GineersNow Engineering Magazine November 2016 Issue No 009

EXPLORING
THE DEEP
SEA FOR
MINERALS
We already have lots of
mines on land to meet
the demands of mankind
when it comes to mineral
resources. But it seems
that they are not enough,
and so many countries and
companies now look at the
deep seafloor as new sites
of mining.
Seabed mining is perhaps
the youngest form of
mining. There are only few
technologies that explore
the deep seafloor, under
the permission of a special
body concerned in seabed
mining exploration called
the International Seabed
Authority.
This organization is created
by the United Nations
to control the activities
of countries interested
in mineral riches in the
ocean. It has so far granted
over one million square
kilometers of claims for
mining exploration in the
high seas of the Pacific,
Atlantic and Indian Oceans
to at least 16 countries. There
are parts of the seas, most
of which have the minerals
and biodiversity, which are
outside the legal jurisdiction
of countries and therefore
considered heritage global
resources over which we
are all trustees. The group
is responsible for delegating
the protection of these areas.
Deep sea mining is a relatively
new industry, and there are
fears that this will be abused.
With the use of robotic bulk
cutters and other heavy
mining machines, it is likely
that the marine environment
will be affected once the
seabed mining activities
will not be regulated or
monitored. The worst things
that could happen with the
marine ecosystems are the
loss of unique species and
the destruction of sensitive
deep sea habitats.
But ocean scientists around
the world are suggesting
precautions, like explore
current and future areas of
mining interest as to identify
proactively which species are
at risk; plan out which mining
regions need to be preserved
at most; and carefully observe
the intensity and scale of
the disturbances caused by
seabed mining once they start
operations.
If mining companies will not
be careful with the rich, fragile
marine life that exists deep
in our seabeds, the damages
are irreversible. The challenge
is to take out the minerals
from the seabed, while still
preserving the marine life –
and that can only be done if
we understand how species
and ecosystems on that part
of the Earth work.
NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
69