57 
UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS 
The Soviet Union has been actively engaged in manganese nodule 
exploration and research since the 1950's. Large numbers of photos and 
samples of nodules have been obtained. Several technical papers have 
appeared in Soviet scientific journals over the years describing the 
mineralogy, chemistry, and internal structure of the nodules, their dis- 
tribution, and hypotheses of origin.’ Earlier expeditions using the 
R/V Vityaz, were mainly concentrated in the Pacific and Indian 
Oceans while later investigations have extended into the Atlantic 
Ocean. In 1971, the Soviet bloc set up an International Coordinating 
Center of Marine Exploration in the Soviet Union. 
Although the Soviets have dredged many nodule samples from 
the deep seabed for study purposes, there seems to be little progress 
toward commercial exploitation. One reason may be that the USSR 
is essentially self sufficient or a major exporter of the major metals 
contained in manganese nodules (nickel, copper, cobalt, and manga- 
nese). Consequently, developing expensive technology to recover these 
metals from the deep seabed would not be as pressing a concern to 
the USSR as it would be to other countries more dependent on im- 
ports of these metals. 
On the Soviet shelf, low grade manganese nodules have been dis- 
covered in the Baltic Sea in the Gulf of Riga. In some areas of the 
shelf they are reported to exceed 3,500 tons per square kilometer.® 
UNITED KINGDOM 
The British Department of Trade and Industry has offered financial 
support to the two British members of the recently formed Kennecott. 
group. The British firms are Rio Tinto Zine Corp. and Consolidated 
Gold Fields Ltd. These firms would repay the loan if the venture is 
profitable, and would get first call on their 30 percent shares of the 
metals produced.’ 
CANADA 
Although several Canadian firms including International Nickel 
Company (INCO), Noranda Mines Ltd., and Cominco Ltd., are par- 
ticipants in international consortia to mine manganese nodules from 
the ocean floor, no government funds appear to be involved. 
5 Skornyakova, N. S. and P. F. Andrusphchenko. Iron-manganese Nodules from the Cen- 
tral Part of the South Pacific. Oceanology, v, 8, n. 5, 1968, pp. 692—701. 
8 Sovetskaia Latviia, November 24, 1968, p. 4. 
™ Metals Week, Feb. 4, 1974, p. 6. 
