The E-tech element potential of submarine ferromanganese crusts

在全球海洋盆地中，技术关键元素（如Te、钴、稀土元素、Nb、Pt、W、Bi、Ni、Mn和Ti）的浓度很高，这些元素在那里被纳入铁锰氧化物的厚壳（也称为铁锰壳）。这些结壳特别引起人们的兴趣，因为它们富含钴、碲和硒等稀有元素。这些元素供应短缺，但它们对新兴的新技术，包括可再生能源和“绿色”经济至关重要。最近对这些富金属结壳的潜在全球吨位的估计表明，海底约有2 000亿吨。随着中国和日本向联合国国际海底管理局申请采矿许可证，国际社会对这一问题的兴趣越来越大。因此，有必要解决对这些结壳作为一种资源的可持续性及其开采后可能对环境产生的影响的关切，该提案旨在建立一个由地质、生物和海洋学研究人员及行业专家组成的联合体，以确定哪些过程控制着深海海底富金属结壳的形成、分布、丰度和浓度。我们还将召集一个专家小组，处理围绕这些结壳勘探的技术问题和与开采有关的环境问题。

High concentrations of technologically critical elements (such as Te, cobalt, REEs, Nb, Pt, W, Bi, Ni, Mn & Ti) occur throughout the global ocean basins where they are incorporated into thick crusts of ferromanganese oxide (otherwise known as Fe-Mn crusts). These crusts have attracted particularly interest because they are very rich in rare elements such as cobalt, tellurium and selenium. These elements are in short supply but they are critical to emerging new technologies including renewable energy and the 'green' economy. Recent estimates of the potential global tonnage of these metal rich crusts suggest about 200 billion tonnes exists on the seafloor. International interest is growing with China and Japan applying for mining licenses from the United Nations International Seabed Authority. Hence the need to address concerns about the sustainability of these crusts as a resource and their potential environmental impacts if exploited.This proposal aims to establish a consortium of geological, biological and oceanographic researchers and industry specialists that will identify what processes control the formation, distribution, abundance and concentration of metal-rich crusts on the deep seafloor. By bringing together a team of specialists, we will also address technical issues surrounding the exploration of these crusts and environmental issues related to their exploitation.