Exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Area: Reporting practices, data management and transparency

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates the activities related with the exploration and exploitation of seabed mineral resources in the Area, which are considered as the "common heritage of mankind" under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.The ISA has also the mandate to ensure the protection of the marine environment.The development of good practices for the annual reporting and data submission by Contractors is crucial for the ISA to comply with the sustainable development of the mineral marine resources. In 2015,the ISA issued a new template for reporting on exploration activities, which includes the definition of the format for all geophysical, geological and environmental data to be collected and analysed during exploration. The availability of reliable data contributes to improve the assessment of the ISA on the activities in the Area while promoting transparency, which is considered as a major principle of industry bestpractices.

Threatened by mining, polymetallic nodules are required to preserve abyssal epifauna

Polymetallic nodule mining at abyssal depths in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (Eastern Central Pacific) will impact one of the most remote and least known environments on Earth. Since vast areas are being targeted by concession holders for future mining, large-scale effects of these activities are expected. Hence, insight into the fauna associated with nodules is crucial to support effective environmental management. In this study video surveys were used to compare the epifauna from sites with contrasting nodule coverage in four license areas. Results showed that epifaunal densities are more than two times higher at dense nodule coverage (>25 versus ≤10 individuals per 100 m2), and that taxa such as alcyonacean and antipatharian corals are virtually absent from nodule-free areas. Furthermore, surveys conducted along tracks from trawling or experimental mining simulations up to 37 years old, suggest that the removal of epifauna is almost complete and that its full recovery is slow. By highlighting the importance of nodules for the epifaunal biodiversity of this abyssal area, we urge for cautious consideration of the criteria for determining future preservation zones.

A tutela constitucional da exploração de petróleo em águas internacionais em face do princípio do desenvolvimento sustentável: a possibilidade de responsabilização civil do dano futuro

The demands brought by a society doomed to the constant production of global risks, which whose effects are not immediately noticed effects are not perceived immediately, claim from the Law a new Theory about the Risk, that would offer a broad environmental protection, at the same time it would still be compatible with the idea of economic efficiency, required by the Modern Industry. The expansion of the methods and technologies regarding the exploitation and production of oil causes the constant expansion of the exploitable boundaries, especially in ultra-deep waters with the Pre-salt layer, in Brazil, or the still incipient research about the polymetallic nodules and other mineral sources in international waters, like the Atlântico Sudoeste, by the Programme on Ocean Science in Relation do Non Living Resources (OSNLR), a global study performed in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, from UNESCO (IOC UNESCO) and also with the Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS). Thus, we aim to analyze the correlation, and possible collisions between the right to a balanced environment and the free exercise of economic activity and the occurrence of environmental damages from the perspective of the exploitation activities of oil and other natural resources in international waters, specifically in the Area, from the constitutional principle of sustainable development and its legitimacy by the environmental international protection. Therefore, this study also aims to evaluate the legal framework for exploration and production of oil in international waters, particularly in the Area, and appraise how the constitutional instruments and mechanisms for environmental protection can impact on the international environmental protection system in order to ensure the present and future generations an ecologically balanced environment, laid down in Article 225 of the Brazilian Constitution, even with so many risks posed by the activities of exploitation and production of oil in international waters. In the meantime, we intend to also intend to investigate the possibility of future liability for environmental damage in order to ensure that constitutional principle and, consequently, and try to define the concept of environmental damage and its implications on the constitutional principle of environmental protection. Given all that was in summary, this work aims to contribute to the evolution of the new Theory of Environmental Risk, turning the law into something more than a punitive or corrective element in this society, but into a legal risk management, that may be triggered even before the consolidation of the damage

(Table 1) Rare earth element contents in basalts and glasses of DSDP Legs 45 and 51

Rare-earth element (REE) distributions in altered basalts and glasses collected during some Legs of the Deep Sea Drilling Project show that a fractionation of these elements occurs during submarine weathering. When the alteration is well-marked, the REE distribution in altered glasses shows an enrichment in light rare-earths relative to the fresh glass. In particular, Ce is selectively enriched in palagonitized glasses that comprise, besides polymetallic nodules, another phase liable to explain the Ce depletion in seawater. Taking in account these processes of submarine weathering of the oceanic crust, a geochemical balance of Ce between authigenic phases of the marine environment is attempted.

