accelerating industrialization, however, point to an 
ever increasing demand. Indeed, total demand for 
metals between 1965 and the year 2000 is 
expected to exceed the total of all metals con- 
sumed prior to 1965,'® and for some specific 
metals the increase will be manyfold. A similar 
estimate applies to many non-metallic minerals. 
Predicting sources of supply is perhaps even 
more difficult than predicting demand, due to 
many geological and economic unknowns. This 
problem is magnified in the case of ocean mineral 
resources because so little is known about the 
geology and the technology of recovery and proc- 
essing that valid comparisons with present produc- 
tion from land sources are almost impossible. 
Both accelerating demand and depletion of 
known mineral resources indicate that if the 
Nation is to enjoy a rising standard of living, 
particularly in the light of an ever increasing 
population, great attention must be paid to future 
supplies; and all indications are that over the 
long-term the ocean will become an important 
source of supply. 
With the possible exception of certain strategic 
minerals, the ocean resources will be recovered by 
private industry only when economically attrac- 
tive. For such minerals as sulfur, this point already 
has been reached. For others, timing is uncertain. 
It is not necessary to develop most hard mineral 
ocean resources immediately; thus no crash pro- 
gram is required. It is imperative, however, that 
the Nation begin now an orderly program to gain a 
better understanding of resources available and of 
basic ocean technology required to exploit them. 
Even with such basic knowledge, the time required 
on land to advance from early exploration to 
actual production is often 10 years or more, and 
due to the environment it probably will be even 
greater for most ocean minerals. 
Because of growing demand for minerals, the 
inadequate knowledge of the oceans as a source, 
and the lead time required to gain an adequate 
understanding, the panel concludes that the Fed- 
eral and State governments should take appropri- 
ate action now to stimulate ocean mining activity. 
This should include reconnaissance surveys and 
removal of some of the uncertainties and inappro- 
16 ctatement by Stanley A. Cain, Assistant Secretary of 
the Department of the interior, to the House Committee 
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Sept. 21, 1967. 
priate regulations presently hindering industrial 
participation. 
B. Investment and Sales 
No authoritative overall statistics on ocean 
mining are available but the order of magnitude of 
existing operations can be sensed from the follow- 
ing estimates: 
Excluding sand, gravel, and oyster shell dredg- 
ing, the world-wide investment in ocean mining is 
about $60 million, mostly in operations in south- 
east Asia and off England and South West Africa. 
The annual rate of investment is estimated in the 
order of $10 million and is rising. 
About $200 million of minerals was taken 
world-wide from the ocean floor in 1967,!7 
excluding coal and iron presently mined from 
onshore openings and chemicals extracted from 
sea water. Common sand and gravel accounted for 
more than half the total; sands bearing tin, iron, 
and other heavy minerals about 20 per cent; shells 
15 per cent; sulfur 8 per cent; and diamonds 5 per 
cent. World-wide production of ocean minerals is 
growing rapidly. 
At least a handful of U.S. companies now are 
involved to some extent in foreign offshore mining 
operations. Dozens more have collectively invested 
several million dollars in studies and exploration, 
indicating the degree of interest and the potential 
for rapid growth from today’s relatively modest 
base. 
C. Industry Structure 
Offshore mining in the United States is pursued 
in shallow water by relatively small companies 
dredging sand, gravel, and oyster shells in response 
to unique local supply and demand situations. 
Sulfur, on the other hand, mined through a drill 
hole, is related to petroleum in its exploration and 
recovery techniques and in its economic and legal 
problems. 
Many diverse companies are showing interest in 
future operations due to the variety of potentially 
profitable situations. Some companies are oriented 
17Charles M. Romanowitz, Michael J. Cruickshank, and 
Milton P. Overall, “Offshore Mining Present and Future,” 
presented at National Security Industrial Association- 
Ocean Science Technology Advisory Committee (OSTAC) 
Ocean Resources Subcommittee meeting, San Francisco 
area, April 26, 1967. 
