Deep sea mining

Short description: Mineral extraction from the ocean floor

Schematic of a polymetallic nodule mining operation. From top to bottom, the three zoom-in panels illustrate the surface operation vessel, the midwater sediment plume, and the nodule collector operating on the seabed. The midwater plume comprises two stages: (i) the dynamic plume, in which the sediment-laden discharge water rapidly descends and dilutes to a neutral buoyancy depth, and (ii) the subsequent ambient plume that is advected by the ocean current and subject to background turbulence and settling. (MIT/2021)

Deep sea mining is the extraction of minerals from the ocean floor found at depths of 200 metres (660 ft)[1][2] to 6,500 metres (21,300 ft).[3][4][5] As of 2021, the majority of marine mining efforts were limited to shallow coastal waters, where sand, tin and diamonds are more readily accessible.[6] It is a growing subfield of experimental seabed mining. Three types of deep sea mining have generated interest: polymetallic nodule mining, polymetallic sulfide mining, and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.[7] The majority of proposed deep sea mining sites are near polymetallic nodules or active and extinct hydrothermal vents at 1,400 to 3,700 metres (4,600 to 12,100 ft) depth.[8] The vents create globular or "massive" sulfide deposits that contain valuable metals such as silver, gold, copper, manganese, cobalt, and zinc.[9][10] The deposits are mined using hydraulic pumps or bucket systems that carry ore to the surface for processing.

Marine minerals include sea-dredged and seabed minerals. Sea-dredged minerals are normally extracted by dredging operations within coastal zones, at depths of about 200 m. Minerals normally extracted from these depths include sand, silt and mud for construction purposes, mineral rich sands such as ilmenite and diamonds.[11]

The environmental impact of deep sea mining is disputed.[12][13] Environmental advocacy groups such as Greenpeace and the Deep Sea Mining Campaign[14] have argued against seabed mining because of the potential for damage to deep sea ecosystems and pollution by heavy metal-laden plumes.[9] Environmental activists and state leaders have called for moratoriums[15][16] or permanent bans.[17] Anti-seabed mining campaigns have won the support of industry, including some increasingly reliant on the metals such mining can provide. Individual countries[which?] with significant deposits of seabed minerals within their large exclusive economic zones (EEZ's) are making their own decisions pertaining to deep sea mining, exploring how to minimize environmental damage,[18] or deciding not to proceed.[19] Some companies are attempting to build deep sea mining equipment that preserves marine habitats.[20][non-primary source needed]

As of 2022, no commercial deep sea mining was underway. However, the International Seabed Authority granted 19 exploration licenses for polymetallic nodules within the Clarion Clipperton Zone.[21] In 2022 the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) granted 3 exploration licenses for polymetallic nodules within their EEZ.[22]

At some point, mining could proceed at a range of scales within the oceans. Related technologies could involve robotic mining machines, as well as surface ships, and onshore metal refineries.[23][24]

Wind farms, solar energy, electric cars, and improved battery technologies use a high volume and wide range of metals including "green" or "critical" metals, many of which are in relatively short supply. Seabed mining could provide many of these metals.[23]

## Contents

* 1 Sites
* 2 Minerals
* 3 Projects
* 4 Extraction methods
* 5 Process
* 6 Environmental impacts
* 6.1 Marine life
* 6.2 Sediment plumes
* 6.3 Noise and light pollution
* 7 Laws and regulations
* 8 History
* 8.1 2020s
* 9 Protests
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## Sites

Ocean mining sites focus on large areas of polymetallic nodules or active and extinct hydrothermal vents at about 3,000 – 6,500 meters deep.[25][8] The vents create sulfide deposits, which collect metals such as silver, gold, copper, manganese, cobalt, and zinc.[9][10] The deposits are mined using hydraulic pumps or bucket systems.

An additional site that is being explored and looked at as a potential deep sea mining site is the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ). The CCZ stretches over 4.5 million square kilometers of the Northern Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico.[26] Scattered across the abyssal plain are trillions of polymetallic nodules, potato-sized rocklike deposits containing minerals such as magnesium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, and others.[26]

Polymetallic nodules are also abundant in the Central Indian Ocean Basin and the Peru Basin.[27]

Papua New Guinea was the first country to approve a DSM permit, to Solwara 1. This was despite three independent reviews of the environmental impact statement mine alleged significant gaps and flaws in the underlying science.[28]

## Minerals

Seabed minerals are mostly located at depths of 1–6 km comprise three main types:[29]:356

* Polymetallic or manganese nodules are found at depths of 4-6 km, largely on abyssal plains.[30] Manganese and related hydroxides precipitate from ocean water or sediment-pore water around a nucleus, which may be a shark’s tooth or a quartz grain, forming potato-shaped nodules some 4–14 cm in diameter. They accrete at rates of 1–15 mm per million years. These nodules are rich in elements including rare earths, cobalt, nickel, copper, molybdenum, lithium, and yttrium. The largest deposits occur in the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawaii in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone. The Cook Islands contains the world’s fourth largest deposit in the South Penrhyn basin close to the Manihiki Plateau.[31]
* Polymetallic or seabed sulfide deposits form in active oceanic tectonic settings such as island arcs and back-arcs and mid ocean ridge environments.[32] These deposits are associated with hydrothermal activity and hydrothermal vents at sea depths mostly between 1 and 4 km. These minerals are rich in copper, gold, lead, silver and others. They are found within the Mid Atlantic Ridge system, around Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Tonga and other similar ocean environments.[29]:356
* Cobalt-rich crusts (CRC’s) form on sediment-free rock surfaces around oceanic seamounts, ocean plateaus, and other elevated features.[33] The deposits are found at depths of 600–7000 m and form ‘carpets’ of polymetallic rich layers about 30 cm thick at the feature surface. Crusts are rich in a range of metals including cobalt, tellurium, nickel, copper, platinum, zirconium, tungsten, and rare earth elements. They are found on seamounts in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as countries such as the Pacific Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Kiribati.[29]:356

Example of manganese nodule that can be found on the sea floor

Minerals and related depths[8] Type of mineral deposit  | Average Depth  | Resources found

|
|

Polymetallic nodules

Manganese nodule

| 4,000 – 6,000 m  | Nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese
Manganese crusts  | 800 – 2,400 m  | Mainly cobalt, some vanadium, molybdenum and platinum
Sulfide deposits  | 1,400 – 3,700 m  | Copper, lead and zinc some gold and silver

Diamonds are mined from the seabed by De Beers and others.

