Geology, Exploration and Mining of Deep-Sea Mineral Resources

Dear Colleagues,

Resources of cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper, gold, and several rare and rare earth elements in deep-sea minerals (DSM) are comparable to, and sometimes exceed, the resources of continental deposits. The metals in DSM are categorized as critical and strategic, ensuring the sustainable development particularly for high-tech industries of the global economy. Currently, exploration work is ongoing to assess the resources of three main types of deep-sea minerals—ferromanganese nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, and polymetallic sulfides. The exploration methods include geophysical and geochemical ones and are still improving. The data obtained during exploration work are of great scientific importance, and the issues of DSM distribution and composition, as well as modeling of ore formation processes, remain the subject of many scientific projects. At present, exploration work on certain areas of the seabed is nearing completion. The need to move on to production is driving the development of deep-sea mining technologies.

The main goal of the Special Issue is to improve our understanding of ore-forming processes in the ocean as well as approaches for exploration and exploitation of DSM. This will provide a scientific and methodological basis for the future development of ocean mineral resources.

Prof. Dr. Georgy Cherkashov
Prof. Dr. Xiaoming Sun
Prof. Dr. Luigi Jovane
Dr. Pedro Madureira
Dr. Francisco J. González
Guest Editors

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