6
Y. Fouquet and D. Lacroix
such a strategy will be determined by geopolitical factors and global economic challenges. The aim, for both France and Europe, is to define specific policies to prevent
ourselves from being outrun. Europe must define its cooperation strategy with the
world’s other major hubs in order to preserve its position in terms of science and
training, to derive technological, economic and ecological benefit and to ensure its
independence.
Thanks to sustained research efforts over the past 30 years and to the availability of increasingly high-performance investigation and sampling equipment, France
has acquired recognised expertise and is well placed to determine the geological
processes resulting in the accumulation of the most valuable mineral deposits in the
world’s oceans. Over and above mining issues, there are many challenges relating
to deep-sea mineral resources.
Scientific Challenges
Knowledge of the ocean floor through scientific exploration is crucial in order to
identify the richest mineral areas and to understand metal transfer and concentration
processes. This exploration also provides better knowledge of the biodiversity and
functioning of deep-sea ecosystems.
9000
Dollars per tonne
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
0
Fig. 1.1 Evolution of copper prices during the twentieth century. (Source: United States Geological Survey)
Y. Fouquet and D. Lacroix
such a strategy will be determined by geopolitical factors and global economic challenges. The aim, for both France and Europe, is to define specific policies to prevent
ourselves from being outrun. Europe must define its cooperation strategy with the
world’s other major hubs in order to preserve its position in terms of science and
training, to derive technological, economic and ecological benefit and to ensure its
independence.
Thanks to sustained research efforts over the past 30 years and to the availability of increasingly high-performance investigation and sampling equipment, France
has acquired recognised expertise and is well placed to determine the geological
processes resulting in the accumulation of the most valuable mineral deposits in the
world’s oceans. Over and above mining issues, there are many challenges relating
to deep-sea mineral resources.
Scientific Challenges
Knowledge of the ocean floor through scientific exploration is crucial in order to
identify the richest mineral areas and to understand metal transfer and concentration
processes. This exploration also provides better knowledge of the biodiversity and
functioning of deep-sea ecosystems.
9000
Dollars per tonne
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
0
Fig. 1.1 Evolution of copper prices during the twentieth century. (Source: United States Geological Survey)