Environmental Issues of Deep-Sea Mining☆

As terrestrial mineral deposits are either depleting or of low grade, minerals from the deep-sea like the polymetallic nodules, cobalt rich crusts and polymetallicsulfides are considered as alternative sources for metals such as Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, that could be exploited in future by developing suitable technologies for mining as well as extracting metals from them. As most of these deposits occur in the international waters, several ‘contractors’ have staked claims over large tracts of the seafloor in the international waters under the UN Law of the Sea. Simulated seafloor mining experiments have revealed significant information on the potential impacts that may occur as also several measures for conserving the environment have been suggested.