Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority
Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority
The Authority designates one of two areas as reserved area for exploration either by its operating arm, the Enterprise, or by the Authority in association with developing States. The other area is allocated to the applicant as a contract area. For deep seabed polymetallic nodules that lie on and in sediment that covers the seafloor in the abyssal plains of the world’s ocean, this requirement has worked and seven entities have obtained exploration contracts with the Authority under that system. Given the difference in the nature of the deposits, a fundamental question for consideration is whether the parallel system will work for seafloor massive sulphides and ferromanganese crust deposits. Would work done during prospecting be sufficient to delineate two seafloor massive polymetallic sulphides deposits or two cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust deposits of equal estimated commercial value? Should a different system be devised to meet the objective of the parallel system that was based on the principle that there should be opportunity for all to participate in the exploitation of the mineral resources in the Area? Based on the need to provide the international community with a response to these and other related matters, the workshop was convened with the following objectives: (a) To obtain information and understanding on marine minerals of the Area for which rules, regulations and procedures for prospecting, exploration and exploitation are yet to be adopted by the Authority, with an emphasis on seafloor polymetallic massive sulphides and ferromanganese crust deposits; and in the case of the latter two deposits, (b) To obtain information on their distribution, the marine environment where they are found, metals of commercial interest, resource potential and developments with regard to research and exploration for these deposits. The workshop also addressed the nature of regulatory regimes in some countries that have established marine mineral industries. This was INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 2
particularly with regard to the information and data that contractors are required to submit in these different regimes. The report on the workshop is divided into four parts. Part 1 of the proceedings provides a background to marine minerals including developments in science that have increased the international community’s knowledge of these resources. It focuses on current knowledge of seafloor massive sulphides and ferromanganese crust deposits, their distribution in the oceans and in the Area, associated flora and fauna and steps to be taken to protect and conserve them from the impacts of mining, the metals of commercial interest contained in these deposits and technologies available for explore for exploration, the experiences of a company with an exploration license for seafloor massive sulphides in Papua New Guinea’s exclusive economic zone that is presently engaged in raising finance for exploration, The workshop also heard a presentation on Papua New Guinea’s recently enacted legislation for seafloor massive sulphides in its exclusive economic zone within the context of the exploration license that it is granted for seafloor massive sulphides. The act and some of its provisions relating to data and information are presented. Part 1 also contains a paper and presentation on current national and international programmes for the development of seafloor massive sulphides, and a comparative evaluation of the possible economic returns from mining massive sulphides, ferromanganese crusts and deep seabed polymetallic nodules. Part 2 focuses on the Authority’s task to adopt rules, regulations and procedures for prospecting and exploration for seafloor massive sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area. In this respect, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority informed participants of issues that had to be taken into account based on the experience gained from developing similar rules, regulations, and procedures for deep seabed polymetallic nodules of the Area that was followed by discussions. Part 3 examines prospects for the development of other marine minerals to be found in the Area (petroleum and submarine methane hydrates) and includes a statistical evaluation of the resource potential of placer deposits, phosphorites, evaporates, seafloor massive sulphides, polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, hydrocarbon INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 3
- Page 2 and 3: Workshop on Minerals Other than Pol
- Page 4 and 5: Published in Jamaica 2004 by the In
- Page 6 and 7: Chapter 6* Impact of the Developmen
- Page 8 and 9: PART 4 REGULATORY AND PROMOTIONAL F
- Page 12 and 13: deposits and gas hydrates of the co
- Page 14 and 15: Prof. Chris German, Challenger Divi
- Page 16 and 17: Mr. Sven Petersen, Research Associa
- Page 18 and 19: SECRETARIAT Ambassador Satya N. Nan
- Page 20 and 21: is to submit “an application that
- Page 22 and 23: that was established to help protec
- Page 24 and 25: on the continental margin. He state
- Page 26 and 27: with the German firm Preussag. As p
- Page 28 and 29: metre or metres of these black smok
- Page 30 and 31: nodules in terms of these metals -
- Page 32 and 33: Professor Herzig stressed however t
- Page 34 and 35: While noting that the continuity of
- Page 36 and 37: asal diameter at 1,600 m water dept
- Page 38 and 39: discovery of the new hydrothermal s
- Page 40 and 41: esearch cruises dedicated to ferrom
- Page 42 and 43: global mid-ocean ridge system. He p
- Page 44 and 45: athymetric map of the seafloor. A s
- Page 46 and 47: were encouraging. In the course of
- Page 48 and 49: that this matter was sensitive, he
- Page 50 and 51: complete a preliminary evaluation o
- Page 52 and 53: metals - nickel, cobalt, manganese,
- Page 54 and 55: 12. Issues to be taken into account
- Page 56 and 57: entities. Many of them included min
- Page 58 and 59: In this regard, the Secretary-Gener
particularly with regard to the information and data that contractors are<br />
required to submit in these different regimes.<br />
The report on the workshop is divided into four parts. Part 1 of the<br />
proceedings provides a background to marine minerals including<br />
developments in science that have increased the international community’s<br />
knowledge of these resources. It focuses on current knowledge of seafloor<br />
massive sulphides and ferromanganese crust deposits, their distribution in the<br />
oceans and in the Area, associated flora and fauna and steps to be taken to<br />
protect and conserve them from the impacts of mining, the metals of<br />
commercial interest contained in these deposits and technologies available for<br />
explore for exploration, the experiences of a company with an exploration<br />
license for seafloor massive sulphides in Papua New Guinea’s exclusive<br />
economic zone that is presently engaged in raising finance for exploration,<br />
The workshop also heard a presentation on Papua New Guinea’s recently<br />
enacted legislation for seafloor massive sulphides in its exclusive economic<br />
zone within the context of the exploration license that it is granted for seafloor<br />
massive sulphides. The act and some of its provisions relating to data and<br />
information are presented. Part 1 also contains a paper and presentation on<br />
current national and international programmes for the development of<br />
seafloor massive sulphides, and a comparative evaluation of the possible<br />
economic returns from mining massive sulphides, ferromanganese crusts and<br />
deep seabed polymetallic nodules.<br />
Part 2 focuses on the <strong>Authority</strong>’s task to adopt rules, regulations and<br />
procedures for prospecting and exploration for seafloor massive sulphides<br />
and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area. In this respect, the<br />
Secretary-General of the <strong>International</strong> <strong>Seabed</strong> <strong>Authority</strong> informed participants<br />
of issues that had to be taken into account based on the experience gained<br />
from developing similar rules, regulations, and procedures for deep seabed<br />
polymetallic nodules of the Area that was followed by discussions.<br />
Part 3 examines prospects for the development of other marine<br />
minerals to be found in the Area (petroleum and submarine methane<br />
hydrates) and includes a statistical evaluation of the resource potential of<br />
placer deposits, phosphorites, evaporates, seafloor massive sulphides,<br />
polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, hydrocarbon<br />
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 3
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