Cobalt-rich ferromanganese formations are found at various depths between 400 and 7000 meters. These formations are a type of Manganese crust deposit. The substrates consist of layered iron and magnesium ( Fe-Mn oxyhydroxide deposits ) that host mineralization.[34]

Cobalt-rich ferromanganese formations exist in two categories depending on the depositional environment:

* hydrogenetic cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts
* hydrothermal crusts and encrustations.

Temperature, depth and seawater sources are dependent variables that shape how the formations grow. Hydrothermal crusts precipitate quickly, near 1600–1800 mm/Ma and grow in hydrothermal fluids at approximately 200 °C. Hydrogenetic crusts grow much slower at 1–5 mm/Ma, but offer higher concentrations of critical metals.[35]

Submarine seamount provinces, linked to hotspots and seafloor spreading, vary in depth along the ocean floor. These seamounts show characteristic distributions that connect them to cobalt-rich ferromanganese formation. In the Western Pacific, a study conducted at <1500 m to 3500 mbsl reported that cobalt crusts are concentrated in seamount sections on less than 20° slopes. The high-grade cobalt crust in the Western Pacific trended /correlated with latitude and longitude, a region within 150°E‐140°W and 30°S‐30°N[36]

Polymetallic sulphides are available for extraction from seafloor massive sulfide deposits, composed on and within the seafloor base when mineralized water discharges from a hydrothermal vent. The hot, mineral-rich water precipitates and condenses when it meets cold seawater.[37] The stock area of the chimney structures of hydrothermal vents can be highly mineralized.

Polymetallic nodules/manganese nodules are found on abyssal plains, in a range of sizes, some as large as 15 cm long. Nodules are recorded to have average growth rates near 10–20 mm/Ma.[37]

The Clipperton Fracture Zone hosts the largest untapped deposit nickel resource; polymetallic or manganese nodules sit on the seafloor. These nodules require no drilling or excavation.[38] Nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese make up nearly 100% of the nodules.[38]

## Projects

The world's first large-scale mining of hydrothermal vent mineral deposits was carried out by Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) from August - September, 2017,[39] using the research vessel Hakurei,[40] at the 'Izena hole/cauldron' vent field within the hydrothermally active back-arc Okinawa Trough, which contains 15 confirmed vent fields according to the InterRidge Vents Database.[41]

The first of its kind, the Solwara 1 Project was the first case where a legitimate legal contract and framework had been developed on deep sea mining.[42] The project was based off the coast of Papua New Guinea, near the New Ireland province. The Solwara 1 Project was a joint venture between the Papua New Guinean government and Nautilus Minerals Inc., where both the company and country had financial stake in the project. More specifically, Nautilus Minerals held 70% stake in the Solwara 1 project, and the Papua New Guinean Government purchased a 30% stake in 2011.[43] Papua New Guinea's government and economy heavily rely upon the mining industry, as around 30-35% of the country’s GDP is derived from mining minerals like copper and gold, so this project was supposed to help Papua New Guinea's economy grow and expand the already defined mining sector.[44] Nautilus Minerals is a Canadian company based in Vancouver with the goal of expanding and tapping into the untouched field of deep-sea mining.[42] The Solwara 1 project became a reality in January 2011, when Papua New Guinea's Minister for Mining, John Pundari, signed and awarded the first "exploration license" to Nautilus Ltd.[42] This legal agreement signed by both the government and the company, leased out a portion of the seabed off the coast of Papua New Guinea in the Bismarck Sea.[45] The lease itself covered an area of 59 square kilometers in the Bismarck Sea, where Nautilus was allowed to mine to a depth of 1,600 meters with the intention of extracting essential resources for a period of 20 years.[45][44] The signing of the exploration license did not immediately begin the physical mining, but rather it began the process of gathering the materials and raising money for the expensive equipment, ships, and all other necessary materials required to mine at the seabed.[46] Nautilus Ltd. was granted a mining permit for the Solwara 1 project to begin mining a high grade copper-gold resource from a weakly active hydrothermal vent.[47] More specifically, Nautilus Ltd. sought to extract a total of 1.3 tons of materials, consisting of 80,000 tons of high-grade copper and 150,000 to 200,000 ounces of gold sulfide ore, over the course of 3 years.[44] This project generated backlash from community and environmental activists[15] The Deep Sea Mining Campaign[48] and Alliance of Solwara Warriors, comprising 20 communities in the Bismarck and Solomon Seas are seeking to ban seabed mining in Papua New Guinea and across the Pacific. Their campaign against the Solwara 1 project lasted for 9 years, led by activists, NGOs, and various groups of individuals proved successful in their efforts to have the government place a ban on seabed mining in the Northern Territory, Australia.[49] In June 2019, the Alliance of Solwara Warriors wrote a joint letter to the Papua New Guinea government calling for them to cancel all the deep sea mining licenses and ban seabed mining in national waters as a whole.[49] They believed that Papua New Guinea had no need for seabed mining due to being blessed with abundant fisheries, productive agricultural lands, and marine life.[49] They held the strong belief that seabed mining benefited only a small number of people who were already wealthy, and it would not bring prosperity to the local communities and Indigenous ways of life.[49] This was one form of activism displayed in the wake of the Solwara 1 project, but many chose to engage in more artistic forms, such as Hawaiian artist and ocean activist, Joy Enomoto.[50] Enomoto created a series of woodcut prints titled Nautilus the Protector. The activist community primarily argue that DSM decision-making has not adequately addressed Free Prior and Informed Consent for affected communities and have not adhered to the precautionary principle.[51] The project operated at 1600 mbsl in the Bismarck Sea, New Ireland Province.[47] Using remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) technology developed by UK-based Soil Machine Dynamics, Nautilus Minerals Inc. announced plans to begin full-scale mining.[52] However, before the company could begin scheduled operations in 2019, Nautilus Minerals began facing financial difficulties in December 2017. The company had difficulties in raising the money needed to construct the incredibly expensive equipment required for the mining process, and eventually the company could no longer pay the money it owed to Chinese shipyard owners where the “production support vessel” being built for the project was docked.[43] This resulted in Nautilus losing access to the ship and all the equipment on board. Following, the Chinese shipbuilders chose to try and sell the ship to an Indian company, but the sale did not go through due to the specialized mining equipment on board.[43] Later on down the line in August 2019, the company filed for bankruptcy, delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the board eventually voted for the company and its assets to all be liquidated by September that same year.[53] This ended up costing the Papua New Guinea government over $120 million dollars in losses.[43] Following the dissolution of Nautilus Minerals Ltd., the company was purchased by Deep Sea Mining Finance LTD and, interestingly enough, the Papua New Guinean government has yet to break the existing extraction license contract.

