Mining robot stranded on Pacific Ocean floor in deep-sea mining trial
3 years, 11 months ago

Mining robot stranded on Pacific Ocean floor in deep-sea mining trial

The Hindu  

A seabed mining robot being tested on the Pacific Ocean floor at a depth of more than 4 km has become detached, the Belgian company running the experimental trial said on Wednesday. Global Sea Mineral Resources, the deep-sea exploratory division of dredging company DEME Group, has been testing Patania II, a 25-tonne mining robot prototype, in its concession in the Clarion Clipperton Zone since April 20. Dr Sandra Schoettner, deep-sea biologist at Greenpeace, said: "Losing control of a 25-tonne mining machine at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean should sink the idea of ever mining the deep sea." GSR has said it will only apply for a mining contract if the science shows deep seabed minerals have advantages, from an environmental and social perspective, over relying solely on land mining.

Mining Pacific Ocean Seabed Seabed Mining Patania Ii Mining Robot Gsr  trial  ii  robot  floor  deepsea  company  pacific  spokesman  mining  seabed  stranded  patania  ocean  gsr

History of this topic

China is itching to mine the ocean floor
6 months ago

China is itching to mine the ocean floor

Live Mint  

Scattered across the ocean floor are trillions of lumps of nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese. The scramble for critical minerals is “a new front for strategic competition among global powers", says China’s national intelligence agency. In 2016 Xi Jinping, China’s leader, said his country must get its hands on the “hidden treasures" of the ocean. Three Chinese miners—China Ocean Mineral …

Deep sea mining: Why Google and Greenpeace are campaigning for a ban
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Deep sea mining: Why Google and Greenpeace are campaigning for a ban

The Independent  

The deep sea includes all water below 200m, which is an area covering approximately 60 per cent of our planet. In a climate and nature emergency, when the health of our oceans is at the brink and we are already seeing widespread and fundamental changes happening in the ocean, there is absolutely no place for opening up to deep sea …

UN body that regulates the deep sea tackles proposed mining code amid growing concerns
8 months, 2 weeks ago

UN body that regulates the deep sea tackles proposed mining code amid growing concerns

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Tense deliberations over how and …

Deep sea mining: Nations negotiate rules to extract minerals from ocean floor
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Deep sea mining: Nations negotiate rules to extract minerals from ocean floor

India Today  

The United Nations' International Seabed Authority is set to convene in Kingston, Jamaica on Monday to discuss new regulations that would allow companies to extract minerals from the ocean floor. This meeting comes amid escalating concerns over the potential economic and environmental risks associated with deep sea mining. Proponents argue that deep sea mining could boost supplies of critical raw …

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"
8 months, 2 weeks ago

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"

China Daily  

中国深海重载作业采矿车海试水深突破4000米，标志着中国深海矿产资源开发关键技术取得重大突破。由上海交通大学自主研制的深海重载作业采矿车工程样机“开拓二号”成功完成海试。“开拓二号”连续完成5次着底采矿，实现深海重载作业采矿车海试水深首次突破4000米，最深达4102.8米。 China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. "Pioneer II" completed five diving and seabed mining operations, including a record-breaking dive to 4,102.8 meters, marking the first time a Chinese deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle conducted trial operations at depths …

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"
8 months, 2 weeks ago

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"

China Daily  

中国深海重载作业采矿车海试水深突破4000米，标志着中国深海矿产资源开发关键技术取得重大突破。由上海交通大学自主研制的深海重载作业采矿车工程样机“开拓二号”成功完成海试。“开拓二号”连续完成5次着底采矿，实现深海重载作业采矿车海试水深首次突破4000米，最深达4102.8米。 China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. "Pioneer II" completed five diving and seabed mining operations, including a record-breaking dive to 4,102.8 meters, marking the first time a Chinese deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle conducted trial operations at depths …

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"
8 months, 2 weeks ago

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"

China Daily  

中国深海重载作业采矿车海试水深突破4000米，标志着中国深海矿产资源开发关键技术取得重大突破。由上海交通大学自主研制的深海重载作业采矿车工程样机“开拓二号”成功完成海试。“开拓二号”连续完成5次着底采矿，实现深海重载作业采矿车海试水深首次突破4000米，最深达4102.8米。 China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. "Pioneer II" completed five diving and seabed mining operations, including a record-breaking dive to 4,102.8 meters, marking the first time a Chinese deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle conducted trial operations at depths …

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"
8 months, 2 weeks ago

每日一词|深海重载作业采矿车“开拓二号” deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle "Pioneer II"

China Daily  

中国深海重载作业采矿车海试水深突破4000米，标志着中国深海矿产资源开发关键技术取得重大突破。由上海交通大学自主研制的深海重载作业采矿车工程样机“开拓二号”成功完成海试。“开拓二号”连续完成5次着底采矿，实现深海重载作业采矿车海试水深首次突破4000米，最深达4102.8米。 China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. "Pioneer II" completed five diving and seabed mining operations, including a record-breaking dive to 4,102.8 meters, marking the first time a Chinese deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle conducted trial operations at depths …

Deep sea mining threatens sea life, environmentalists say. California law has a solution
9 months, 1 week ago

Deep sea mining threatens sea life, environmentalists say. California law has a solution

LA Times  

As diplomats from around the world convene in Jamaica next month to discuss international guidelines on deep sea mining, environmental activists are urging nations to consider a California law they say could mitigate the need to destroy fragile ocean ecosystems. Now, mining companies such as Canada’s the Metals Co., want to bring their deep sea harvesters or subsea collectors to …

