Deep Seabed Mining: Past Failures and Future Prospects

The first attempt to exploit deep-sea manganese nodules ended in failure as a result of the collapse of world metal prices, the onerous provisions imposed by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the overoptimistic assumptions about the viability of nodule mining. Attention then focused on Co-rich manganese crusts from seamounts. Since the mid-1980s, a number of new players have committed themselves to long-term programs to establish the viability of mining deep-sea manganese nodules. These programs require heavy subsidy by the host governments. Au-rich submarine hydrothermal deposits located at convergent plate margins are now emerging as a more promising prospect for mining than deep-sea manganese deposits.     

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.     

News from the seabed – Geological characteristics and resource potential of deep-sea mineral resources

Marine minerals such as manganese nodules, Co-rich ferromanganese crusts, and seafloor massive sulfides are commonly seen as possible future resources that could potentially add to the global raw materials supply. At present, a proper assessment of these resources is not possible due to a severe lack of information regarding their size, distribution, and composition. It is clear, however, that manganese nodules and Co-rich ferromanganese crusts are a vast resource and mining them could have a profound impact on global metal markets, whereas the global resource potential of seafloor massive sulfides appears to be small. These deep-sea mineral commodities are formed by very different geological processes resulting in deposits with distinctly different characteristics. The geological boundary conditions also determine the size of any future mining operations and the area that will be affected by mining. Similarly, the sizes of the most favorable areas that need to be explored for a global resource assessment are also dependent on the geological environment. Size reaches 38 million km² for manganese nodules, while those for Co-rich crusts (1.7 million km²) and massive sulfides (3.2 million km²) are much smaller. Moreover, different commodities are more abundant in some jurisdictions than in others. While only 19% of the favorable area for manganese nodules lies within the Exclusive Economic Zone of coastal states or is covered by proposals for the extension of the continental shelf, 42% of the favorable areas for massive sulfides and 54% for Co-rich crusts are located in EEZs.     

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.     

Precautionary management of deep-sea mining

Interest in deep-sea mining developed in the early 1970s, with a focus on manganese nodules in international waters. Mining may actually occur first, however, on rich polymetallic sulfide deposits associated with hydrothermal vents within exclusive economic zones. Even though mining for polymetallic sulfides may not take place for several years, precautionary performance standards, environmental regulations, and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas may help guide the marine mining industry toward a goal of minimizing environmental impacts. Once substantial investments in prospecting and exploring a potential mining site are made, implementation of environmental regulations may prove to be much more difficult.     

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.     

大洋多金属结核成因新说

１９９４－１９９５年对东太平洋锰结核包壳及其内部纹层构造作光学显微镜和透射电子显微镜的系统研究。结果表明,深海锰结核是一种锰质核形石,其包壳是叠层石。光滑状和瘤状锰质核形石分别是由微小叠层石和奇异叠层石构成,而叠层石则由纳米级微生物建造而成。新近发现的中华微放线菌和太平洋螺球孢菌分别是微小叠层石和奇异叠层石的建造者。     

Impact of depositional and biogeochemical processes on small scale variations in nodule abundance in the Clarion‐Clipperton Fracture Zone

Manganese nodules of the Clarion–Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) in the NE Pacific Ocean are highly enriched in Ni, Cu, Co, Mo and rare-earth elements, and thus may be the subject of future mining operations. Elucidating the depositional and biogeochemical processes that contribute to nodule formation, as well as the respective redox environment, in both water column and sediment, supports our ability to locate future nodule deposits and to evaluate the potential ecological and environmental effects of future deep-sea mining. For these purposes we studied the local hydrodynamics and pore-water geochemistry with respect to the nodule coverage at four sites in the eastern CCFZ. Furthermore, we carried out selective leaching experiments at these sites in order to assess the potential mobility of Mn in the solid phase, and compared them with the spatial variations in sedimentation rates. We found that the oxygen penetration depth is 180–300 cm at all four sites, while reduction of Mn and NO₃⁻ is only significant below the oxygen penetration depth at sites with small or no nodules on the sediment surface. At the site without nodules, potential microbial respiration rates, determined by incubation experiments using ¹⁴C-labeled acetate, are slightly higher than at sites with nodules. Leaching experiments showed that surface sediments covered with big or medium-sized nodules are enriched in mobilizable Mn. Our deep oxygen measurements and pore-water data suggest that hydrogenetic and oxic-diagenetic processes control the present-day nodule growth at these sites, since free manganese from deeper sediments is unable to reach the sediment surface. We propose that the observed strong lateral contrasts in nodule size and abundance are sensitive to sedimentation rates, which in turn, are controlled by small-scale variations in seafloor topography and bottom-water current intensity.     