In the 1970s Shell, Rio Tinto (Kennecott) and Sumitomo conducted pilot test work, recovering over ten thousand tons of nodules in the CCZ.[54] Mining claims registered with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) are mostly located in the CCZ, most commonly in the manganese nodule province.[8] As of 2019 the ISA had entered into 18 contracts with private companies and national governments in the CCZ.[27]

In 2019, the government of the Cook Islands passed two deep sea mining laws. The Sea Bed Minerals (SBM) Act of 2019 "enable the effective and responsible management of the seabed minerals of the Cook Islands in a way that also...seeks to maximize the benefits of seabed minerals for present and future generations of Cook Islanders."[55] Sea Bed Minerals (Exploration) Regulations Act and the Sea Bed Minerals Amendment Act were passed by Parliament in 2020 and 2021, respectively.[56] As much as 12 billion tons of polymetallic nodules occupy the ocean floor in the Cook Islands EEZ.[57]

On November 10, 2020, the Chinese submersible Fendouzhe (Striver) reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench 10,909 meters (35,790 feet). Chief designer Ye Cong said the seabed was abundant with resources and a "treasure map" can be made.[58]

Promising sulfide deposits (an average of 26 parts per million) were found in the Central and Eastern Manus Basin around PNG and the crater of Conical Seamount to the east. It offers relatively shallow water depth of 1050 m, along with the close proximity of a gold processing plant.[10]

In 2023, a Canadian company, The Mining Company, partnered with a Micronesian island to start mining.[59]

## Extraction methods

Robotics and AI technologies are under development.[20]

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are used to collect mineral samples from prospective sites. Using drills and other cutting tools, the ROVs obtain samples. A mining ship or station is set up to mine the area.[52]

The continuous-line bucket system (CLB) is the older approach. It operates like a conveyor-belt, running from the bottom to the surface where a ship or mining platform extracts the minerals, and returns the tailings to the ocean.[60] Hydraulic suction mining instead lowers a pipe to the seafloor and pumps nodules up to the ship. Another pipe returns the tailings to the mining site.[60]

## Process

During prospecting, exploration and resource assessment phases, value is added to intangible assets. In the intermediate phase – the pilot mining test – enables “resources” to attain the “reserves” classification.[61]

The exploration phase involves operations such as bottom scanning and sampling using technologies such as echo-sounders, side scan sonars, deep-towed photography, ROVs, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV).

Mining involves gathering material, vertical transport, storing, offloading, transport, and metallurgical processing.

Polymetallic minerals require special treatment. Issues include spatial tailing discharges, sediment plumes, disturbance to the benthic environment, and analysis of regions affected by seafloor machines.[61]

## Environmental impacts

Deep sea mining (like all mining) must consider potential its environmental impacts. Deep sea mining has yet to receive a comprehensive evaluation of such impacts.

Environmental impacts include sediment plumes, disturbance of the bottom, tailing disposition,

Technology is under development to mitigate these issues. This includes selective pick-up technology that does not pick up nodules that contain life and leaves behind some nodules to maintain the habitat.[20]

However, some experts claim that mining will disturb the benthic layer, increase toxicity of the water column, and produce sediment plumes.[9] Removing parts of the sea floor disturbs the habitat of benthic organisms.[8] Aside from mining's direct impact, leakage, spills, and corrosion could alter the habitat.

