Mining Resources in the Ocean

The practice of deep sea mining is a new way to get the most out of the oceans abundant resources. While it has been great in obtaining minerals and other valuable items, it can have a negative impact on the Earth as well. 

deep sea mining in Nambia 

The practice of mining began in the mid 1960's because of J.L. Mero's book, "Mineral Resources of the Sea", which claimed that the ocean was filled with an infinite amount of mineral deposits. Although this concept was a little too premature, within the last decade the need for new sources of precious metals has pressed many countries to engage on a new wave of deep sea mining. 

deep sea mining 

mining in the hydrothermal vents

Seafloor mining provides a wonderful combination of physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes that are complex, but provide a wide range of minerals. Particularly in hydrothermal vents, valuable deposits are found as well as beneath the ocean surface.

The ocean is filled with nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, vanadium, molybdenum, platinum, zinc, silver, and gold. 

copper mining in the ocean

Obviously with all the benefits, there has to be some negative aspects to mining. Because deep sea mining is a new concept, the full consequences are unknown and must be avoided. Most researchers argue that the removal of these valuable sources of the ocean directly effects the benthic layer as it increases toxicity of the water column and the sediment plumes. Because the  benthic layer is being affected, the benthic organisms could also decline as the chemical makeup could become unbalanced. In addition, sediment plumes face the biggest danger as the mining causes an increasing turbidity which negatively affects the surface plumes. Thesse plumes help zooplankton which play a large role in the food web for many ocean organisms. Therefore, too much mining just like any extraction of a resource, can cause a disturbance in the ecological and chemical system of the ocean.

Works Cited

"Global Ocean Commission." Global Ocean Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2014. <http://www.globaloceancommission.org/issues/seabed-mining/>.

Goldenberg, Suzanne. "Marine Mining: Underwater Gold Rush Sparks Fears of Ocean Catastrophe." The Observer. Guardian News and Media, 02 Mar. 2014. Web. 02 June 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/02/underwater-gold-rush-marine-mining-fears-ocean-threat>.

" ." OceanLink. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2014. <http://oceanlink.info/ocean_matters/undersea_mining.html>.

Seabed Mining. Digital image. Subseaworldnews.com. Sub Seaworld, n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://subseaworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Namibia-Sets-Three-Year-Ban-on-Seabed-Mining.jpg>.