Holothuroidea (Echinodermata) of the Peru Basin - Ecological and Taxonomic Remarks Based on Underwater Images

The megabenthos plays an important role in the abyssal ecosystem. The holothuroids have been proposed as indicators of physical disturbance of the seabed caused, for example, by commercial deep-sea mining of manganese nodules. Environmental studies at seabed mining claims have resulted in numerous still photographs that provide an overview of the megabenthos in manganese nodule fields. Data from these investigations and from the large-scale disturbance and recolonization experiment DISCOL have been used to summarize knowledge of the taxonomy and ecology of holothurians at manganese nodule sites.     

Environment and Deep-Sea Mining: A Perspective

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.     

东太平洋多金属结核的叠层石包壳及其沉积环境意义

对东太平洋C-C区深海多金属结核的叠层石包壳、多金属结核的表面类型及其分布规律进行了详细研究和合理解释,认为叠层石的形态学特征既是建造叠层石的微生物种类差异的表现,也是环境水动力条件和溶解氧含量不同的反映,这些因素共同决定了多金属结核的表面类型,而南极底流是造成海底水体能量环境、氧化还原电位和微生物种类变化的根本原因.为多金属结核的分布规律和成矿预测提供科学依据.     

中国开辟区多金属结核粒径分析及其意义

为了便于多金属结核的开采、结核分布规律的探讨和矿藏储量计算,对DY85-4航次所取得的多金属结核抽样样品进行了逐个三轴粒径测量和称量工作,并进行了统计分析和分形研究,得到了多金属结核的粒径统计分布规律。从而为集矿机的设计提供了科学依据。     

An Image Analysis Technique for Exploration of Manganese Nodules

In order to develop the mineral resources contained in manganese nodules of the deep sea, the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (KORDI) has explored the area allocated by the United Nations in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone in the northeastern Pacific. During research cruises, the seabed surface was photographed every 30 s by the KORDI Deep Tow Imaging System (DTIS). Features such as the coverage and size distribution of manganese nodules on the photographs serve as the essential information to determine the potential mining areas. This article presents (semi)automatic procedures to extract the useful features from the photographs of the seabed surface using digital image processing techniques. The 35-mm films are first digitized by the film scanner. The depth information written on the film is then recognized to compensate for distortions due to nonuniform illumination. The nodule areas on the digitized image are recognized and separated from the background based on the characteristics of the nodules. The nodule coverage and distribution of nodule diameters are then calculated from the processed image. The proposed technique has been applied to sample photographs of the seabed surface. Experimental results indicate that the technique could be utilized as an efficient tool to process the massive collection of photographs of the seabed surface.     

深海采矿潜在环境影响因素及监测技术体系研究

目前深海采矿潜在的生态环境影响引起来了广泛关注,文章针对工业化深海金属矿产资源开采潜在的环境影响监测评估需要,系统地总结了深海铁锰多金属结核、铁锰富钴结壳以多金属硫化物等主要深海资源的基本产状,分析了“物质迁移-羽流产生-声光电磁噪声-耗氧-有毒物质释放”等主流采矿工艺潜在的环境影响因素,基于深海采矿生态环境影响评估调查研究的技术需求,从实施深海采矿环境监测实验工程、建立深海重大装备系统、发展原位监测传感器等方面提出了深海采矿环境监测技术体系建设构架,以期为我国深海采矿生态环境监测保护技术发展提供借鉴。     

Deep-sea Polymetallic Nodule Mining: Challenges Ahead for Technologists and Environmentalists

Although, offshore mining for mineral wealth is not required at present, it may be the only alternative in the future due to the continuous growing demand for certain metals that have no or limited land deposits. Risk involved in deep-sea mining is not less than that in space missions. Limited groups of mining engineers and environmental scientists are conducting studies that influence the development of mining systems and subsystems for collection, screening, lifting, and transportation of deep-sea minerals. Accepting this challenge more than 20 years ago, the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, started surveys and exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Indian Ocean and was the first to receive "Pioneer Status" recognition from the United Nations. Experiments have also been conducted to study the potential impacts of deep-seabed mining.     