Sediment plumes have attracted the most attention. Plumes are caused when mine tailings (usually fine particles) are returned to the ocean, leaving a floating cloud of particles. The two types of plumes are near-bottom plumes and surface plumes.[8] Near-bottom plumes occur when tailings are returned to the bottom. Particles increase the turbidity, or cloudiness, of the water, clogging filter-feeding organisms.[62] Surface plumes can spread over vast areas, inhibiting growth of photosynthesizing organisms, including coral and phytoplankton.[8][63]

Opponents point to the grave and irreversible damage mining could cause to fragile deep sea ecosystems.[64] Fauna and Flora International and World Wide Fund for Nature, broadcaster David Attenborough, and companies such as BMW, Google, Volvo Cars, and Samsung called for a moratorium.[65][66]

### Marine life

Polymetallic nodule fields are hotspots of abundance and diversity for highly vulnerable abyssal fauna.[67] Because deep sea mining is a relatively new field, the full consequences of mining this ecosystem are unknown.

Concerns about impacts on marine life include:

* removal of parts of the sea floor disrupt the benthic layer.[8] Preliminary studies indicated that the seabed requires decades to recover from minor disturbances.[68]
* increased toxicity of the water column
* sediment plumes from tailings.[9][67]
* leakage, spills, and corrosion inject potentially toxic materials into the water column

Nodule fields provide hard substrate on the pelagic red clay bottom, attracting macrofauna. A baseline study of benthic communities in the CCZ assessed a 350 square mile area with an ROV. They reported that the area contained one of the most diverse abyssal plain megafaunal communities.[69] The megafauna (species longer than 20 mm (0.79 in)) included glass sponges, anemones, eyeless fish, sea stars, psychropotes, amphipods, and isopods.[69] Macrofauna (species longer than 0.5mm) were reported to have high local species diversity, numbering 80 -100 per square meter. The highest species diversity was found among polymetallic nodules.[69] In a follow-up survey, researchers identified over 1,000 species, 90% previously unknown, with over 50% dependent on polymetallic nodules for survival; all were identified in areas with potential for seabed mining.[69]

However, biomass loss stemming from deep sea mining was estimated to be significantly smaller than that from land ore mining.[70] It is estimated that land ore mining will lead to a loss of 568 megatons of biomass (approximately the same as that of the entire human population)[71] versus 42 megatons of biomass from DSM. In addition, land ore mining will lead to a loss of 47 trillion megafauna organisms, whereas deep-sea mining is expected to lead to a loss of 3 trillion megafauna organisms. Another report reported that deep sea mining is approximately 25 times worse for biodiversity than land mining.[72]

### Sediment plumes

Sediment plumes are caused when the tailings from mining (usually fine particles) are discharged into the ocean, creating a cloud of particles. Plumes are discharged either at the bottom or at the surface.[8]

Near-bottom plumes occur when the tailings are pumped back down to the mining site. The particles increase the turbidity, or cloudiness, of the water, clogging filter-feeding apparatus used by benthic organisms.[62]

Surface plumes cause a more serious problem. Depending particle size and water currents, surface plumes could spread widely.[8][60] Sunlight penetrates less deeply, impacts photosynthesizers such as zooplankton, in turn affecting the food web. Sediment can be resuspend following storms, causing further damage. Metals carried by the plumes can accumulate in tissues of shellfish.[73] This bioaccumulation works its way through the food web, impacting predators, including humans.

### Noise and light pollution

Deep sea mining generates ambient noise in normally-quiet pelagic environments. Anthropogenic noise affects deep sea fish species and marine mammals. Impacts include behavior changes, communication difficulties, and temporary and permanent hearing damage.[74]

DSM sites are normally pitch dark. Mining efforts may drastically increase light levels. Shrimp found at hydrothermal vents suffered permanent retinal damage when exposed to floodlights from submersibles.[74] Behavioral changes include vertical migration patterns, ability to communicate, and ability to detect prey.[75]

## Laws and regulations

Deep-sea mining is not governed by one unique and universal legal framework, but various legal norms and regulations developed both at an international level and within different countries. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets the overarching framework. The Area and its’ natural resources are under international regulations overseen by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), while continental shelves are subject to national jurisdiction of the coastal states.

The Area is governed by a complex international regime with various treaties and regulations, based on the principles within UNCLOS (1982): outlined in Part XI and Annexes III and IV and found in the Implementation Agreement of 1994 and regulations issued by the ISA. The ISA’s issued regulations are divided into categories defined by the type of mineral explored, currently consisting of three categories: polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. The fundamental overarching characteristic of the Area is that it is ‘common heritage of all mankind’, which means that its’ natural resources can only be prospected, explored and exploited in accordance to international regulations and that profits from these materials must be shared.

There are three stages of activities regarding deep-sea mining: prospecting, exploration and exploitation. Prospecting entails searching for minerals and estimating their size, shape and value, this does not require approval from the ISA and can be done by notifying the approximate area and a formal written condition of compliance with UNCLOS and ISA regulations. Exploration, which implies exclusive rights to look for mineral deposits in a specific zone analyses the resources, testing potential recovery and potential economic/environmental impacts of their extraction, this phase requires ISA approval. In the case of exploitation, which means the recovery of these resources for commercial uses, both states and private entities need an approved contract from the ISA, which is evaluated by its Legal and Technical Commission (LTC).[76] Based on the LTC’s evaluation the ISA Council will approve or reject the application. In the case of approval the contract creates an exclusive right to prospect, explore and exploit resources. Exploration contracts can last up to 15 years, extendable thereafter for periods up to 5 years[77] and the zones covered are large: 150.000 km2 (polymetallic nodules), 10.000 km2 (polymetallic sulphides) and 3.000 km2 (cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts).

While the Area is primarily regulated by international law national regulations do play a role, as non-state actors who wish to submit an application to prospect, explore and exploit the deep-seabed must be backed by a sponsoring state which is held responsible and guarantees that the non-state actor abides by the ISA's contract and UNCLOS regulations. Sponsorship is defined by national law, which stipulates conditions, procedures, measures, fees and sanctions for non-state actor involvement.