Polymetallic ferromanganese deposits research on the Atlantic Spanish continental margin

Seamounts, submarine banks, volcanoes and undercurrent channels are prominent geomorphic features that have become an important target for minerals research and exploration with the goal of future exploitation. Polymetallic ferromanganese deposits are common types of mineralization on these settings. Co-rich ferromanganese crusts are important as potential resources of Mn and Co, but also Ti, Ni, Tl, REEs, PGEs, and other metals. Many seamounts and channels along the Atlantic Spanish continental margin are known to hold mineral deposits but are poorly studied. This work presents and briefly describes the most recent activities of the Spanish Geological Survey (IGME) on exploration and investigation of ferromanganese deposits along the Atlantic Spanish continental margin. Different submarine areas from the northwestern margin of the Iberian Peninsula to the west off Canary Islands have been surveyed by geophysical, sampling and underwater observations from 89 to 4000 m water depth. The mineral deposits cover a large diversity of submarine geological and geomorphical features: mud volcanoes and diapirs related to hydrocarbon seeps, seamounts associated with hot spot volcanism, hydrothermal vents in active magmatic volcanoes, structural basement highs and banks or contourite channels. Considering the collected dataset, we present the preliminary results of the study of these mineral deposits, including ferromanganese nodules and crusts and phosphate pavements and nodules, which can be considered as potential sources of raw materials.

Electrochemical processing of ocean manganese nodules with microbial enhancement to recover valuable metals

In this paper, electroleaching and electrobioleaching of ocean manganese nodules are discussed along with the role of galvanic interactions in bioleaching. Polarization studies using a manganese nodule slurry electrode system indicated that the maximum dissolution of iron and manganese due to electrochemical reduction occurred at negative DC potentials of -600 and -1,400 mV(SCE). Electroleaching and electrobioleaching of ocean manganese nodules in the presence of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans at the above negative applied DC potentials resulted insignificant dissolution of copper, nickel and cobalt in 1 M H2SO4 and in sulfuric acid solution at pH 0.5 and 2.0. Mechanisms involved in electrobioleaching of ocean manganese nodules are discussed. Galvanic leaching of ocean manganese nodules in the presence of externally added pyrite and pyrolusite for enhancement of dissolution was also studied. Various electrochemical and biochemical parameters were optimized, and the electroleaching and galvanic processes thus developed are shown to yield almost complete dissolution of all metal values. This electrobioleaching process developed in the laboratory may be cost effective, energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

(Table 2) Chemical composition of upper and lower surfaces of Fe-Mn nodules from the Eastern Subequatorial Pacific

Materials of polygon exploration during Cruise 41 of R/V Dmitry Mendeleev showed that diagenetic and sedimentary-diagenetic nodules close in morphology, texture, and composition vary greatly in size and productivity. Local variations in productivity of this nodule type in pelagic areas of the Pacific Ocean are closely connected with thickness of underlying clayey-radiolarian oozes.

Analysis of Mn nodules from cruise GH72-2

The GH72-2 shipborne survey was carried out in the northwest Pacific during 31 days under the 'Basic investigations for exploration of deep sea mineral resources' program. The sediments encountered could be classified as follows: 1) Most of the brown clays occur on the abyssal plain of the basins at depth over 4500m. 2) Calcareous oozes are predominant at the top, slope and foot of seamounts and guyots. 3) Terrigeneous sediments are distributed near islands. The concentrated zone of ferromanganese nodules was located in the Magellan seamounts area. However, the metal contents in Mn, Cu, Ni and Co for these nodules are relatively poor, and these ferromanganese deposits occur at a depth over 5000m. It is interesting to note that the shape of the nodules is sometimes nearly spherical, and that the chemical composition of the nodules is characterized by the low ratio Mn/Fe and Co/Ni.

Annotated record and chemical analysis of manganese nodules from R/V Moana Wave Cruise Mn-74-01 and Mn-74-02 stations

Cruise Mn-74-02 of the R/V MOANA WAVE was the second part of the field work of the NSF/IDOE Inter-University Ferromanganese Research Program in 1974, and we gratefully acknowledge the support of the office for the International Decade of Ocean Exploration and the Office of Oceanographic Facilities and Support. This program was designed to investigate the origin, growth, and distribution of copper/nickel-rich manganese nodules in the Pacific Ocean. The field effort was designed to satisfy sample requirements of the fifteen principal investigators, while increasing general knowledge of the copper/nickel-rich nodule deposits of the equatorial Pacific. This report is the second of a series of cruise reports designed to assist sample requests for documented nodules, sediment, and water samples so that laboratory results can be realistically compared and related to the environment of nodule growth. Nodule samples and bathymetric and navigational data are archived at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii. Bulk chemical analyses of nodules and reduction of survey data were carried out at Hawaii. Sediment cores were stored at the University of Hawaii and at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The SIO analytical facility provided stratigraphic data on sediment chemistry.