Development of Seafloor Mineral Processing System for Development of Seafloor Mineral Resources

作者提出了海底矿物加工的概念，即在海底开采的矿石就地研磨以分离有用矿物，以促进海底块状硫化物（SMS）的开发。澄清了研磨和浮选作为海底矿物加工基本技术的可能性。如果基于本研究的结果实现海底选矿，则与所有开采出的矿石都被提升的常规采矿方案相比，可以节省SMS的采矿成本。

The authors proposed the concept of Seafloor Mineral Processing, where ores excavated on seafloor are in situ ground to separate useful minerals, to promote the development of Seafloor Massive Sulfides (SMSs). The possibility of candidates for grinding and flotation as elemental technologies of Seafloor Mineral Processing was clarified. If Seafloor Mineral Processing is realized based on the results of this study, the mining cost of SMSs could be saved in comparison with the conventional mining scheme that all excavated ores are lifted up.