Continental Shelves are delineated at 200 nautical-miles from the coast but can be extended up to 350 nautical-miles. The continental shelf falls under coastal state jurisdiction, which has sovereign rights over natural resources within its delineated zone. This means that no other state or non-state actor can prospect/explore/exploit resources in a continental shelf without the consent of the coastal state. If a coastal state allows deep-sea mining activities within its' own continental shelf it is done through the attribution of licenses with conditions and procedures defined within state legislation.

International law influences state legislation within continental shelves as all states are obliged to protect and preserve the marine environment. All states must evaluate the ecological effects of deep-sea mining within their national jurisdiction as it could cause significant levels of pollution. States must also ensure that deep-sea mining activities do not damage other states' environment and pollution cannot spread beyond the one state's jurisdiction. A contractor must also make mandatory contributions to the ISA for mineral exploitation on an extended continental shelf as this extension impacts the ‘common heritage of mankind’ as it cute into what was previously the Area.

A DSM moratorium was adopted at the Global biodiversity summit in 2021.[78] At the 2023 ISA meeting a DSM moratorium was enacted.[59]

The United States did not ratify UNCLOS. Instead, it is governed by the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, which was originally enacted in 1980.[79]

New Zealand's Foreshore and Seabed Act was enacted in 2004 and then repealed following Māori objections, who protested the Act as a "sea grab". The Act was replaced with the 2011 Marine and Coastal Area Bill.[80][50]

## History

In the 1960s, the prospect of deep-sea mining was assessed in J. L. Mero's Mineral Resources of the Sea.[10] Nations including France , Germany and the United States dispatched research vessels in search of deposits. Initial estimates of DSM viability were exaggerated. Depressed metal prices led to the near abandonment of nodule mining by 1982. From the 1960s to 1984 an estimated US $650 million was spent on the venture, with little to no return.[10]

A 2018 article argued that "the 'new global gold rush' of deep sea mining shares many features with past resource scrambles – including a general disregard for environmental and social impacts, and the marginalisation of indigenous peoples and their rights".[81][82]

### 2020s

This section is an excerpt from Timeline of sustainable energy research 2020–present § Seabed mining[ edit ]

## Protests

In December 2023, deep sea mining exploration vessel The Coco was disrupted by Greenpeace activists seeking to block the collection of data to file for a mining permit in the Pacific Ocean.[83] Obstructing canoes and dinghies were countered by water hoses. The mining ship is owned by Canadian-based The Metals Company.[83]

## See also

* Social:Blue justice
* Manganese Nodules - Mineral concretion on the sea bottom made of concentric layers of iron/manganese hydroxides, concretions of manganese and other minerals formed over thousands of years on the abyssal plains; sought after for deep sea mining projects.
* Earth:Clipperton Fracture Zone - Fracture zone of the Pacific Ocean seabed, location of interest for deep sea mining
* Biology:Human impact on marine life
* Earth:Ocean colonization - Type of ocean claim
* Earth:Ocean development - Establishing of human activities at sea and use of the ocean
* Deepsea mining in Namibia

