Deep-Sea Mining

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the increasing demand of critical metals for green energy alternatives as well as to support industrialized human society, interest in mining of deep-sea mineral resources, such as ferromanganese nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, seafloor massive sulfides, and rare-earth element-rich muds, has been growing in the last several decades. Although, due to certain economic and technical constraints, commercial deep-sea mining has not been realized as yet, several research groups as well as private enterprises have become involved in developing systematic methods for quantification of their resource potential and in developing prototypes for deep-sea mining technology as well as metallurgical processing. In the field of exploration survey of deep-sea mineral resources, for instance, quite a few systematic methods for quantification of the resource potential have been established. Whereas research on developing prototypes for deep-sea mining technology is underway, no economically innovative technique has yet been developed. Similarly, although several routes in the metallurgical processing have been developed, no environmentally friendly method has yet been established. In the field of environmental protection fields, studies on establishing the baseline conditions have been initiated and small-scale experiments to predict potential impacts due to deep-sea mining have been conducted, but impacts due to large-scale mining and ecosystem functioning have not been understood, yet. Additionally, economic models are under development for mining of deep-sea minerals, which need to be validated. However, considerable research has gone into these topics in the last few decades in different research and academic organizations. Hence, it is proposed that current scientific, technical, environmental, and economic approaches as well as the way ahead for realizing deep-sea mining may be highlighted in a Special Issue dedicated to this topic. We invite the scientists and engineers to contribute their research papers on various aspects of deep-sea mining in this Special Issue on ‘deep-sea mining’.

Dr. Tetsuo Yamazaki
Dr. Sup Hong
Dr. Rahul Sharma
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Minerals minerals	2.5	3.9	2011	18.7 Days	CHF 2400
Energies energies	3.2	5.5	2008	16.1 Days	CHF 2600
Mining mining	-	-	2021	15 Days	CHF 1000

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Minerals Energies Mining

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21 pages, 2678 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Modelling of Deep-Sea-Mining-Generated Turbidity Currents

by Mohamed Elerian, Cees van Rhee and Rudy Helmons

Minerals 2022, 12(5), 558; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12050558 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2261

Abstract

Renewable energy installations and energy storage solutions require significant quantities of critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and rare earth metals. The supply chains of these raw materials face many difficulties, such as the continuous decrease of mineral ore grades on land. [...] Read more.

Renewable energy installations and energy storage solutions require significant quantities of critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and rare earth metals. The supply chains of these raw materials face many difficulties, such as the continuous decrease of mineral ore grades on land. In view of these complications, the motivation to search for new resources has grown, with the deep sea being seen as a potential source of these minerals. Polymetallic nodule mining generates turbidity currents, which could negatively impact the deep-sea environment. For that reason, we investigate this type of current experimentally and numerically in order to characterize the generated turbidity current. Various non-cohesive sediment types, i.e., different particle sizes, and different concentrations are tested using a lock-exchange set-up. Three sediment types (glass beads, silica sand and a 50/50 blend of glass beads and silica sand) with seven initial sediment concentrations are examined. Additionally, for the numerical work, a drift–flux modelling approach is used to simulate the performed lock-exchange experiments. The results show that the front velocities of the currents resulting from the three sediment types increases with increasing initial concentrations inside the lock regardless. Moreover, using the same initial concentration, the difference in front velocities between the generated currents of the three sediment types decreases as the initial concentration increases. When using an initial volumetric concentration of 2.5% and 3%, the difference in front velocities between the generated current of the three sediment types vanishes. Finally, by comparing the numerical and experimental results, the drift–flux model is proven to be a reliable numerical model for predicting the current. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Deep-Sea Mining)

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32 pages, 13261 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Simulation Technology Development for Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical System in Deep-Seabed Integrated Mining System Using Multibody Dynamics

by Jun-Hyun Lim, Hyung-Woo Kim, Sup Hong, Jae-Won Oh and Dae-Sung Bae

Minerals 2022, 12(5), 498; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12050498 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

The deep-seabed mining system for mining resources consists of a mining vessel, lifting riser, lifting pump, buffer system, flexible riser, and mining robot. Because this system is exposed to extreme environments such as fluid resistance, high water pressure, and deep water, a considerable [...] Read more.

