17
1 Study Summary
(copper + nickel + cobalt = 2.4 %, cf. Fig. 1.3) of nodules is equivalent to that of
land-based deposits. Growing awareness of the potential economic importance of
nodules caused President Johnson in 1966 to call for the seabed to be declared common heritage of mankind. This proposal was made into a resolution in 1970 by the
United Nations General Assembly.
As copper resources, nodules represent around 10 % of continental reserves and
underwent many investigations in the 1970s and1980s. These investigations did not
lead to their exploitation for various reasons: water depth of over 4,000 m, poor estimation of the resource, high cost of metal processing, political issues related to the
law of the sea and a slump in metal prices. Precise evaluation of their potential requires high resolution maps to be produced, the formation processes for the richest
nodules to be understood and the biodiversity and functioning of related ecosystems
to be well known, in order to minimise environmental impact. With this in mind,
France has obtained two mining licenses in the North Pacific.
The sites and mineral compositions have been known for base metals since the
late 1980s. Studies on biodiversity aspects are in progress. Collections must also be
resumed to improve knowledge of rare metal concentrations.
Elements on Potential Exploitation
The gross value of the ore varies from low to average levels, i.e. from $ 200 to 700
per tonne, depending on the year. Mining technologies are still uncertain, as there
is currently no pilot, even although there are no technological barriers. Yet the extraction depth is high (4,000 m). Consequently, the predicted development time is
10–20 years.
Stakeholder Involvement
Stakeholder involvement revolves around the issue of access to nickel, especially
for China, hence the recent renewed scientific and technological interest in nodules,
as well as debates on aspects relating to protection of the environment and biodiversity. Germany and the United States are also taking an interest in knowledge of rare
metal concentrations. The legal framework in international waters is that of the ISA.
Seven exploration licenses have been approved for international waters, including
one French contract valid until 2016.
Natural Hydrogen
Hydrogen stored in the ore of oceanic rocks plays a very important role in redox reactions which occur during interactions between seawater and rock through hydrothermal circulation. Hydrothermal circulation is possible in fractured environments
and is triggered by the magmatic heat source present in the ocean depths.
1 Study Summary
(copper + nickel + cobalt = 2.4 %, cf. Fig. 1.3) of nodules is equivalent to that of
land-based deposits. Growing awareness of the potential economic importance of
nodules caused President Johnson in 1966 to call for the seabed to be declared common heritage of mankind. This proposal was made into a resolution in 1970 by the
United Nations General Assembly.
As copper resources, nodules represent around 10 % of continental reserves and
underwent many investigations in the 1970s and1980s. These investigations did not
lead to their exploitation for various reasons: water depth of over 4,000 m, poor estimation of the resource, high cost of metal processing, political issues related to the
law of the sea and a slump in metal prices. Precise evaluation of their potential requires high resolution maps to be produced, the formation processes for the richest
nodules to be understood and the biodiversity and functioning of related ecosystems
to be well known, in order to minimise environmental impact. With this in mind,
France has obtained two mining licenses in the North Pacific.
The sites and mineral compositions have been known for base metals since the
late 1980s. Studies on biodiversity aspects are in progress. Collections must also be
resumed to improve knowledge of rare metal concentrations.
Elements on Potential Exploitation
The gross value of the ore varies from low to average levels, i.e. from $ 200 to 700
per tonne, depending on the year. Mining technologies are still uncertain, as there
is currently no pilot, even although there are no technological barriers. Yet the extraction depth is high (4,000 m). Consequently, the predicted development time is
10–20 years.
Stakeholder Involvement
Stakeholder involvement revolves around the issue of access to nickel, especially
for China, hence the recent renewed scientific and technological interest in nodules,
as well as debates on aspects relating to protection of the environment and biodiversity. Germany and the United States are also taking an interest in knowledge of rare
metal concentrations. The legal framework in international waters is that of the ISA.
Seven exploration licenses have been approved for international waters, including
one French contract valid until 2016.
Natural Hydrogen
Hydrogen stored in the ore of oceanic rocks plays a very important role in redox reactions which occur during interactions between seawater and rock through hydrothermal circulation. Hydrothermal circulation is possible in fractured environments
and is triggered by the magmatic heat source present in the ocean depths.