Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

washing (131). While there is some merit in the CLB's simplicity, the most
likely commercial crust mining systems will probably use hydraulic lift
together with a mechanical fragmentation system attached to a self-propelled
collector. That type of system has a better likelihood of efficient crust
recovery and substrate separation (132). Some new and innovative systems
that have been suggested for Fe-Mn crust mining include water-jet stripping
of crusts from the substrate, and in situ leaching techniques. Both suggestions
offer promise and need to be further developed.
6.2. Economics
The importance of metals contained in Fe-Mn crusts to the world
economy is reflected in their patterns of consumption (133). The primary uses
of manganese, cobalt, and nickel are in the manufacture of steel to which they
provide unique characteristics. Cobalt is also used in the electrical,
communications, aerospace, and engine and tool manufacturing industries, as
well as its radioisotope in medicine. Nickel is also used in chemical plants,
petroleum refineries, electrical appliances, and motor vehicles. Supplies of
these metals and other rare metals found in crusts are essential for
maintaining the efficiency of modern industrial societies and in improving the
standard of living in the 21st century.
Most mineral industry analysts agree that the supply of cobalt is more
uncertain than the supply of the other crust metals because most cobalt
production comes from politically unstable Zaire (57%) and Zambia (11%) and
cobalt is produced as a by-product of copper mining. Consequently, the
supply of cobalt is tied to the demand for copper. This is also true for
tellurium, which is produced as a by-product of both copper and gold mining.
This uncertainty in supply has caused industry to look for alternatives to
cobalt and tellurium, resulting in only a modest growth in their markets over
the past decade, and consequently relatively low prices. If substantial
alternative sources of cobalt and tellurium supply are developed, there should
be a greater incentive to reintroduce them back into products and expansion
of the markets (e.g., 134).
A preliminary estimate of the economics of crust mining and
processing operations for the State of Hawaii (135) indicated that they were
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