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.     

Research on rotating speed’s influence on performance of Deep-Sea lifting motor pump based on DEM-CFD

Abstract

Metal minerals in deep sea are considered to be the most important mineral resources in the 21st century. With the development of science and technology, deep-sea mining has gained more and more attention, and the pipeline lifting method is the most promising for mining. It is particularly important to use the pump as a key component in the pipeline upgrading. In this paper, the DEM–CFD method is used to study the solid–liquid two-phase fluid flow in the Deep-Sea lifting motor pump. Data about the distribution of pressure on the suction surface and pressure surface as well as the distribution of particles in the pump under different rotation speed can be obtained. Tests verify the efficiency and head of the pump by numerical simulation. It provides a theoretical method for the study of solid–liquid two-phase fluid flow in deep-sea mining.     

Research on reflux in deep-sea mining pump based on DEM-CFD

Abstract

The complex circumstances of deep-sea mining result in unexpected accidents. When a pump abruptly stops working during mining in deep seas, several tons of minerals need to be refluxed. The commonly used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method cannot simulate the required reflux because the volume of particles is neglected. However, this parameter can be calculated using Discrete Element Method-computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD). Using this method, the movement of particles and the location of the blockage becomes evident. In this study, DEM-CFD was used to simulate the reflux of nodules of diameter d?≤?10, d?≤?20, and d?≤?50?mm with a volume concentration of 8%. The results indicated that particles of diameter d?≤?50?mm cannot be refluxed and they are likely to accumulate at the junction of the impeller and vanes. Thus, the diameter of the particles needs to be controlled for effective functioning of the lifting pumps, and prevent deep-sea mining accidents.     

Mining Sand on the Continental Shelf of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the U.S.

Essentially all marine mining along the East and Gulf coasts of the U.S. is for sand used in beach nourishment projects. The current minimal commercial production of sand and aggregate may increase as conventional, on-shore sources become exhausted or are lost to competing land use. Studies published in the late 1990s document a history of nearly 900 individual episodes of beach nourishment having a total cost in excess of $2 × 10⁹ with several hundred million cubic meters of sand placed along over 645 km (400 mi) of shoreline. As exemplified by studies in Florida, prospecting for sand for use in beach nourishment can begin before site specific needs are identified. A full prospecting starts with assimilation of pertinent literature, local knowledge, and an understanding of the geologic and geomorphic settings in which suitable deposits of sand or aggregate occur. High-resolution seismic profiling follows to outline the three dimensional extent of the sand bodies. Finally, vibratory cores are collected to verify the interpretation of the seismic data and to provide samples for geotechnical, especially granulometric, analyses. The actual method of production often is determined by the local availability of different dredge types. Because the mining of marine sands disturbs meaningful areas of the sea floor, environmental concerns must be considered. While it generally is assumed that dredged areas will be left barren, it is possible to assess the likely rate of recolonization. The disruption of bottom habitat also can affect feeding and spawning areas for fishes and other organisms. Alteration in local currents and wave transformation processes need to be modeled and their consequences assessed.     

Heave compensation system of lifting pipeline for deep-sea mining based on combined action of vibration absorber and accumulator

ABSTRACT

A heave compensation system combined with a vibration absorber and accumulator is proposed, with regard to the requirement for poly-metallic nodule mining systems at an ocean depth of 6,000?m in China. The principle of the compensation system was analyzed, its main parameters were designed, and its mathematical model was established. The system performance was simulated and analyzed in MATLAB, and the frequency domain characteristics and compensation rate of the system with different volume accumulators, and with or without vibration absorbers, were compared. A simulation test of the compensation system was conducted. The proposed compensation system had a better compensation effect for a random wave interference under level-6 sea conditions, and the compensation rate being more than 72% with optimal system parameters.     

Vertical distribution of New Zealand shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae)

In Tauranga Harbour, Lyrodus medilobatus was found in greatest numbers on test‐blocks placed near the bottom, while Bankia australis, B. neztalia, and Nototeredo edax had a more uniform vertical distribution. Shipworms occurred in the intertidal zone up to about mean sea level. In Wellington Harbour, B. neztalia was found in test‐blocks up to mean sea level, but was most abundant in blocks near the bottom. In the Bay of Islands, shipworms settled in the intertidal on test‐blocks as high as 30 cm below mean sea level. B. australis was the most abundant species in mangrove wood in northern New Zealand, and L. medilobatus occurred occasionally. No evidence was found for shipworms settling on living mangrove wood, although they frequently tunnelled from dead wood into living wood.     

