184 • Marine Minerals: Exploring Our New Ocean Frontier 



Figure 5-13.— Schematic of Solution Mining 

 Technology (Frasch Process) 



Solution mining of sulfur is currently done in tfie Gulf of 

 Mexico. Borefiole mining, which has been suggested for 

 mining phosphorite, is similar, using high pressure water to 

 disintegrate ore below overburden. The resulting slurry is then 

 pumped to the surface. 



SOURCES: Encyclopedia Americana. vol.25(Danbury, CT: Grolier, Inc., 1986), p. 

 868; J.W. Shelton, "Sulfur," Mineral Fads and Problems. 1980 ed. 

 (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Mines), p. 884, 



fides, possible contamination of seawater by the 

 chemical leach solutions required, and the prob- 

 able necessity of fracturing impermeable deposits 

 to allow the leach solution to percolate through the 

 deposit. Solution/borehole technology is untested 

 on marine hard-rock deposits.^ 



^Denton, "Review of E.xisting, Developing, and Required Tech- 

 nology." 



