Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

On the most promising sites for crusts deposits and their grouping by
geographic region, i.e., EEZs and Area, Dr. Hein stated that studies within
EEZ’s have been emphasized over international waters. He said that in
international waters, Japan has done significant work but has kept all of its
data proprietary. In terms of the two most promising EEZ’s, Dr. Hein said
that these are Johnston Island in the EEZ of the United States and Marshall
Islands, a trust territory of the United States. He also said that the best
regional cobalt contents are in the EEZ of Johnston Island with average cobalt
contents in excess of 0.8 per cent.
One participant, recalling Dr. Hein’s comments on determining crusts
thickness asked if there is any other method for determining thickness
without recourse to gamma radiation. This participant also wanted to know
the source of the radiation. In response, Dr. Hein said that multi-frequency
sound techniques have been used to try to distinguish between crusts and
substrate. Noting the variability of the substrate and how in a large are there
could be several different types of substrate material, Dr. Hein said that many
types of techniques are not very successful. He said that he didn’t know the
source of the gamma radiation but it is one technique he has seen work
without some kind of mechanical device that penetrates the crust.
A participant made a comment on manganese nodule mining vs. crust
mining. He said that a major advantage of crust mining is that no sediments
would be generated. He noted that mining manganese nodules would result
in the creation of sediment plumes that will be a big environmental problem.
He said that he recalled a time that the big problem with crusts became the
high contents of platinum that were discovered in them. He therefore wanted
to know whether the metallurgical process for the recovery of platinum is in
place.
Dr. Hein said that he is aware of two efforts in this regard. He said that
the German firm, Preussag, had tried to extract platinum from crusts without
good results. He also said that he sent large quantities of samples to Mintech
in South Africa. This company, he said was to try to develop the required
extractive metallurgy but after looking at the grades thought it wasn’t
worthwhile. Dr. Hein therefore said that there are a lot of other metals in
crusts that will make more money than platinum.
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 270