Biostratigraphic Analysis of the Top Layer of Sediment Cores from the Reference and Test Sites of the INDEX Area

Abstract

Radiolarian fossil study in the sediment cores collected during the pre- and postdisturbance cruises of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Indian Ocean Experiment (INDEX) program of deep sea mining in the Central Indian Ocean Basin suggests a pronounced directional deposition of fossil radiolarians exhumed during the deep sea benthic disturbance experiment. The relative occurrences of the Stylatractus universus species that became extinct ～0.425 million years before present were mostly confined to the older and deeper strata of the sediment of the disturbance tract in the southwestern direction. This pattern is remarkable and suggests that the disturbance plume has been preferentially redeposited in the southwestern direction. This observation is in concurrence with the prevailing southwestern abyssal current during the disturbance experiment in the Central Indian Basin.     

长江口及邻近海域沉积物中四醚脂类的来源及其对底层溶解氧指示作用探究

甘油二烷基甘油四醚(glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers,GDGTs)作为一种重要的膜脂化合物,广泛存在于海洋水体和沉积物中。基于GDGTs对温度的敏感性, TEX₈₆(Tetra Etherinde Xoftetraethers consisting of 86 carbons)指标被广泛用于海洋古温度重建。然而,研究表明GDGTs母源生物古菌也会受到环境中溶解氧(DO)变化的影响,进而影响其膜脂组成,但边缘海DO对GDGTs组成的影响仍不清楚。本文研究了夏季长江口及其邻近海域颗粒物与表层沉积物中GDGTs的含量与组成,探讨了表层沉积物中GDGTs的来源及其组成对底层DO的响应。结果表明,长江口及其邻近海域颗粒物GDGTs的含量随水深的增加而增加,同时表层沉积物中的GDGT-2/GDGT-3和GDGT-0/Cren比值均与底层颗粒物相近,表明沉积物中GDGTs主要来源于底层颗粒物的沉降输入。进一步对受陆源有机质输入影响较小的站位研究发现有机质来源BIT(Branched and Isoprenoid Tetractter)指...     

A long‐range and high‐resolution underwater acoustic positioning system

Abstract

It is desired to track the location of an underwater data collecting platform using acoustic range data. A long‐range and high‐resolution acoustic system for underwater locating has been investigated. The system provides continuous and highly accurate tracking of a platform referenced to bottom‐mounted buoys. Each reference buoy contains an acoustic transponder, which is used to obtain ranging data from the transponder to the platform. The transponder has a signal source that is phase‐modulated by a maximal‐length binary sequence and a correlation processing unit to be capable of detecting received acoustic signals with high SNR in a noisy environment or in attenuation due to long‐range propagation, and to identify multipath acoustic signals. The acoustic system has been designed and sea tests tried. The results of that experiment have yielded capability of a submeter underwater acoustic positioning system.     

Megabenthic recolonization in an experimentally disturbed abyssal manganese nodule area 1

The near total removal of manganese nodules during commercial deep‐sea mining will destroy the habitat of the benthic hard‐bottom fauna within the mined areas and result in the formation of a soft‐bottom community of lower diversity. In 1989 the first large‐scale and long‐term experiment, DISCOL, was initiated in the abyssal tropical southeastern Pacific Ocean to study the impact of disturbances similar to ocean mining on the deep‐sea fauna. The megabenthic assemblage and the recolonization of the disturbed area were monitored during three cruises of the German research vessel SONNE by use of an Ocean Floor Observation System with real‐time TV and “photo‐on‐command” capabilities. The results of the image analyses of the baseline and three postimpact studies demonstrate not only a direct impact within the disturber tracks, but also an apparent impact on areas that were not primarily disturbed. Commercial mining will create a sediment plume, which will drift away with near‐bottom currents and also affect animals outside the mined areas. Reduction of environmental effects remains an important objective during development of future nodule collector systems.     

