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Appendices
waters) within the framework of the introduction of ISA permits; environmental,
with probable conflicts over site protection and exploitation conditions; scientific
(volcanic and tectonic processes, rock and fluid geochemistry, specific metallogeny,
biological resources…) and economic.
Crusts The exploitation of crusts will not come to fruition before 2030 (uncertain
exploitability, technological availabilities…) despite their high potential. However,
the richest areas are in the EEZ of Polynesia. Work on the seabed is required to
determine areas of interest, with continuity favourable to exploitation. Nevertheless, there is now renewed interest in nodules and crusts due to the presence of
rare metals (rare earths, molybdenum, tellurium, vanadium, zirconium, thallium…)
which were not taken into account in the past. Several countries have conducted
systematic analyses of their collections in order to determine the samples and areas
with the highest rare metal contents.
Polymetallic nodules While the exploitation of polymetallic nodules appears possible in technical terms and hypothetical in economic terms, it remains of little
relevance in national terms given the existing land-based resources.
Natural hydrogen In the current state of knowledge, exploitation of natural hydrogen cannot be considered until the very long term. This is a recent discovery on
hydrothermal systems associated with mantle rock. Scientific knowledge of processes needs to be improved and flows quantified.
Appendix—2 Steering Committee
Appendices
waters) within the framework of the introduction of ISA permits; environmental,
with probable conflicts over site protection and exploitation conditions; scientific
(volcanic and tectonic processes, rock and fluid geochemistry, specific metallogeny,
biological resources…) and economic.
Crusts The exploitation of crusts will not come to fruition before 2030 (uncertain
exploitability, technological availabilities…) despite their high potential. However,
the richest areas are in the EEZ of Polynesia. Work on the seabed is required to
determine areas of interest, with continuity favourable to exploitation. Nevertheless, there is now renewed interest in nodules and crusts due to the presence of
rare metals (rare earths, molybdenum, tellurium, vanadium, zirconium, thallium…)
which were not taken into account in the past. Several countries have conducted
systematic analyses of their collections in order to determine the samples and areas
with the highest rare metal contents.
Polymetallic nodules While the exploitation of polymetallic nodules appears possible in technical terms and hypothetical in economic terms, it remains of little
relevance in national terms given the existing land-based resources.
Natural hydrogen In the current state of knowledge, exploitation of natural hydrogen cannot be considered until the very long term. This is a recent discovery on
hydrothermal systems associated with mantle rock. Scientific knowledge of processes needs to be improved and flows quantified.
Appendix—2 Steering Committee