Huge Demand for Deep See Mining Industry

Deep-sea mining is a growing branch of experimental seabed mining, in which minerals and debris are extracted from the seabed at depths of 200 meters or more. Currently, most of the mining effort is confined to shallow coastal waters, where sand, tin and diamonds are more easily accessible. There are three types of deep-sea mining that have generated a lot of interest: the mining of polymetallic nodules, the mining of polymetallic sulfide, and the mining of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.

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Leading players of Deep See Mining Industry:

Eramet Group, Hydril Pressure Control (GE Hydril), Nordic Ocean Resources AS (Nora), Teledyne Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Nautilus Minerals, DEME Group

Most of the proposed deep-sea mining areas are located near polymetallic nodules or active and extinct hydrothermal vents at 1,400 to 3,700 meters below the sea surface. The vents form spherical or massive sulphide deposits that contain valuable metals such as silver, gold, copper, manganese, cobalt and zinc. The deposits are removed using either hydraulic pumps or shovel systems that carry ore to the surface to be processed.

As with all mining operations, deep-sea mining raises questions about its potential environmental impact. Environmental groups like Greenpeace and the Deep Sea Mining Campaign have argued that degrading the seabed should not be allowed in most of the world's oceans, as deep-sea ecosystems can be damaged and polluted by heavy metal-laden feathers. Prominent environmental activists and heads of state have also called for moratoria or total bans because of the potential for devastating environmental impacts.