chemical industry, phosphorite has been found on the outer continental shelf, as well
as on the upper slope.
134 Besides, phosphorite deposits have also been found in areas
of coastal resurgence, where the deeper waters rich in nutrients emerge towards the
surface.
135
Deep-sea mineral deposits of the Brazilian outer continental shelf and the Area
are considered future alternatives for the international market of mineral commodities, especially metals that abound in polymetallic nodules at water depths of
500–2500 m, and polymetallic sulfides, at depths ranging from 2000 to 4000 m.
Despite current researches and exploratory missions, the extraction technology for
nodules, as well as for crusts, hydrates and sulfides, is still at an embryonic level in
Brazil.
136 In other words, the deep-sea nodules and crusts are within reach, but have
not yet been made viable on an industrial scale. In fact, marine mining usually takes
place on the seabed within 75 km from the baselines, and the most sought resources
comprise potassium salts
137 and limestone in a total to 1248 requests for offshore
mining.
138 Apart from those, phosphate nodules have been confirmed on the continental shelf of Rio Grande do Sul,
139 while potassium and magnesium salts were
tracked off the coasts of Sergipe and Alagoas at approximately 3000 m deep.
140
In recent years, following the IX Sectorial Plan for Marine Resources, there has
been an increase in applications for research on the Brazilian inner continental shelf,
with more than 1.200 exploration licenses granted by the National Mining Agency
in this work. That the collection, analysis and publishing of geological data in a multi-institutional
concerted effort was possible is praiseworthy and demonstrates a certain level of institutional
maturity. Online, users can access two interactive maps depicting the mineral potential of the
Brazilian continental shelf, within and beyond 200 nm. See: http://mapoteca.cprm.gov.br/
programas/template.php.
134 The “upper slope” is the region toward the deeper areas of the ocean, along the Brazilian
continental margin.
135 Souza (2010), p. 24.
136 In 2010, there are a few offshore mining research projects under way. Among research projects
developed in partnership between the Brazilian Geological Survey (CPRM), the Directorate of
Hydrography and Navigation, of the Brazilian Navy, and Brazilian universities are the hydrothermal deposits, rich in zinc, copper, gold and silver, located on the Brazilian continental shelf and
cobalt crusts from the international areas adjacent to the Brazilian continental shelf. These areas of
research include the study of the geological conditions of the areas where these mineral sources
exist. See Cavalcanti (2011), p. 75.
137 The Brazilian Mining Agency recorded 815 requests for exploration and exploitation of potassium salts on the continental shelf, as of 2010.
138 There were 270 requests for exploration and exploitation of offshore limestone. See ANM,
Dez. 2010.
139 Souza (2010), p. 25.
140 In addition to mining in areas within national jurisdiction, Brazil is also currently engaged in the
mineral exploration of the Area. On the Rio Grande Rise, in the South Atlantic Ocean, polymetallic
nodules occur in the form of porous concretions of various sizes and shapes found in thin and
discontinuous surface layers of the ocean floor, at an average depth of 5000 m. Seeking such
resources, as well as an increased geopolitical presence in the South Atlantic Ocean, Brazil was the
first country in the Southern Hemisphere to sign an Exploration Contract with the ISA. Id. 26.
340
10 Brazilian Legal Framework Applicable to the Blue Amazon’s...
as on the upper slope.
134 Besides, phosphorite deposits have also been found in areas
of coastal resurgence, where the deeper waters rich in nutrients emerge towards the
surface.
135
Deep-sea mineral deposits of the Brazilian outer continental shelf and the Area
are considered future alternatives for the international market of mineral commodities, especially metals that abound in polymetallic nodules at water depths of
500–2500 m, and polymetallic sulfides, at depths ranging from 2000 to 4000 m.
Despite current researches and exploratory missions, the extraction technology for
nodules, as well as for crusts, hydrates and sulfides, is still at an embryonic level in
Brazil.
136 In other words, the deep-sea nodules and crusts are within reach, but have
not yet been made viable on an industrial scale. In fact, marine mining usually takes
place on the seabed within 75 km from the baselines, and the most sought resources
comprise potassium salts
137 and limestone in a total to 1248 requests for offshore
mining.
138 Apart from those, phosphate nodules have been confirmed on the continental shelf of Rio Grande do Sul,
139 while potassium and magnesium salts were
tracked off the coasts of Sergipe and Alagoas at approximately 3000 m deep.
140
In recent years, following the IX Sectorial Plan for Marine Resources, there has
been an increase in applications for research on the Brazilian inner continental shelf,
with more than 1.200 exploration licenses granted by the National Mining Agency
in this work. That the collection, analysis and publishing of geological data in a multi-institutional
concerted effort was possible is praiseworthy and demonstrates a certain level of institutional
maturity. Online, users can access two interactive maps depicting the mineral potential of the
Brazilian continental shelf, within and beyond 200 nm. See: http://mapoteca.cprm.gov.br/
programas/template.php.
134 The “upper slope” is the region toward the deeper areas of the ocean, along the Brazilian
continental margin.
135 Souza (2010), p. 24.
136 In 2010, there are a few offshore mining research projects under way. Among research projects
developed in partnership between the Brazilian Geological Survey (CPRM), the Directorate of
Hydrography and Navigation, of the Brazilian Navy, and Brazilian universities are the hydrothermal deposits, rich in zinc, copper, gold and silver, located on the Brazilian continental shelf and
cobalt crusts from the international areas adjacent to the Brazilian continental shelf. These areas of
research include the study of the geological conditions of the areas where these mineral sources
exist. See Cavalcanti (2011), p. 75.
137 The Brazilian Mining Agency recorded 815 requests for exploration and exploitation of potassium salts on the continental shelf, as of 2010.
138 There were 270 requests for exploration and exploitation of offshore limestone. See ANM,
Dez. 2010.
139 Souza (2010), p. 25.
140 In addition to mining in areas within national jurisdiction, Brazil is also currently engaged in the
mineral exploration of the Area. On the Rio Grande Rise, in the South Atlantic Ocean, polymetallic
nodules occur in the form of porous concretions of various sizes and shapes found in thin and
discontinuous surface layers of the ocean floor, at an average depth of 5000 m. Seeking such
resources, as well as an increased geopolitical presence in the South Atlantic Ocean, Brazil was the
first country in the Southern Hemisphere to sign an Exploration Contract with the ISA. Id. 26.
340
10 Brazilian Legal Framework Applicable to the Blue Amazon’s...