Full page fax print - International Seabed Authority

Table 8. Value of metals in one metric ton of Fe-Mn crust from the centralequatorial
Pacific
Mean price of
metal
(1999 $/Kg)
Mean Content in
Crusts
(ppm)*
Value per Metric
Ton of Ore
($)
Cobalt 39.60 6899 273.20
Titanium 7.70 12035 92.67
Cerium 28.00 1605 44.94
Zirconium 44.62 618 27.58
Nickel 6.60 4125 27.23
Platinum 13,024.00 0.489 6.37
Molybdenum 8.80 445 3.92
Tellurium 44.00 60 2.64
Copper 1.65 896 1.48
Total -- -- 480.03
*Mean of data in Table 6 for columns 2, 4, and 6; ppm is parts per million, which equals
micrograms per gram and grams per ton
However, it has recently been determined that Fe-Mn crusts contain metals other
than manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, and platinum that may offer additional incentive
in recovery (Table 8). For example, titanium has the highest value after cobalt, the rareearth
elements (represented by cerium in Table 8) have a greater value than nickel,
zirconium is equivalent to nickel, and tellurium has nearly twice the value of copper.
Manganese is not shown in Table 8 as it could be recovered in several different forms
depending on demand. This analysis assumes that economic extractive metallurgy can
be developed for each of those metals.
Outside of Japan, there has been limited research and development on mining
technologies for Fe-Mn crusts and therefore current economic analyses are highly
speculative. Despite these uncertainties, China has held discussions with the State of
Hawaii about the possibility of placing a plant on the islands for the processing of ironmanganese
oxide materials. Over the past decade, at least three companies have
expressed interest in Fe-Mn crust mining, including the International Hard Minerals
Company, Bluewater Marine, and Oceanx. In addition, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands leased its EEZ for minerals exploration, primarily for cobalt-rich crusts. Several
evolving circumstances may change the economic environment and promote mining in
the oceans, for example land-use priorities, fresh-water issues, and environmental
concerns in areas of mining on land.
International Seabed Authority 75