## References

1. ↑ "Seabed Mining" (in en-US). 2010-08-07. https://oceanfdn.org/seabed-mining/.
2. ↑ "SPC-EU Deep Sea Minerals Project - Publications and Reports". https://dsm.gsd.spc.int/index.php/publications-and-reports.
3. ↑ SITNFlash (2019-09-26). "The Next Gold Rush: Mining in the deep sea" (in en-US). https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/next-gold-rush-mining-deep-sea/.
4. ↑ Poston, Jonathan. "Deeperminers" (in en). https://deeperminers.com/.
5. ↑ Nascimento, Decio. "Council Post: Could Deep-Sea Mining Rescue The Future Of The Renewable Transition?" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2022/11/21/could-deep-sea-mining-rescue-the-future-of-the-renewable-transition/.
6. ↑ "Seabed Mining" (in en-US). 2010-08-07. https://oceanfdn.org/seabed-mining/.
7. ↑ "Exploration Contracts | International Seabed Authority". https://www.isa.org.jm/index.php/exploration-contracts.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Ahnert, A.; Borowski, C. (2000). "Environmental risk assessment of anthropogenic activity in the deep-sea". Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 7 (4): 299–315. doi:10.1023/A:1009963912171.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Halfar, Jochen; Fujita, Rodney M. (18 May 2007). "Danger of Deep-Sea Mining". Science 316 (5827): 987. doi:10.1126/science.1138289.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Glasby, G. P. (28 July 2000). "Lessons Learned from Deep-Sea Mining". Science 289 (5479): 551–553. doi:10.1126/science.289.5479.551. PMID 17832066.
11. ↑ John J. Gurney, Alfred A. Levinson, and H. Stuart Smith (1991) Marine mining of diamonds off the West Coast of Southern Africa, Gems & Gemology, p. 206
12. ↑ Kim, Rakhyun E. (August 2017). "Should deep seabed mining be allowed?". Marine Policy 82: 134–137. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2017.05.010.
13. ↑ Costa, Corrado; Fanelli, Emanuela; Marini, Simone; Danovaro, Roberto; Aguzzi, Jacopo (2020). "Global Deep-Sea Biodiversity Research Trends Highlighted by Science Mapping Approach". Frontiers in Marine Science 7: 384. doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00384.
14. ↑ Rosenbaum, Dr. Helen (November 2011). "Out of Our Depth: Mining the Ocean Floor in Papua New Guinea". MiningWatch Canada, CELCoR, Packard Foundation. http://www.deepseaminingoutofourdepth.org/report/.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Collapse of PNG deep-sea mining venture sparks calls for moratorium" (in en). 2019-09-15. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/16/collapse-of-png-deep-sea-mining-venture-sparks-calls-for-moratorium.
16. ↑ "David Attenborough calls for ban on 'devastating' deep sea mining" (in en). 2020-03-12. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/12/david-attenborough-calls-for-ban-on-devastating-deep-sea-mining.
17. ↑ "Google, BMW, Volvo, and Samsung SDI sign up to WWF call for temporary ban on deep-sea mining" (in en). Reuters. 2021-03-31. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mining-deepsea-idUSKBN2BN0I6.
18. ↑ "SPC-EU Deep Sea Minerals Project - Home". https://dsm.gsd.spc.int/.
19. ↑ "The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has refused an application by Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (CRP)". 2015. https://deepwatergroup.org/epa-refuses-marine-consent-application-by-chatham-rock-phosphate-ltd/.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Impossible Mining". https://impossiblemining.com/.
21. ↑ "Exploration Contracts | International Seabed Authority". https://isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts.
22. ↑ "Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority - Map". https://www.sbma.gov.ck/map-of-applications.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 SPC (2013). Deep Sea Minerals: Deep Sea Minerals and the Green Economy . Baker, E., and Beaudoin, Y. (Eds.) Vol. 2, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
24. ↑ "Breaking Free From Mining". https://seas-at-risk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Breaking-Free-From-Mining.pdf.
25. ↑ Beaudoin, Yannick; Baker, Elaine. Deep Sea Minerals: Manganese Nodules, a physical, biological, environmental, and technical review (Vol. 1B ed.). Secretariat of the Pacific Community. p. 8. https://dsm.gsd.spc.int/public/files/meetings/TrainingWorkshop4/UNEP_vol1B.pdf. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "The Clarion-Clipperton Zone". 15 December 2017. http://pew.org/2o4se1P.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Minerals: Polymetallic Nodules | International Seabed Authority". https://www.isa.org.jm/exploration-contracts/polymetallic-nodules.
28. ↑ "Campaign Reports | Deep Sea Mining: Out Of Our Depth" (in en-US). 2011-11-19. http://www.deepseaminingoutofourdepth.org/report/.
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Petterson, Michael G.; Kim, Hyeon-Ju; Gill, Joel C. (2021). "Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas, and Marine Resources". Geosciences and the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development Goals Series. pp. 339–367. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-38815-7_14. ISBN 978-3-030-38814-0.
30. ↑ SPC (2013). Deep Sea Minerals: Manganese Nodules, a physical, biological, environmental, and technical review . Baker, E., and Beaudoin, Y. (Eds.) Vol. 1B, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
31. ↑ Petterson, Michael G.; Tawake, Akuila (January 2019). "The Cook Islands (South Pacific) experience in governance of seabed manganese nodule mining". Ocean & Coastal Management 167: 271–287. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.09.010. Bibcode: 2019OCM...167..271P.
32. ↑ SPC (2013). Deep Sea Minerals: Sea-Floor Massive Sulphides, a physical, biological, environmental, and technical review . Baker, E., and Beaudoin, Y. (Eds.) Vol. 1A, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
33. ↑ SPC (2013). Deep Sea Minerals: Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts, a physical, biological, environmental, and technical review . Baker, E. and Beaudoin, Y. (Eds.) Vol. 1C, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
34. ↑ Maciąg, Łukasz; Zawadzki, Dominik; Kozub-Budzyń, Gabriela A.; Piestrzyński, Adam; Kotliński, Ryszard A.; Wróbel, Rafał J. (29 January 2019). "Mineralogy of Cobalt-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts from the Perth Abyssal Plain (E Indian Ocean)". Minerals 9 (2): 84. doi:10.3390/min9020084. Bibcode: 2019Mine....9...84M.
