If its discovery is truly the result of chance, the news is nonetheless very important in the world of metals. The quantity of metal discovered is particularly impressive and exploiting this reserve should interest many countries. First, the focus is on evaluating the size of this mine.
Manganese as far as the eye can see
The oceanographic researchers who made this discovery had difficulty realizing that the large pieces on the ocean floor were actually pieces of manganese. An examination of one of the rocks made it clear that this discovery would be fascinating. Undersea deposits would therefore be much more important than people had imagined until now.
Photographs of the rocky mounds containing manganese are perplexing because they are so enormous. Even though specialists have already been able to find rocks such as cobalt or zinc, a deposit of this size is a true event, having been present for centuries at a depth of four thousand meters.
Mining permit soon?
This news could trigger a race among different countries to be the first to obtain the right to take advantage of these undersea deposits. Many hold exploration permits, notably for historical and research purposes but far from industrial use. Requests should therefore soon flow to the International Seabed Authority, which manages these particularly precious resources. Only it will be able to determine what can be planned in the face of so many raw materials.
Aware of the potential of such a discovery, it is necessary to anticipate the pollution risks associated with mining exploitation. The International Seabed Authority’s role is to preserve the oceans as well as the fauna and flora present. A debate is therefore expected between those who will consider it essential to exploit these resources in a context of scarcity for some of them and those who will consider protecting the environment to be more important. This manganese is very likely to remain in the Atlantic Ocean.