘的泥火山特征,其构造成因和水合物潜力有待进一步研究。     

基于深海采矿过程的环境影响分析与管理对策建议

深海矿产开发所产生的环境影响是目前制约深海采矿的重要问题之一,了解开发全过程的环境影响和生态响应是商业化开采的前提。本文以多金属结核、富钴结壳和多金属硫化物三种具有代表性的深海固体矿产资源为例,分析了开发前赋存环境、开发过程中及开发后的环境影响。结果表明：①不同深海固体矿产资源的分布规律、深度以及生物特征等赋存环境存在较大差异,因采矿活动带来的赋存环境改变、对环境的影响以及采矿潜在影响区域、影响时长和恢复潜力也有所不同。②多金属结核开采的环境影响着重考虑了沉积物羽流的影响,结壳开采活动从沉积物扰动、外壳去除以及栖息地改变三个方面考虑环境影响,多金属硫化物开采的环境影响还要增加对有毒物质的释放以及栖息地移除两个方面的考虑。③深海采矿对底栖生物种群的数量和物种组成皆会造成不同程度的影响。最后,从持续跟进监测评估、充实数据、提升采矿技术与设备、顶层设计与决策管理、规则制定等方面提出了环境保护与可持续发展对策建议,为深海采矿的环境影响评价及规则制定提供参考。     

A comparison between manganese nodules and cobalt crust economics in a scenario of mutual exclusivity

The past 20 years have been characterised by limited interest in the economic viability of deep seabed mining with the exception of those mineral ores rich in precious metals such as polymetallic sulphides. This paper goes against the tide. After reviewing the most significant literature, it compares the economic feasibility of mining polymetallic manganese nodules and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in a scenario of mutual exclusivity. It uses a new indicator, the cobalt-nickel price ratio, whose aim is to verify at what metal prices the net present value of the two mining projects equalises. Previous research has shown that the turning margin between manganese nodules and cobalt crusts is a cobalt price of $50/kg. The present paper revises this by showing that the choice between mining crust and nodules depends on fluctuations in the price of nickel. A Monte Carlo simulation proves that cobalt crust mining could be reasonably preferred to manganese nodules at cobalt prices of $40-60/kg if the price of nickel fell below $11/kg. Within this condition, investors would receive the minimum acceptable internal rate of return of 15%, which is at a level of risk closer to the land-based mining. However, when the price of nickel passes the $11/kg threshold, the equilibrium between the two ventures can be reached only at a cobalt price greater than $100/kg, causing cobalt crust to become uncompetitive. Finally, the paper, recognising that prices are not unique drivers, introduces legal, political, technological and environmental concerns to show that the final choice between the two mining ventures cannot be merely driven by economic issues.     

Simulation of seafloor electrical resistivity measuring equipment based on 3D finite element method

In order to explore the mineral resources buried in sea mud,it is necessary to use seabed resistivity measuring equipment,which works closer to the sediments than ordinary ship-based geophysical measuring equipment. Because of the harsh environment of seafloor,high pressure and highly conductive seawater,marine magnetotelluric method developed slowly. The sea floor environment is similar to the environment of logging, According to the design of dual lateral logging equipment,a new equipment for seafloor electrical resistivity measurement is designed. Four 3D FEM models that contain resistivity abnormal targets are built to test the ability of this equipment to locate different shape of shallow buried resistivity abnormal targets in sea mud. The authors propose the method to correct the response curve while the bottom surface of this equipment is suspended or not parallel to the seafloor. The resistivity of targets can be calculated accurately.     

Deep-Sea Impact Experiments and their Future Requirements

In recent years, several experiments to assess the potential impacts due to deep-sea mining in the Pacific as well as the Indian Oceans have indicated the immediate changes and restoration patterns of environmental conditions in the marine ecosystem. The large volume of sediment(~ 500 × 10⁷ m³ per year) estimated to be resuspended would be the major influencing factor in environmental impact in the mining area, leading to changes in availability of certain nutrients and composition of biomass, followed by gradual restoration. Important results have been obtained from these experiments, but in order to have a better understanding of the impacts and restoration processes, it will be necessary to improvise future experiments to resemble actual deep-sea mining in terms of scale and methodology.     

东太平洋多金属结核富钡镁锰矿细脉蛋白石层的成因机制

为探讨东太平洋CC区多金属结核中富钡镁锰矿细脉蛋白石层的成因机制,利用矿相显微镜、电子探针和ICP-OES,对蛋白石层及其周围铁锰氧化物进行了显微结构特征和化学成分特征的研究。结果表明:高反射率矿物结晶程度较好,主要由MnO组成,具有高Mn低Fe的特征,为成岩成因的钡镁锰矿。中反射率矿物结晶程度较差,主要由MnO和FeO组成,为水成成因的水羟锰矿。低反射率矿物为一种半透明矿物,主要由SiO₂组成,为生物成因的蛋白石。根据钡镁锰矿、水羟锰矿和蛋白石的成因机制,为蛋白石层及其内部钡镁锰矿细脉的形成过程建立了一个模型,共分为5个生长阶段:第1阶段,结核呈半埋藏状态在氧化环境中形成水羟锰矿;第2阶段,结核呈半埋藏状态接受SiO₂胶体的沉淀作用形成蛋白石层;第3阶段,结核呈半埋藏状态在氧化环境中形成水羟锰矿的同时,其成岩作用和蛋白石的脱水作用使蛋白石层中产生大量的裂缝;第4阶段,结核呈埋藏状态在弱氧化-还原环境中发生交代作用和重结晶作用形成钡镁锰矿;第5阶段,结核呈半埋藏状态形成水羟锰矿。     

Deep-Sea Nodules and Co-rich Mn Crusts

The mining of deep-sea manganese nodules has been a topic of interest since J.L. Mero undertook his preliminary studies in the 1960s to evaluate the prospects for mining deep-sea nodules. Despite the great deal of investment in deep-sea mining over more than 40 years, there has still been no successful attempt to mine the deep-sea nodules on a commercial scale. One of the major problems is that the nodules cannot be brought to the surface with the necessary amounts of recoverable nickel, cobalt and zinc to warrant the initial high investment necessary for this operation. It therefore appears that in the short term, deep-sea manganese and Co-rich Mn crusts will not be mined on a commercial scale in the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, investigations of deep-sea mineral deposits by a number of nations will continue and enable us to understand the deep-sea environment in increasing detail, which is necessary in view of the great extent of the deep oceans which cover an area of about 66% of the Earth's surface.     

The economics of mining seabed manganese nodules: A case study of the Indian Ocean nodule field

Abstract

Because of ever-growing demand for strategic metals, the focus of the international community has fallen on deep sea manganese nodules occurring at a water depth of more than 4500?m. We present an economic appraisal and strategy for mining of nodules from the Indian Ocean Nodule Field- one of the four economically potential areas in the world oceans. In contrast to the prevailing perception of non-viability of nodule mining, our analysis indicates a fair degree of economic feasibility and commercial sustainability to mine the deep-sea manganese nodules.     

钙质结核土细观结构定量分析研究

钙质结核土的结构特征对于其宏观力学性质和工程特性具有重要的影响。利用空间统计分析和分形维数计算方法,对钙质结核土的细观结构进行了定量分析,提取并计算了其颗粒形态、定向性等分形维数。结果表明,钙质结核的分布具有良好的分形特征和统计自相关性特点。