Macrobenthos of the Ob River estuarine zone and of the adjacent regions of the Kara Sea

The composition and distribution of the macrobenthic communities in the Ob estuary and the adjacent Kara Sea shelf were studied during the 54th cruise of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. With the transition from the Ob River’s mouth to the open parts of the sea, the gradual changes of the bottom biocenoses included changes in the leading taxa. Along with the increase in the salinity, the freshwater and brackish water taxa are replaced by related forms adapted to dwelling in seawater. The comparison of the original data with the results of the previous investigations revealed considerable spatial and temporal variations of the bottom communities in the studied area. The main environmental factors determining the fauna distribution in the estuarine zone are discussed. The extensive biocenosis dominated by Portlandia aestuariorum in the Ob estuary was found for the first time.     

Distribution of sea cucumbers in relation to sediment characteristics in coral reef lagoons and adjacent waters around Ishigaki Island,southern Japan

To elucidate which environmental factors affect lagoonal‐scale sea cucumber distributions in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, intertidal and subtidal areas of three coral reef lagoons were classified into several ground divisions by bottom characteristics, and sea cucumber densities therein were compared with the composition of sediment cover, grain size and organic content, and coverage of macroalgae, seagrass, and massive corals. Holothuria atra, Holothuria leucospilota, Stichopus chloronotus, and Synapta maculata had highest densities in the nearshore areas but were rare in reef flats, probably because of wave disturbance and low areal cover of sand sediment as potential feeding environments. No relationship was observed between sea cucumber densities and sediment organic content or grain size. Thus, even if these sea cucumbers have selectivity for habitats with a high sediment organic content, the effect of such selectivity on the distribution seems to be limited to relatively small areas. The sea cucumber distributions can be classified by bottom sediment/biota composition into bedrock (H. leucospilota), sand (H. atra), and lagoonal types (St. chloronotus and Sy. maculata). These habitat selections were possibly related to various aspects of sea cucumber ecology such as refuge from predators or turbulence, or settlement and nursery place, which have implications for importance of the complexity of lagoonal‐scale topography and sediment/biota conditions for the coexistence of various holothurian species.     

Comparison of Sea Surface Heights Derived from Satellite Altimetry and from Ocean Bottom Pressure Gauges: The SW Pacific MOTEVAS Project

A bottom pressure gauge (BPG) was installed in proximity (3.7 km at closest approach) of Jason-1 and formerly TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) ground track No. 238 at the Wusi site, located ～ 10 km offshore off the west coast of Santo Island, Vanuatu, Southwest (SW) Pacific. Sea level variations are inferred from the bottom pressure, seawater temperature, and salinity, corrected for the measured surface atmospheric pressure. The expansion of the water column (steric increase in sea surface height, SSH) due to temperature and salinity changes is approximated by the equation of state. We compare time series of SSH derived from T/P Side B altimeter Geophysical Data Records (GDR) and Jason-1 Interim Geophysical Data Records (IGDR), with the gauge-inferred sea level variations. Since altimeter SSH is a geocentric measurement, whereas the gauge-inferred observation is a relative sea level measurement, SSH comparison is conducted with the means of both series removed in this study. In addition, high-rate (1-Hz) bottom pressure implied wave heights (H _1/3 ) are compared with the significant wave height (SWH) measured by Jason-1. Noticeable discrepancy is found in this comparison for high waves, however the differences do not contribute significantly to the difference in sea level variations observed between the altimeter and the pressure gauge. In situ atmospheric pressure measurements are also used to verify the inverse barometer (IB) and the dry troposphere corrections (DTC) used in the Jason IGDR. We observe a bias between the IGDR corrections and those derived from the local sensors. Standard deviations of the sea level differences between T/P and BPG is 52 mm and is 48 mm between Jason and BPG, indicating that both altimeters have similar performance at the Wusi site and that it is feasible to conduct long-term monitoring of altimetry at such a site.     