The deep-seabed mining system for mining resources consists of a mining vessel, lifting riser, lifting pump, buffer system, flexible riser, and mining robot. Because this system is exposed to extreme environments such as fluid resistance, high water pressure, and deep water, a considerable amount of time and cost is consumed in the design and test evaluation of equipment. To tackle these problems, the deep-seabed mining system in an extreme environment requires simulation-based technology. In particular, due to the large movement caused by marine energy, vibration caused by the operation of the mechanical system, and driving resistance of mining robot by the subsea soft soil, it is very important in the mining system design to analyze the dynamic effects of the various elements that constitute the deep-seabed mining system in a single integrated environment. This paper introduces the development of an integrated dynamic simulation method for deep-seabed mining systems and discusses the results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Deep-Sea Mining)

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16 pages, 1579 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Economic Feasibility Study of Ferromanganese Nodule Mining by Mechanical Lifting and Small-Scale Collectors

by Sup Hong, Hyung-Woo Kim, Tae-Kyung Yeu, Rei Arai and Tetsuo Yamazaki

Minerals 2021, 11(12), 1389; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min11121389 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2467

Abstract

Ferromanganese nodules have been recognized as a potential future metal source for over 50 years. Many research and development efforts have been conducted by many organizations. Most of the efforts have been concentrated into the mining technologies especially for hydraulic lifting through riser [...] Read more.

Ferromanganese nodules have been recognized as a potential future metal source for over 50 years. Many research and development efforts have been conducted by many organizations. Most of the efforts have been concentrated into the mining technologies especially for hydraulic lifting through riser pipes with bulk-scale nodule collector. However, no commercial mining venture exists. Uncertainty in the economy of nodule mining is considered to be the reason for this. In order to improve the economy, a mining subsystem based on mechanical lifting and small-scale collectors is proposed and the preliminary economic feasibility is examined in this study. The benefit was at a favorable level compared with that using hydraulic lifting with bulk-scale collector. From the viewpoint of environmental impact assessment, environmental considerations of deep-sea sediment plume are explained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Deep-Sea Mining)

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28 pages, 1873 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Near-Field Analysis of Turbidity Flows Generated by Polymetallic Nodule Mining Tools

by Mohamed Elerian, Said Alhaddad, Rudy Helmons and Cees van Rhee

Mining 2021, 1(3), 251-278; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mining1030017 - 01 Nov 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4679

Abstract

The interest in polymetallic nodule mining has considerably increased in the last few decades. This has been largely driven by population growth and the need to move towards a green future, which requires strategic raw materials. Deep-Sea Mining (DSM) is a potential source [...] Read more.

The interest in polymetallic nodule mining has considerably increased in the last few decades. This has been largely driven by population growth and the need to move towards a green future, which requires strategic raw materials. Deep-Sea Mining (DSM) is a potential source of such key materials. While harvesting the ore from the deep sea by a Polymetallic Nodule Mining Tool (PNMT), some bed sediment is unavoidably collected. Within the PNMT, the ore is separated from the sediment, and the remaining sediment–water mixture is discharged behind the PNMT, forming an environmental concern. This paper begins with surveying the state-of-the-art knowledge of the evolution of the discharge from a PNMT, in which the discharge characteristics and generation of turbidity currents are discussed. Moreover, the existing water entrainment theories and coefficients are analyzed. It is shown how plumes and jets can be classified using the flux balance approach. Following that, the models of Lee et al. (2013) and Parker et al. (1986) are combined and utilized to study the evolution of both the generated sediment plume and the subsequent turbidity current. The results showed that a smaller sediment flux at the impingement point, where the plume is transformed into a turbidity current, results in a shorter run-out distance of the turbidity current, consequently being more favorable from an environmental point of view. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Deep-Sea Mining)

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