ocean mining techniques

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Ocean Mining Techniques Ocean Mining Techniques K. K. Sandeep vamsi Sandeep vamsi M.Sc, M.Phil. M.Sc, M.Phil.

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Page 1: Ocean mining techniques

Ocean Mining TechniquesOcean Mining Techniques

K. Sandeep K. Sandeep vamsivamsi

M.Sc, M.Phil. M.Sc, M.Phil.

Page 2: Ocean mining techniques

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Minerals have become very useful in our Minerals have become very useful in our

daily life.daily life. More consumption of these minerals is More consumption of these minerals is

leading to high demand.leading to high demand. In majority of the countries, lack of In majority of the countries, lack of

minerals or depletion of minerals from the minerals or depletion of minerals from the resources is leading to high demand for resources is leading to high demand for particular minerals during peace and also particular minerals during peace and also during the war time.during the war time.

Page 3: Ocean mining techniques

Lets take an example of India having Lets take an example of India having high demand for minerals, the last two high demand for minerals, the last two wars have caused depletion in wars have caused depletion in resources in petroleum, tin, lead and resources in petroleum, tin, lead and zinc.zinc.

Lead, zinc and tin supply is put at only Lead, zinc and tin supply is put at only about 17-20 years from the known about 17-20 years from the known sources.sources.

Some of the critical minerals are Some of the critical minerals are petroleum, petroleum products, S, Pb, petroleum, petroleum products, S, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Hg, pt and minerals like Zn, Cu, Ni, Hg, pt and minerals like industrial diamond, graphite, cryolite, industrial diamond, graphite, cryolite, selenium.selenium.

Page 4: Ocean mining techniques

Due to depletion of mineral Due to depletion of mineral resources, researchers and scientists resources, researchers and scientists have found an alternative, they have have found an alternative, they have prospected minerals resources in prospected minerals resources in oceans. Many countries are exploring oceans. Many countries are exploring and exploiting minerals from the and exploiting minerals from the oceans.oceans.

we are going discuss what are the we are going discuss what are the minerals found in oceans and what minerals found in oceans and what are the techniques used to mine are the techniques used to mine minerals.minerals.

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TYPES OF MINERALS FOUND IN TYPES OF MINERALS FOUND IN OCEANSOCEANS

VMS – volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits VMS – volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits (metal sulfide deposits)(metal sulfide deposits) Copper, zinc, lead, gold, silver Copper, zinc, lead, gold, silver By-products include cobalt, sulfur, manganese, By-products include cobalt, sulfur, manganese,

barium, tin, cadmium, indium, telluriumbarium, tin, cadmium, indium, tellurium Formed by volcanic openings in ocean floorFormed by volcanic openings in ocean floor

Superheated water + sulfur borne metals wells Superheated water + sulfur borne metals wells out forming a cone (black smokers / fumeroles)out forming a cone (black smokers / fumeroles)

Deposits the above metalsDeposits the above metals Very hot highly acidic local conditions while Very hot highly acidic local conditions while

activeactive Petroleum deposits.Petroleum deposits.

Page 6: Ocean mining techniques

PROSPECTINGPROSPECTING Acoustical devicesAcoustical devices

Optical systemsOptical systems

Navigation systemsNavigation systems

Other devices and techniquesOther devices and techniques

Page 7: Ocean mining techniques

Acoustic techniquesAcoustic techniques1) Echo sounders operating at 1) Echo sounders operating at

frequencies between 3 and 35 kHz frequencies between 3 and 35 kHz provide seabed and subsurface provide seabed and subsurface profiles. profiles.

A 3.5 kHz profiler can penetrate the A 3.5 kHz profiler can penetrate the upper 50m of sediments and log upper 50m of sediments and log irregularities such as subsurface irregularities such as subsurface intrusions and surface extrusions of intrusions and surface extrusions of basalt.basalt.

