Good news

[doodab]

BBC News - Japan finds rare earths in Pacific seabed

A vast new potential supply of rare earth minerals

The deposits are in international waters east and west of Hawaii, and east of Tahiti in French Polynesia.

Mr Kato estimated that rare earths contained in the deposits amounted to 80 to 100 billion tonnes.

The US Geological Survey has estimated that global reserves are just 110 million tonnes, found mainly in China, Russia and other former Soviet countries, and the United States.

of course mining companies wouldn't make a horrid mess of everything would they?

[TimberWolf]

I wonder how they mine at "depths of 3,500 to 6,000 metres below the ocean surface".

[doodab]

I wonder how they mine at "depths of 3,500 to 6,000 metres below the ocean surface".

Submarines? Or perhaps they would build some sort of undersea colony.

Atlantica Undersea Colony

[TimberWolf]

Submarines? Or perhaps they would build some sort of undersea colony.

Atlantica Undersea Colony

Just read this about deep sea mining:

Deep sea mining is a relatively new mineral retrieval process that takes place on the ocean floor. Ocean mining sites are usually around large areas of polymetallic nodules or active and extinct hydrothermal vents at about 1,400 - 3,700 meters below the ocean’s surface.[1] The vents create sulfide deposits, which contain precious metals such as silver, gold, copper, manganese, cobalt, and zinc.[2][3] The deposits are mined using either hydraulic pumps or bucket systems that take ore to the surface to be processed. As with all mining operations, deep sea mining raises questions about environmental damages to the surrounding areas.

At first I imagined at that depth it would be mining some abysmal abyss, but those hydrothermal vents seem to be buzzing with exotic life. Oh well.