35. ↑ Hein, James R.; Mizell, Kira; Koschinsky, Andrea; Conrad, Tracey A. (June 2013). "Deep-ocean mineral deposits as a source of critical metals for high- and green-technology applications: Comparison with land-based resources". Ore Geology Reviews 51: 1–14. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2012.12.001. Bibcode: 2013OGRv...51....1H.
36. ↑ Fuyuan, Zhang; Weiyan, Zhang; Kechao, Zhu; Shuitu, Gao; Haisheng, Zhang; Xiaoyu, Zhang; Benduo, Zhu (August 2008). "Distribution Characteristics of Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crust Resources on Submarine Seamounts in the Western Pacific". Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition 82 (4): 796–803. doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2008.tb00633.x. Bibcode: 2008AcGlS..82..796Z.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Gollner, Sabine; Kaiser, Stefanie; Menzel, Lena; Jones, Daniel O.B.; Brown, Alastair; Mestre, Nelia C.; van Oevelen, Dick; Menot, Lenaick et al. (August 2017). "Resilience of benthic deep-sea fauna to mining activities". Marine Environmental Research 129: 76–101. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.04.010. PMID 28487161. Bibcode: 2017MarER.129...76G. http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/64/313264.pdf.
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Massive deposit of battery-grade nickel on deep-sea floor gets confidence boost with new data" (in en-US). 2021-01-27. https://deep.green/massive-deposit-of-battery-grade-nickel-on-deep-sea-floor-gets-confidence-boost-with-new-data/.
39. ↑ "Japan successfully undertakes large-scale deep-sea mineral extraction". The Japan Times. Kyodo. 26 September 2017. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/09/26/national/japan-successfully-undertakes-large-scale-deep-sea-mineral-extraction/.
40. ↑ "Deep Sea Mining Watch" (in en). http://deepseaminingwatch.msi.ucsb.edu/.
41. ↑ "Vent Fields | InterRidge Vents Database Ver. 3.4". https://vents-data.interridge.org/ventfields?order=name_3&sort=desc&page=7.
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 "Papua New Guinea awards first deep sea mining licence to Nautilus". BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. 5 August 2010. ProQuest 734893795.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Allen, Colin Filer, Jennifer Gabriel, Matthew G. (2020-04-27). "How PNG lost US$120 million and the future of deep-sea mining" (in en-AU). https://devpolicy.org/how-png-lost-us120-million-and-the-future-of-deep-sea-mining-20200428/.
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 "Deep sea mining plans for Papua New Guinea raise alarm" (in en-US). 2016-11-18. https://news.mongabay.com/2016/11/deep-sea-mining-plans-for-papua-new-guinea-raise-alarm/.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "A lease is granted for the first ever deep-sea mining project". http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=1687865153&Country=Papua New Guinea&topic=Econo_9. [unreliable source?]
46. ↑ Om, Jason (25 August 2014). "Concerns for marine life near deep sea mining project". ABC News. ProQuest 1555634379. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-25/concerns-for-sea-life-near-png-deep-sea-mining-project/5695644.
47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 "Solwara 1 Project – High Grade Copper and Gold". Nautilus Minerals Inc. 2010. http://www.nautilusminerals.com/s/Projects-Solwara.asp.
48. ↑ "About the Deep Sea Mining Campaign". 19 November 2011. http://www.deepseaminingoutofourdepth.org/about/.
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 "Sinking Seabed Mining: Papua New Guinean, Australian and New Zealand civil society welcome ban on seabed mining in Northern Territory". MiningWatch Canada. 11 February 2021. https://miningwatch.ca/news/2021/2/11/sinking-seabed-mining-papua-new-guinean-australian-and-new-zealand-civil-society.
50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Shewry, Teresa (2017). "Going Fishing: Activism against Deep Ocean Mining, from the Raukūmara Basin to the Bismarck Sea". South Atlantic Quarterly 116 (1): 207–217. doi:10.1215/00382876-3749625.
51. ↑ "About the Deep Sea Mining campaign | Deep Sea Mining: Out Of Our Depth". 19 November 2011. http://www.deepseaminingoutofourdepth.org/about/.
52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Treasure on the ocean floor". Economist 381 (8506): p. 10. 30 November 2006. http://www.economist.com/node/8312172.
53. ↑ Doherty, Ben (15 September 2019). "Collapse of PNG deep-sea mining venture sparks calls for moratorium". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/16/collapse-of-png-deep-sea-mining-venture-sparks-calls-for-moratorium.
54. ↑ "The Metals Company and Allseas Announce Successful Completion of Harbor Wet-Test Commissioning of Robotic Polymetallic Nodule Collector Vehicle". Mar 22, 2022. https://investors.metals.co/news-releases/news-release-details/metals-company-and-allseas-announce-successful-completion-harbor.
55. ↑ "Sea Bed Minerals Act 2019". https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cca30fab2cf793ec6d94096/t/5d3f683993ea3f0001b7379c/1564436729995/Seabed+Minerals+Act+2019.
56. ↑ "Laws & Regulations". https://www.sbma.gov.ck/laws.
57. ↑ "Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority - Our Sector" (in en-NZ). https://www.sbma.gov.ck/our-sector.
58. ↑ "China breaks national record for Mariana Trench manned-dive amid race for deep sea resources". November 11, 2020. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/11/asia/china-record-dive-mariana-trench-intl-hnk/.
59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Weil, Ariel (2023-09-05). "Deep sea mining and killing the seas so you can drive an electric car - Green Prophet" (in en-US). https://www.greenprophet.com/2023/09/deep-sea-mining-and-killing-the-seas-so-you-can-drive-an-electric-car/.
60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 Sharma, B. N. N. R. (2000). "Environment and Deep-Sea Mining: A Perspective". Marine Georesources and Geotechnology 18 (3): 285–294. doi:10.1080/10641190051092993. Bibcode: 2000MGG....18..285S.
61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Abramowski, Tomasz (2016). "Value chain of deep seabed mining". Deep Sea Mining Value Chain: Organization, Technology and Development. Interoceanmetal Joint Organization. pp. 9–18. ISBN 978-83-944323-0-0.
62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 Sharma, R. (October 2005). "Deep-Sea Impact Experiments and their Future Requirements". Marine Georesources & Geotechnology 23 (4): 331–338. doi:10.1080/10641190500446698. Bibcode: 2005MGG....23..331S.