基于RDA与GAMs模型的东海近岸海域浮游动物与温盐关系

为进一步探讨东海近岸海域浮游动物季节演替与温盐的变化关系,根据2013年5月(春季)、8月(夏季)和12月(冬季)东海近岸海域3个航次的浮游动物调查资料,利用冗余分析模型分析了优势种与温盐的变化关系,广义加性模型分析了生物多样性参数与温盐之间的关系。结果表明:(1)优势种季节演替较为明显,由春季2种演替成夏季10种,再更替为冬季5种,春季和冬季优势种的种类和生态类群相对单一,夏季较为丰富。(2)优势种时空分布是综合多层环境因子的结果,如春季中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)与表层盐度和底层盐度正相关,夏季与表层温度和底层温度负相关,冬季与表层盐度正相关;春季五角水母(Muggiaea atlantica)与底层温度、底层盐度呈现较好的正相关;夏季盐度是决定暖水性和高温高盐性优势种分布的关键因子,且呈现较强的正相关;冬季真刺唇角水蚤(Labidocera euchaeta)、强壮滨箭虫(Aidanosagitta crassa)与表层温度关系密切,并呈现较强的负相关。(3)春季和冬季香农–威纳指数多样性指数与纬度呈负相关。(4)温度和盐度对生物多样性参数影响显著,但季节上又呈现出差异。     

A Review of Some Environmental Issues Affecting Marine Mining

Abstract

This article reviews information recently available from existing marine and coastal mining for responses to environmental issues affecting marine mining at different depths. It is particularly but not exclusively concerned with those issues affecting seabed biodiversity impact and recovery. Much information has been gathered in the past 10 years from shallow mining operations for construction aggregate, diamonds, and gold, from coastal mines discharging tailings to shallow and deep water, and from experimental deep mining tests. The responses to issues identified are summarized in a series of eight tables intended to facilitate site-specific consideration. Since impacts can spread widely in the surface mixing layer SML, and can affect the biologically productive euphotic zone, the main issues considered arise from the depth of mining relative to the SML of the sea. Where mining is below the SML, the issue is whether it is environmentally better to bring the extraction products to the surface vessel for processing (and waste discharge), or to process the extraction products as much as possible on the seabed. Responses to the issues need to be site-specific, and dependent on adequate preoperational environmental impact and recovery prediction. For deep tailings disposal from a surface vessel, there are four important environmental unknowns: (1) the possible growth of “marine snow” (bacterial flocs) utilizing the enormous quantities of fine tailings particles (hundreds or thousands of metric tons per day) as nuclei for growth, (2) the possibility that local keystone plankton and nekton species may migrate diurnally down to and beyond the depth of deep discharge and hence be subjected to tailings impact at depth, (3) the burrow-up capability of deep benthos and their ability to survive high rates of tailings deposition, and (4) the pattern and rate of dispersion of a tailings density current through the deep water column from discharge point to seabed. Actions to obtain relevant information in general and site-specifically are suggested.     

Environment and Deep-Sea Mining: A Perspective

Abstract

As the quest for deep-sea mineral resources is gaining momentum, environment and ocean mining have become important aspects of study. Because many of these deposits occur in international waters, the concern for environmental conservation in view of the effects of deep-sea mining is resulting in these effects being studied in different oceans, and efforts to develop regulations governing this exploitation are also underway at national and international levels. The impact assessment of deep-sea mining needs to encompass a variety of subjects, including environmental, socioeconomic, technological, and legal aspects. At the same time, effects of in situ environmental conditions on mining activities also need to be considered for effecient performance by the mining system. Differences in the degree of impact have been noticed during the mining simulation experiments by different investigating agencies. Therefore, interparameter comparisons, standardization of methods, and improvement in mining design are important considerations for proper utilization of resources, conservation of environment, and cost efficiency of the mining operations.     

