Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

Table 3: Data and information requirements of offshore prospectors and explorers
Factor Status Requirements & Justifications
Resource Largely unknown although
some data and information
are now available through
the activities of the Marine
Scientific Researchers.
Environment The deep ocean
environment where
polymetallic massive
sulphides occur varies from
the ocean surface
environment. Advances
have been made to study
and understand the unique
offshore environment
principally by Marine
Scientific Researchers.
Technology Offshore technology for
polymetallic massive
sulphides is still in its infant
stages unlike those for the
manganese nodules.
More data and information is required to
ascertain the extent of the resource and to
convert such resource to mineable
reserves.
Any future commercial exploitation of
offshore minerals will be dependent on
the amount of mineral reserves that can
be economically and legally exploited.
Data and information on deep sea
environment relating to factors such as
salinity, pressure, chemistry, deep sea
currents, benthic flora and fauna and their
habitats will enable appropriate design or
modification of exploration and mining
technology.
In addition such data and information
will provide sound basis for
Environmental Impact Assessment
Statement to be prepared if one proceeds
to the trial mining or actual mining phase.
Data and information on its innovation
and development was essential for
development planning purposes.
Commercially, this is a sensitive matter as
the application of data and information
may not be necessarily limited to offshore
mineral exploration and mining.
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 366