Preliminary Assessment of Environmentally Friendly Mining Options Based on Various Mineral Resources—A Case Study of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone in Pacific

Chunjuan Wang, Dahai Liu (), Jianjun Chen, Chenglong Li and Ying Yu
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Chunjuan Wang: Key Laboratory of Coastal Science and Integrated Management, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Qingdao 266061, China
Dahai Liu: School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
Jianjun Chen: School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
Chenglong Li: Law School, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Ying Yu: Key Laboratory of Coastal Science and Integrated Management, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Qingdao 266061, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-20

Abstract: Deep-sea polymetallic nodules are associated with rich rare substances, such as rare-earth elements (REEs), Mo, Ti, Te, Li, which are currently in demand and are used in various applications. Deep-sea sediments near nodules are another important source of REEs, which will increase the resource potential of polymetallic nodules. Given the similarity of the mining technologies for deep-sea REEs and polymetallic nodules, this study proposed environmentally friendly mining options and developed a technoeconomic evaluation model by combining deep-sea polymetallic nodules and REEs. Using the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone as an example, this study revealed that the development of polymetallic nodules together with REEs of nearby sediments in the form of by-products will improve the economic and environmental benefits. In addition, the effects of discount rate, cost, and price on the economic benefits of nodule mining were discussed, and a technical development direction was proposed based on scientific and technological needs.

Keywords: rare-earth elements; polymetallic nodules; resource potential; economic efficiency; environmentally friendly mining options; Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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