Instead of Mining the Deep Sea, Maybe People Should Just Fix Stuff
9 months, 1 week ago

Instead of Mining the Deep Sea, Maybe People Should Just Fix Stuff

Wired  

A new report by environmental groups lays out a case for banning deep sea mining—and explains why the real solution to humanity’s energy crisis might just be sitting in the trash. Deep sea mining is the pursuit of rare, valuable minerals that lie undisturbed upon the ocean floor—metals like nickel, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements. There has been a …

Negotiations over proposed regulations for deep-sea mining plod along as pressure mounts
1 year, 4 months ago

Negotiations over proposed regulations for deep-sea mining plod along as pressure mounts

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Debate over proposed regulations for …

Environmental groups reject deep-sea mining as key UN meeting looms
1 year, 5 months ago

Environmental groups reject deep-sea mining as key UN meeting looms

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Biodiversity: Deep-sea mining will be 25 times as bad as mining on land
1 year, 9 months ago

Biodiversity: Deep-sea mining will be 25 times as bad as mining on land

The Hindu  

Extracting minerals from the ocean floor could negatively impact biodiversity on a scale of up to 25 times greater than land-based mining, and fixing the damage would cost twice as much as extraction, a new report said on Thursday. Deep-sea mining would extract cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese from potato-sized nodules which pepper the sea floor at depths of 4-6 …

Deep trouble: for most electric vehicle makers, the seabed remains off limits
1 year, 11 months ago

Deep trouble: for most electric vehicle makers, the seabed remains off limits

The Independent  

As car manufacturers scour the planet for the metals it will take to build tens of millions of electric cars, they are deliberately taking a detour around one of the only places on Earth where so much of what they need is lying around and available to be plucked. Securing materials to build them all is perilous for car manufacturers, …

A crucial date for deep-sea mining in the Pacific is just around the corner, but is the world ready?
1 year, 11 months ago

A crucial date for deep-sea mining in the Pacific is just around the corner, but is the world ready?

ABC  

As a crucial deadline looms for a new frontier of mining in the deep Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islanders are worried the controversial practice could go ahead before proper regulations are in place. Key points: There are many questions still unanswered about deep-sea mining, according to scientists Cook Island advocate Alanna Smith says it will strip islanders of their spirit and …

UN body mulls deep sea mining amid demand for minerals
1 year, 11 months ago

UN body mulls deep sea mining amid demand for minerals

Associated Press  

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Pressure is mounting on an obscure U.N. body based in Jamaica to hit pause on plans to potentially open the world’s deep seas to mining as companies push for permission to extract metals from seabeds in international waters. The International Seabed Authority on Friday closed two weeks’ worth of negotiations without approving rules and regulations …

The world is set to debate seabed mining regulations, but the U.S. will be on the outside looking in
3 years ago

The world is set to debate seabed mining regulations, but the U.S. will be on the outside looking in

Politico  

The U.S. is in jeopardy of being left at the starting gate because it has not ratified the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, a requirement to be a member of the ISA. “There’s certainly a risk in getting left behind in the negotiations,” said Andrew Friedman, an associate manager at Pew Charitable Trusts focused on seabed mining. …

Deep-sea mining rules to be fast-tracked in push from Nauru
3 years, 9 months ago

Deep-sea mining rules to be fast-tracked in push from Nauru

The Hindu  

The government of Nauru plans to ask the International Seabed Authority next week to fast-track the adoption of seabed mining regulations, a source with direct knowledge told Reuters on Friday, in a sign of growing pressure to launch the controversial new industry. The so-called "two-year rule" would compel the ISA to allow seabed mining to go ahead within two years, …

These floating robots will study oceans across the planet
3 years, 11 months ago

These floating robots will study oceans across the planet

Live Mint  

Moss Landing, California: After years studying the icy waters of the Southern Ocean with floating robotic monitors, a consortium of oceanographers and other researchers is deploying them across the planet, from the north Pacific to the Indian Ocean. The project known as the Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Array, or GO-BGC, started in March with the launch of the first of 500 …

Automakers BMW, Volvo back moratorium on deep seabed mining
3 years, 11 months ago

Automakers BMW, Volvo back moratorium on deep seabed mining

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Automakers BMW and Volvo announced …

Deep-sea robots on the hunt for rich mineral deposits under the ocean's depths
6 years, 6 months ago

Deep-sea robots on the hunt for rich mineral deposits under the ocean's depths

Firstpost  

These autonomous robots & controlled submarines are searching for deposits of zinc, gold and copper. From the safety of their research vessel, scientists are exploring one of Earth’s few last frontiers — the sea floor — to discover more about valuable minerals vital in the manufacture of smartphones. The scientists, from the University of Bergen in Norway, are sending robots …

The Race to Send Robots to Mine the Ocean Floor
55 years, 2 months ago

The Race to Send Robots to Mine the Ocean Floor

Wired  

When the 300-foot Maersk Launcher docked in San Diego early Monday morning, it unloaded a cargo of hardened black blobs scooped from the bottom of the sea. DeepGreen But leaders of Canada-based mining company DeepGreen Metals and its subsidiary NORI think they have figured out how to harvest the nodules without wrecking the deep ocean habitat—and make a profit at …

The quest to map the mysteries of the ocean floor
6 years, 11 months ago

The quest to map the mysteries of the ocean floor

BBC  

The quest to map the mysteries of the ocean floor Getty Images The oceans’ floors are not a flat, sandy expanse – they are every bit as varied as the landscapes above water, with plunging valleys and huge mountains. Far below the ocean’s surface lie precious metals, rare earth elements, oil and diamonds – riches that have, until now, remained …

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