海州湾前三岛海域底播刺参群体特征初探

海州湾前三岛海域是中国刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)自然分布的最南界,2013年3月至2014年4月,采用潜水样带法,调查了前三岛海域底播刺参群体的体质量结构及季节变动特征,结合水下观察和视频调查,比较了不同生境类型中的刺参密度。结果表明,前三岛海域刺参密度为0.4~1.33头/m2,生物量为42.69~103 g/m2,刺参群体相对稳定,群体的体质量呈现冬春季节增长、夏秋季节下降的特点。不同生境类型中的刺参密度不同,大型藻类分布的礁石区刺参密度明显大于没有藻类分布的礁石区和砂质区,上述结果为揭示岛屿海域的刺参群体特征和资源养护提供了基础数据。     

Adriatic seiche decay and energy loss to the Mediterranean

A salient feature of sea level records from the Adriatic Sea is the frequent occurrence of energetic seiches of period about 21 h. Once excited by a sudden wind event, such seiches often persist for days. They lose energy either to friction within the Adriatic, or by radiation through Otranto Strait into the Mediterranean.The free decay time of the dominant (lowest mode) seiche was determined from envelopes of handpassed sea level residuals from three locations (Bakar, Split and Dubrovnik) along the Croatian coast during twelve seiche episodes between 1963 and 1986 by taking into consideration only time intervals when the envelopes decreased exponentially in time, when the modelled effects of along-basin winds were smaller than the error of estimation of decay time from the envelopes and when across-basin winds were small. The free decay time thus obtained was 3.2±0.5 d. This value is consonant with the observed width of the spectral peak.The decay caused by both bottom friction and radiation was included in a one dimensional variable cross section shallow water model of the Adriatic. Bottom friction is parameterized by the coefficient k appearing in the linearized bottom stress term _ρ0u (where u is the along-basin velocity and ρ₀ the fluid density). The coefficient k is constrained by values obtained from linearization of the quadratic bottom stress law using estimates of near bottom currents associated with the seiche, with wind driven currents, with tides and with wind waves. Radiation is parameterized by the coefficient f appearing in the open strait boundary condition ζ =auh/c (where ζ is sea level, h is depth and c is phase speed). This parameterization of radiation provides results comparable to allowing the Adriatic to radiate into an unbounded half plane ocean. Repeated runs of the model delineate the dependence of model free seiche decay time on k and a, and these plus the estimates of k allow estimation of a.The principle conclusions of this work are as follows.

1. (1) Exponential decay of seiche amplitude with time does not necessarily guarantee that the observed decay is free of wind influence.

2. (2) Winds blowing across the Adriatic may be of comparable importance to winds blowing along the Adriatic in influencing apparent decay of seiches; across-basin winds are probably coupled to the longitudinal seiche on account of the strong along-basin variability of across-basin winds forced by Croatian coastal orography.

3. (3) The free decay time of the 21.2 h Adriatic seiche is 3.2±0.5 d.

4. (4) A one dimensional shallow water model of the seiche damped by bottom stress represented by Godin's (1988) approximation to the quadratic bottom friction law ρ₀C_Du|u| using the commonly accepted drag coefficient C_D = 0.0015 and quantitative estimates of bottom currents associated with wind driven currents, tides and wind waves, as well as with the seiche itself with no radiation gives a damping time of 9.46 d; radiation sufficient to give the observed damping time must then account for 66% of the energy loss per period. But independent estimates of bottom friction for Adriatic wind driven currents and inertial oscillations, as well as comparisons between quadratic law bottom stress and directly measured bottom stress, all suggest that the quadratic law with C_D=0.0015 substantially underestimates the bottom stress. Based on these studies, a more appropriate value of the drag coefficient is at least C_D=0. In this case, bottom friction with no radiation leads to a damping time of 4.73 d, radiation sufficient to give the observed damping time then accounts for 32% of the energy loss per period.

     

Reflection of a long wave from an underwater slope

Reflection of long sea waves from an underwater slope described by a power law is studied within the shallow water theory. The slope is connected with the flat bottom. This model allows us to estimate the roles of a pointwise reflection from the inflection point of the bottom profile and distributed reflection at the underwater slope. The case of the underwater slope described by the so-called nonreflecting beach (h(x) ∼ x ^4/3, where h is the depth of the basin and x is the coordinate) when the wave is reflected only from the inflection point (pointwise reflection) is specially considered. The reflection and transmission coefficients over the bottom topography were calculated, and it was shown that the sum of the squared absolute values of these values differs from unity for all profiles except the nonreflecting one. This difference is related to the distributed re-reflections (resonances) over the underwater slope that lead to the deviations in the wave height from the known Green’s law.     

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.