Deep Seabed Mining: Past Failures and Future Prospects |
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| Authors: | G P Glasby |
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| Institution: | 1. All‐Russian Geological Institute (VSEGEI) , Sredny pr., 74, St Petersburg, 199026, Russia;2. All‐Russia Geological Institute (VSEGEI) , St. Petersburg, Russia;3. Department of Earth Sciences , University of Sheffield , Sheffield, England;4. Institute of Influenza , St. Petersburg, Russia |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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| Keywords: | Manganese Nodules Manganese Crusts Submarine Hydrothermal Deposits Deep-SEA Mining |
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