Marine Hard Mineral Resources - Progress and Problems

• Published in: Proceedings OCEANS '83 pp. 1145 - 1150
• Main Author: Moore, J.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: 1983
• Subjects: Copper; Government; Industrial training; Manganese; Minerals; Mining industry; Platinum; Sea floor; Sea measurements; System testing
• DOI: 10.1109/OCEANS.1983.1152159

Since 1966, the scientific study of ferromanganese nodules has firmly established their economic grade, their metals content, and their geographic distribution for priority mining efforts. Although not known in 1966, the recent discovery of polymetallic sulfides at spreading centers promises to overshadow manganese nodules, and such sulfides may, indeed, be the first deep sea deposits to be mined. Marine placers have continued to be important economic targets, mainly for noble metals, but they have been confined in both exploration and exploitation, to coastal state waters. With new R & D that will solve problems in how to locate specific placer commodities, we anticipate exploration to soon extend to the OCS. Phosphorite deposits may prove economical to develop by the end of this decade, but, for metalliferous muds, it is doubtful they will be found in US EEZ waters. Considering that some ten commodity minerals and metals are found in deep sea deposits, but that some twenty metals are found in inshore and shelf deposits, and that the cost to initiate shelf mining is modest, it is suggested that this nation pursue a vigorous program in shelf mining as a first priority. In regard to seafloor mineral resources as an alternative source of strategic minerals, the most promising potential is for placers (platinum group, titanium, zirconium, rare earths, niobium and tin), followed by shallow-shelf lodes (barite and copper), and, finally, deep sea rift deposits (transition metals, rare earths and platinum group). This nation should assess the potential for these strategic metals, in this decade. In considering marine placers in the global generation of new wealth, particular attention should be given to training the nationals of the smaller and emerging nations. To overcome the technological constraints on marine mining, we must devise new in-situ metal sensing systems, new fine-particle recovery systems, new machines for mining under ice and in deep rift valleys beneath the sea, and we need to devise new exploration approaches, including technology transfer from other sources. Not least, to ensure a supply of trained personnel, we recommend the establishment of an academic center of excellence that would work cooperatively with government and industry in training students. In looking ahead to the year 2000, the most promising sites for U.S. marine mining developments are the rift spreading centers of the Pacific, the Bering Sea inshore, the slopes of insular possessions in the Pacific, the Common wealth of the Northern Marianas, and at specific sites off Maine, the S.E. Atlantic Coast, Texas, California, Oregon-Washington, and throughout theTrust Territory. Lastly, government must support marine mining with helpful legislation, wise regulation, elimination of unnecessary red tape, and the sharing of expertise, assistance, and commitment.