Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

Dr. Juniper also emphasized the need to be pragmatic. He pointed out
that because a few species may be lost, decisions would have to be made
about the uniqueness of the gene pool to be disturbed. Whether the gene pool
is consists of just another worm that eats dirt or if it consists of animals that
some day medical science may want to exploit. He noted that currently the
scientific community does not have answers to all these questions.
Dr. Juniper concluded his presentation saying that the longer-lived
hydrothermal sites are obviously going to be one of the more attractive sites
for mining because that’s where venting has been going on the longest and
where more sulphides have accumulated. He also expressed concern that
these sites are also the ones that have the highest biodiversity because they’ve
been a stable habitat for tens of thousands of years like the Amazon
Rainforest.
DISCUSSIONS.
In relation to bacteria producing gold and silver in an oxygen-free
environment, Dr. Juniper was asked whether this was at the 2,000 – 3,000
metres depth. He was also asked how species diversity at hydrothermal vents
compares with species diversity at coral reefs and at tropical rainforests.
Finally, Dr. Juniper was asked if the species to be found at vent ecosystems
have a commercial value.
With the regard to the question as to where in the deposit bacteria
produce gold and silver, Dr. Juniper said that while bacteria attack the
massive sulphides deposits, breaking them in order to get at the sulphides,
there are some fundamental differences in the conditions. Firstly, Dr. Juniper
said that when bacteria are degrading the deposits there is no longer
hydrothermal activity so there is oxygen available. In the most likely cases it
would be in bottom seawater that has dissolved oxygen in it. Dr. Juniper said
that because the seawater is such a good pH buffer and does not get acidic
like a typical acid mine leaching situation, it looks like another group of
bacteria which are adapted to decomposing sulphides. He said that under
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 301