{"id":3043,"date":"2014-09-25T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T12:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/?p=3043"},"modified":"2026-01-06T15:35:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:35:22","slug":"is-deep-sea-mining-one-step-closer-to-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/is-deep-sea-mining-one-step-closer-to-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Deep Sea Mining One Step Closer to Reality?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0;float: right;margin: 10px\" title=\"underwater landscape\" src=\"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/478242451.jpg\" alt=\"underwater landscape\" width=\"424\" height=\"442\" \/>A recent post discussed mining asteroids for natural resources. In this post we move in the opposite direction\u2014to the deep sea. Like asteroid <a href=\"http:\/\/thermofisher.com\/mining\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mining<\/a>, the concept of deep sea mining is being driven by the dwindling availability of rare earth and other metals and the belief that such valuable resources can be found beneath the ocean floor.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike asteroid mining however, which is still theoretical, sea mining is already happening. Diamond producer DeBeers, for example, mines diamonds from southern African waters, but at relatively shallow depths.<\/p>\n<p>Deep sea mining, with its harsh conditions and exorbitant costs, has proven more elusive, but recent developments indicate this mining sector may be poised for growth. As more deep sea mineral deposits are discovered and the demand for these resources increases, mining companies are renewing their efforts to build the technologies and equipment needed to go after them.<\/p>\n<p>According to a recent <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/science-environment-28442640\">BBC News article<\/a>, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an intergovernmental body that oversees all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, has issued seven new exploration licenses. This brings the total number of minerals prospecting permits to 26, covering an area of 1.2 million square kilometers.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">So is deep sea mining the solution we\u2019ve been searching for?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Not so fast, say some scientists; the environmental repercussions could be significant. The most attractive potential mine sites are located near hydrothermal vents.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.whoi.edu\/main\/topic\/seafloor-mining\">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution<\/a>, each hydrothermal vent hosts a unique ecosystem in an environment in which no other life from could survive: extreme temperatures, intense ocean pressure, and hot acidic fluids. These life forms may hold clues to how life started on Earth but little else is known about them. Biologists fear mining could destroy these exotic life forms, and there isn\u2019t enough research available to know if these animals, and the ecosystems they are part of, would recover. Deep sea mining presents safety and pollution concerns as well.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">An environmental mining code<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In an effort to deal with such issues, the International Marine Minerals Society (IMMS) implemented a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.immsoc.org\/IMMS_downloads\/ISBA-16LTC-2-EN.pdf\">voluntary code for environmental management<\/a> in 2010. The Code \u201c\u2026provides a framework and benchmarks for the development and implementation of an environmental programme for marine minerals exploration and extraction by marine mining companies at their operations. It will also facilitate financial and operational planning. The Code also provides a framework and benchmarks for local communities and stakeholders, Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assess proposed and actual applications of best environmental practices at marine mining sites.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nautilus Minerals, a Canadian company, is expected to launch the first deep sea mine off the coast of Papua New Guinea.\u00a0 Operations will be conducted using huge, remotely-controlled robotic mining machines.<\/p>\n<p>Automated mining equipment is making big news on land as well. As reported in a <a href=\"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/is-automation-the-future-of-mining\/\">prior blog post<\/a>, a Mining IQ poll revealed that 77% of mining specialists think automation is a high priority. \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thermoscientific.com\/ecomm\/servlet\/newsdetail?storeId=11152&amp;contentId=54705&amp;ca=miningresources\">Laboratory information management systems (LIMS)<\/a> to manage lab automation, information management, and data analysis are also rapidly being adopted by mining companies.<\/p>\n<p>Whether on land or at sea, discovering the most valuable mineral deposits and finding efficient ways to extract them will remain a challenge for the mining industry. To gain a better understanding of some of the other challenges, read <a href=\"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/key-issues-facing-the-mining-industry-in-2014\/\">Key Issues Facing the Mining Industry in 2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A recent post discussed mining asteroids for natural resources. In this post we move in the opposite direction\u2014to the deep sea. Like asteroid mining, the concept of deep sea mining is being driven by the dwindling availability of rare earth and other metals and the belief that such valuable resources can be found beneath the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":3143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3043","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-exploration","8":"entry"},"_selected_authors":[1199],"_selected_reviewers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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production. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), about 85% of potash is used in fertilizers, underscoring its critical role in global farming systems.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Data Management\/Lab Automation&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Data Management\/Lab Automation","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/data-management-lab-automation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"potash evaporation ponds at mining site","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/iStock-1362567340.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13544,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/did-you-read-these-mining-and-minerals-articles-yet\/","url_meta":{"origin":3043,"position":1},"title":"Did You Read These Mining and Minerals Articles Yet?","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"December 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"According to Google, here are the Top 10 read articles this year from Advancing Mining. Some have been around for quite awhile, but are still as relevant as ever. If you missed any of the latest articles, just click\u00a0here\u00a0to see the most recently published articles. You can even filter by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General\/Industry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General\/Industry","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/general-industry-mining\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Top 10, words, isolated on a dark blue background. Alphabet on stone blocks.Rating. Rating concept. 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Download this handy periodic table and X-ray energy reference guide to help in analyzing your mining samples. \u00a0It's our treat. Then visit our Mining and Minerals, Cement Production, and Coal Power pages for more goodies. 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As project timelines tighten and operational costs increase, organizations can no longer afford delays caused by traditional laboratory testing workflows. In situ analysis \u2014 the ability to measure elemental composition directly at the sampling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Exploration&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Exploration","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/exploration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Close up of industrial worker holding mineral ore in gloved hands on mining site","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/iStock-896157842.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13488,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/the-role-of-edxrf-spectrometers-in-the-extraction-of-copper-from-ore\/","url_meta":{"origin":3043,"position":4},"title":"The Role of EDXRF Spectrometers in the Extraction of Copper from Ore","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"November 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Copper extraction is a complex process requiring precise control to ensure high purity. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometers play a vital role by providing fast, non-destructive elemental analysis of ores, concentrates, and intermediate products. This enables mining operations to optimize extraction efficiency, maintain quality assurance, and meet stringent industry\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Elemental\/Geochemical Analysis","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/elemental-geochemical-analysis\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"a rock showing signs of copper and gold.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/mining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/iStock-1309478061.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14155,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/mining\/how-process-mass-spectrometry-based-on-line-gas-analysis-supports-compressed-biogas-quality-and-process-monitoring\/","url_meta":{"origin":3043,"position":5},"title":"How Process Mass Spectrometry-based On-line Gas Analysis Supports Compressed Biogas Quality and Process Monitoring","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"October 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Article Summary Compressed biogas (CBG) production requires continuous monitoring of gas composition from raw biogas through upgrading to final biomethane quality. 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