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Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

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Regarding the complexity of crusts mining machinery versus nodule<br />

mining machinery, Dr. Hein noted that Japan has done more to develop crusts<br />

mining technology than anyone else. He said that it appeared to him that the<br />

crusts have to be fragmented. He said that the crusts are fairly delicate and<br />

can be broken up and fragmented.<br />

Political and economic considerations.<br />

A comment was made about the relative paucity of crusts deposits in<br />

the Area as compared to the numbers to be found in exclusive economic<br />

zones. It was said that the cobalt crust and massive sulphides deposits<br />

research programmes were launched at the end of the 70’s when there was<br />

less political incentive to go to the deep sea. The question was asked whether<br />

or not this did not account for the existing situation.<br />

Dr Hein acknowledged that there were a lot of aspects to the question.<br />

He said that one reason for looking at the EEZ of the Marshall Islands is<br />

because they are a trust territory of the United States. Dr. Hein said that the<br />

US programme started in Hawaii and in Johnston Island that are part of the<br />

US and then moved to the former trust territories.<br />

Dr. Hein said that as it turned out, the Marshall Islands were the most<br />

interesting from a scientific and economic standpoint. Dr. Hein said that the<br />

US programme looked at a lot of other areas in a really superficial<br />

reconnaissance way and that these areas bore out their thinking. This<br />

included the fact that most of the places in Kiribati for example are large<br />

atolls, extremely large atolls, with very thin crusts. While noting that the<br />

Marshall Islands also have some large atolls Dr. Hein said that in between<br />

their large atolls they have a lot of isolated seamounts. He said that these are<br />

some of the reasons why the programme ended up there.<br />

In view of the good and large cobalt-rich crusts deposits to be found in<br />

some EEZs, Dr. Hein was asked what the <strong>International</strong> <strong>Seabed</strong> should do to<br />

encourage crusts mining in the Area.<br />

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 271

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