133 



technological development aimed at recov- 

 ery of mai'ine hard minerals. 



Obstacles to Industry Action 



The Commission finds that the obstacles 

 to greater commercial development of subsea 

 hard minerals are economic, technical, and 

 institutional. 



The basic differences between the fossil 

 fuels industry and the hard minerals in- 

 dustry have important implications for 

 Government policy. The fossil fuels in- 

 dustry lias been fortunate in that the geolog- 

 ical structures conti-olling the distribution of 

 deposits generally extend without interrup- 

 tion seaward fi-om the land. This permits 

 easier identification of promising areas for 

 exploration and will facilitate the gradual 

 seaward extension of existmg production 

 technology'. However, only a few types of 

 hard mineral deposits extend from the land 

 offshore, making the projection of favorable 

 target areas mucli more difficult. Further, the 

 exploratory techniques are more expensive 

 because the liorizontal dimensions of most 

 hard mineral deposits are smaller. The steps 

 from discovery to production of hard min- 

 erals also involve considerably more effort 

 and, except for nearshore operations, involve 

 new, costly technology. 



Technological Considerations 



The lack of operating experience increases 

 the risks of ocean mining ventures. Ocean 

 mining recovery presently can be accom- 

 plished from a number of ore deposits at 

 depths as great as 150 feet in calm weather. 

 However, dredging operations, even in rela- 

 tively shallow waters, cost more than twice as 

 much as similar operations on land. 



The difficulties of locating, proving, and 

 developing reserves in deeper, unprotected 

 waters are formidable. Indeed, despite in- 

 tense interest in ocean mining, most recent 

 activities have been conceptual and explora- 



With increasing depths the tech- 

 nological difficulties involved in 

 locating, proving, and developing 

 marine mineral reserves icill he 

 formidable; submarine crawlers, 

 bottom-hovering vchieles, and 

 flej-ible deep icater pipes are 

 among the equipment that will be 

 required. 



toi-y. Consequently, it is unlikely that with 

 present technology major private capital 

 outlays will be forthcoming unless spectac- 

 ularly rich deposits become available or un- 

 less the prices or lack of availability of land- 

 based sources dictate unusual measures. 



The technology' for future ocean mining, 

 as in deep water, will require such equipment 

 as: 



• Submarine crawlers and bottom-hovering 

 vehicles for exploration and recover}' of 

 deposits 



• Stationary or neutrally buoyant platforms 



• Drilling rigs on the ocean floor 



• Submarine dredges 