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Bottom towed side scan sonars provide Bottom towed side scan sonars provide information on obstacles and nodule information on obstacles and nodule coverage. Echo sounders has sixteen coverage. Echo sounders has sixteen narrow beams each with an angle of narrow beams each with an angle of 1.66 degree giving detailed 1.66 degree giving detailed topographic data.topographic data.

2) GLORIA, is another system towed 2) GLORIA, is another system towed 50m below sea surface, maps the 50m below sea surface, maps the ocean floor in swaths of 14,30 or 60km. ocean floor in swaths of 14,30 or 60km.

Page 9: Ocean mining techniques
Page 10: Ocean mining techniques

Optical Optical systemssystems To make reasonably accurate estimates of To make reasonably accurate estimates of

seabed minerals, analysts must have seabed minerals, analysts must have detailed sample information on their type, detailed sample information on their type, volume, density of distribution, and the volume, density of distribution, and the amount of sediments covering them.amount of sediments covering them.

Various large, still cameras with wide Various large, still cameras with wide angle lenses and a capacity for hundreds angle lenses and a capacity for hundreds of frame are used, as are small flashlight of frame are used, as are small flashlight cameras capable of only one shot. These cameras capable of only one shot. These units, combined with “boomerang” units, combined with “boomerang” sampling devices, can take a photograph sampling devices, can take a photograph and then return automatically to surface.and then return automatically to surface.

Page 11: Ocean mining techniques

Other devices and Other devices and techniquestechniques

1)1) Bathysonde, provide vertical profile Bathysonde, provide vertical profile measurements of the water column’s measurements of the water column’s pressure, temperature and salinity.pressure, temperature and salinity.

2)2) Geologists use various grabs, dredge Geologists use various grabs, dredge buckets, and corers. Seabed grab buckets, and corers. Seabed grab samples taken at intervals can be samples taken at intervals can be analysed by employing californium-analysed by employing californium-252 radiation source. The process 252 radiation source. The process works by measuring gamma works by measuring gamma radiation given off by seabed radiation given off by seabed material after activation by neutrons.material after activation by neutrons.

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Ocean mining methodsOcean mining methods

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Mining manganese nodulesMining manganese nodules

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Mining polymetallic nodules Mining polymetallic nodules using continuous line bucket using continuous line bucket

systemsystem Continuous line bucket system (CLB) Continuous line bucket system (CLB)

consists of an 8 km cable on which consists of an 8 km cable on which buckets were launched from the bow of a buckets were launched from the bow of a former whaling ship.former whaling ship.

In 1972 these CLB used to have only one In 1972 these CLB used to have only one ship to collect the nodules, but only some ship to collect the nodules, but only some nodules were picked up, from the 1975 nodules were picked up, from the 1975 they used two ship to cover large area.they used two ship to cover large area.

Page 15: Ocean mining techniques
Page 16: Ocean mining techniques

Hydraulic mining systemHydraulic mining system This system was conceptualized in 1988.This system was conceptualized in 1988. Its consisted of a semi-submersible surface Its consisted of a semi-submersible surface

platform, a catamaran type; a 4800 m rigid platform, a catamaran type; a 4800 m rigid steel pipe string, and a flexible hose, 600m steel pipe string, and a flexible hose, 600m long and with a 38 m centimeter internal long and with a 38 m centimeter internal diameter, connecting the bottom of the pipe diameter, connecting the bottom of the pipe string to a dredge on the seabed.string to a dredge on the seabed.

This hose would form an arc, allowing the This hose would form an arc, allowing the dredge to deviate from the route followed by dredge to deviate from the route followed by the surface platform so as to avoid obstacles.the surface platform so as to avoid obstacles.

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The self propelled dredge would be 18 The self propelled dredge would be 18 m long, 15 m wide and 5 m high, m long, 15 m wide and 5 m high, weighing 330t. weighing 330t.

crawling on the bottom, it would collect crawling on the bottom, it would collect nodules and condition them for nodules and condition them for pumping through the flexible hose.pumping through the flexible hose.

Page 18: Ocean mining techniques
Page 19: Ocean mining techniques

Thank YouThank You