63. ↑ Nath, B. Nagender; Sharma, R. (July 2000). "Environment and Deep-Sea Mining: A Perspective". Marine Georesources & Geotechnology 18 (3): 285–294. doi:10.1080/10641190009353796. Bibcode: 2000MGG....18..285N.
64. ↑ "One scientist's mission to save the 'super weird' snails under the sea" (in en). 2020-02-26. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/26/the-rare-and-super-weird-creatures-at-risk-from-deep-sea-mining-aoe.
65. ↑ McVeigh, Karen (12 March 2020). "David Attenborough calls for ban on 'devastating' deep sea mining". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/12/david-attenborough-calls-for-ban-on-devastating-deep-sea-mining.
66. ↑ Shukman, David (3 April 2021). "Companies back moratorium on deep sea mining". BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56607700.
67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 "University of Ghent press bulletin, June 7, 2016". Archived from the original on June 14, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160614163834/https://www.ugent.be/en/news/bulletin/polymetallic-nodule-fields-are-required-to-preserve-abyssal-fauna.
68. ↑ Hooper, Ellie (5 July 2019). "Deep water: the emerging threat of deep sea mining". Greenpeace Aotearoa. https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/publication/deep-water-the-emerging-threat-of-deep-sea-mining/.
69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.3 Amon, Diva J.; Ziegler, Amanda F.; Dahlgren, Thomas G.; Glover, Adrian G.; Goineau, Aurélie; Gooday, Andrew J.; Wiklund, Helena; Smith, Craig R. (29 July 2016). "Insights into the abundance and diversity of abyssal megafauna in a polymetallic-nodule region in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone". Scientific Reports 6 (1): 30492. doi:10.1038/srep30492. PMID 27470484. Bibcode: 2016NatSR...630492A.
70. ↑ Paulikas, Dana; Katona, Steven; Ilves, Erika; Stone, Greg; O'Sullivan, Anthony (2020). ﻿Where should metals for the green transition come from? Comparing environmental, social, and economic impacts of supplying base metals from land ores and seafloor polymetallic nodules﻿ (Report). DG. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.21346.66242. https://deep.green/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LCA-White-Paper_Where-Should-Metals-for-the-Green-Transition-Come-From_FINAL_low-res.pdf. Retrieved 11 February 2021. [page needed]
71. ↑ Katona, Steven; Paulikas, Daina. "Where Should Metals for the Green Transition Come From?". Energy Futures Lab. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afs38uDU9Is.
72. ↑ "Biodiversity: Deep-sea mining will be 25 times as bad as mining on land". The Hindu. 30 June 2023. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/biodiversity-deep-sea-mining-land-mining-damage/article67026115.ece.
73. ↑ Mestre, Nélia C.; Rocha, Thiago L.; Canals, Miquel; Cardoso, Cátia; Danovaro, Roberto; Dell’Anno, Antonio; Gambi, Cristina; Regoli, Francesco et al. (September 2017). "Environmental hazard assessment of a marine mine tailings deposit site and potential implications for deep-sea mining". Environmental Pollution 228: 169–178. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.05.027. PMID 28531798.
74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 Miller, Kathryn A.; Thompson, Kirsten F.; Johnston, Paul; Santillo, David (10 January 2018). "An Overview of Seabed Mining Including the Current State of Development, Environmental Impacts, and Knowledge Gaps". Frontiers in Marine Science 4. doi:10.3389/fmars.2017.00418.
75. ↑ Koschinsky, Andrea; Heinrich, Luise; Boehnke, Klaus; Cohrs, J Christopher; Markus, Till; Shani, Maor; Singh, Pradeep; Smith Stegen, Karen et al. (November 2018). "Deep-sea mining: Interdisciplinary research on potential environmental, legal, economic, and societal implications". Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 14 (6): 672–691. doi:10.1002/ieam.4071. PMID 29917315. Bibcode: 2018IEAM...14..672K.
76. ↑ Willaert, Klaas (2021). Regulating Deep Sea Mining. SpringerBriefs in Law. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-82834-9. ISBN 978-3-030-82833-2. [page needed]
77. ↑ Blanchard Harrould-Kolieb Jones Taylor, C. E. E. M.L. (2023). Marine Policy: The current status of deep-sea mining governance at the International Seabed Authority. Science Direct.
78. ↑ Conley, Julia (11 September 2021). "'Momentous' Moratorium on Deep-Sea Mining Adopted at Global Biodiversity Summit". Ecowatch. Common Dreams. https://www.ecowatch.com/deep-sea-mining-moratorium-2654975897.html.
79. ↑ U.S. Ocean Commission (2002). "DEEP SEABED HARD MINERAL RESOURCES ACT". https://www.gc.noaa.gov/documents/gcil_dshmra_summary.pdf.
80. ↑ DeLoughrey, Elizabeth (2015). "Ordinary Futures: Interspecies Worldings in the Anthropocene". Global Ecologies and the Environmental Humanities. pp. 352–372. doi:10.4324/9781315738635. ISBN 978-1-315-73863-5.
81. ↑ "Broadening Common Heritage: Addressing Gaps in the Deep Sea Mining Regulatory Regime". Harvard Environmental Law Review. 2018-04-16. http://harvardelr.com/2018/04/16/broadening-common-heritage/#_ftn3.
82. ↑ Doherty, Ben (2018-04-18). "Deep-sea mining possibly as damaging as land mining, lawyers say". https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/18/deep-sea-mining-possibly-as-damaging-as-land-mining-lawyers-say.
83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 Gayle, Damien (3 December 2023). "Deep sea miners turn water hoses on Greenpeace activists in the Pacific". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/02/deep-sea-miners-turn-water-hoses-on-greenpeace-activists-in-the-pacific.

## External links

* The Deep Sea Mining Summit 2023 "The international forum for deep sea mining professionals"
* "Who Will Claim Common Heritage?–Corporate interests endanger international agreement on deep seabed minerals" in Multinational Monitor
* Deep Sea Mining – 8 min video on Australian science TV, June 2011
* Geophysical Methods for the Mapping of Deep-Sea Mineral Deposits – November 2014 Ocean News & Technology magazine
* "Deep Sea Mining: Out Of Our Depth" (in en-US). 2012-01-03. http://www.deepseaminingoutofourdepth.org/.
* "Why are countries laying claim to the deep-sea floor?" \- BBC article 21 June 2017
* Verichev, Stanislav; Drobadenko, Valery; Malukhin, Nikolay; Vilmis, Alexandr; Lucieer, Pieter; Heeren, John; Van Doesburg, Bob (2012). "Assessment of Different Technologies for Vertical Hydraulic Transport in Deep Sea Mining Applications". Volume 3: Pipeline and Riser Technology. pp. 137–144. doi:10.1115/OMAE2012-83156. ISBN 978-0-7918-4490-8.
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