An accidental discovery of a large mineral deposit
The aim of the drilling operation was to learn more about subsurface water circulation by drilling into a fault. But when operations began on the selected topographical high along the…
Seabed Minerals
Mineral resource estimates for Nordic waters expose different lines of thinking between major Norwegian institutions
A debate has recently unfolded around how much copper – and related metals – are present in Norway’s mid-oceanic ridge system, an area where mining could take place in the…
Finding deep sea minerals with oil and gas technology
“With conventional exploration for oil and gas, electromagnetic measurements (EM) are used to map resistivity in prospects – hydrocarbons are more resistive than brines. When we are looking for minerals,…
Norway opens for seabed mineral activities
The final step in a years-long process was made in the Norwegian Parliament on January 9th, 2024. The four largest political parties, representing a strong majority, voted to open an…
What moves a grain?
Plume dispersion is not solely a matter of distance from the mine site, physical processeses are also important”, said Thomas Peacock, professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at the…
Norway is getting a new marine industry
The governing parties, the Labour Party and the Center Party, together with the Conservative Party and the Progressive Party, have secured a majority in parliament on the opening of mineral operations…
Environmentally responsible mining: Not so impossible
A key milestone was met in May this year. Impossible Metals demonstrated the capabilities of their autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Eureka 1. The successful test in shallow water has brought…
Japan eyes production from REE-rich muds
The unusual deposit was first discovered by Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) in 2013 and is located in an area off the Minami-Torishima Island (Marcus Island) in…
Leader in marine minerals
Rotterdam. The Underwater Minerals Conference (UMC) is being held in the Netherlands for the 51st year this week, and spans six days. The number of participants has increased. And so…
An exciting discovery in the far north
“Plan B” became as successful as anyone could have hoped, as a new hydrothermal vent was discovered by a Norwegian team of researchers. This summer, the GoNorth expedition was originally…
ISA: No quick decisions despite deadline breach
The Metals Company (TMC) is eager to begin production. They might be the first company in the world to start deep sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), located in…
A national team for increased knowledge in the deep sea
“This is collaboration across disciplines, and both industry and academia are involved in order to utilise the expertise we have in Norway”, said Anette Broch Mathisen Tvedt, CEO of Adepth…