Source: New York Times
Author: Steven H.D. Haddock and
There is treasure in the sea, and much of it lies in plain view on the deep ocean floor. Fields of metallic nodules and towering hydrothermal chimneys accumulate precious and industrially prized metals, estimated to be worth many billions to even trillions of dollars.
It is there for the taking, and mining operations around the world are exploring strategies to plunder this treasure, asserting that mining in the deep sea is more sustainable and less harmful than doing so on land. Mining explorations covering more than 500,000 square miles have been approved by the International Seabed Authority, which regulates mining in international waters. That’s roughly twice the size of Texas.
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