Sea Mining
Sea Mining Deep sea mining is a relatively new mineral retrieval process that takes place on the ocean floor . Ocean mining sites are usually around large areas of polymetallic nodules or active and extinct hydrothermal vents at 1,400 to 3,700 metres (4,600 to 12,100 ft) below the ocean’s surface. The vents create globular or massive sulfide deposits , which contain valuable metals such as silver , gold , copper , manganese , cobalt , and zinc . [ The deposits are mined using either hydraulic pumps or bucket systems that take ore to the surface to be processed. As with all mining operations, deep sea mining raises questions about its potential environmental impact. Environmental advocacy groups such as Greenpeace and the Deep sea Mining Campaign [4] have argued that seabed mining should not be permitted in most of the world's oceans because of the potential for ...