Factors regulating the distribution of elements in marine sediments predicted by a simulation model

The contents of oxyanionic elements (V, Se and Mo) and cationic transition metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) in sediments from near-shore to deep-sea environments were measured to clarify factors regulating the distribution of these elements in marine sediments. For cationic transition metals of which contents increase from near-shore to deep-sea environments, the chemical composition of pelagic clays is modeled by a mixture of aluminosilicates having the chemical composition of average shale and Fe–Mn oxides having the chemical composition of associated manganese nodules. The content of V is fairly constant in sediments from near-shore to deep-sea areas. The mixture model of average shale and manganese nodules holds also for V, although most of the V is located in the aluminosilicate lattices. The content of Se in the near-shore sediments is higher and that in the deep-sea sediments is lower than that in average shale. The high content in the near-shore sediments is interpreted as the addition of biogenic materials to aluminosilicates with average shale composition and the low content in deep-sea sediments is explained by oxidative release of Se from aluminosilicates. The content of Mo in sediments increases from near-shore to deep-sea environments. The general distribution of Mo in marine sediments is expressed by the mixture model. An anomalously high content of Mo in a near-shore sediment is attributed to adsorption of molybdate on manganese oxides.     

The incorporation of minor transition metals into marine manganese nodules

The mechanisms of incorporation of minor transition metals into marine manganese nodules are discussed on the basis of differential chemical leaching.A small portion of iron and manganese in deep-sea nodules was dissolved in dilute acetic acid. Hydrogenous cobalt and nickel in nodules were also slightly leached with the acid solution, while 50–60 % of hydrogenous copper and zinc were leached. This difference suggests that the greater parts of hydrogenous cobalt and nickel are present in the lattices of manganese oxide phases, while the major parts of hydrogenous copper and zinc are present in the sorption sites of manganese oxide phases.The enrichment of minor transition metals in manganese nodules may be controlled by their substitution for manganese atoms in manganese oxide lattices after their sorption on manganese oxide phases.     

深海多金属结核物理特性及其对采输过程的影响概述

文章旨在确定深海多金属结核的物理特性,并分析其对采输过程的影响,以指导工程应用。总结了深海多金属结核开采的最新研究进展,通过对数据进行统计整理、回归分析,确定了结核形成机理及主要成分、在海底的分布特性、结核形态及构造、结核尺寸与重量关系、含水量、密度、孔隙特性及结核强度等关键物理特性。研究表明：结核形状多样,质松多孔隙,含水率高,近似均匀分布在海床上或浅泥层中。颗粒质量和尺寸联合概率分布具有长右尾特性,需使用更广义的联合概率密度函数copula才能准确建模。结核抗拉强度随结核直径增大按对数函数递减。此外,深海高压环境下结核的开采需更多能耗,且结核表现出更高的延性。结合固液两相流分析和颗粒沉降理论,分析了结核形状、尺寸、密度等主要参数对水力举升过程的影响,确定了颗粒破碎的主要方式和规律,总结了不同粒径级配输运造成堵塞的可能原因。     

中太平洋海盆表层沉积物类型及其主要受控因素

本文通过对中太平洋海盆４０多个表层沉积物的分析和研究，根据沉积物中各组分含量、物质来源和成因等特征，把本区表层沉积物分为六种类型。它们分布在不同区域和不同水深范围内。钙质沉积物分布在碳酸钙补偿深度（ＣＣＤ）界面以浅区。硅质粘土、深海粘土等沉积物出现在ＣＣＤ以下水深区，这些沉积物的分布具有明显的垂向分带性和横向分区性。沉积物类型的变化主要受水深与物质来源的控制，南极底层流也有一定的影响。在不同的沉积物中锰结核的丰度、品位、类型等亦有明显的差异。