Deep Sea Mining

I read an interesting article in Mother Jones (7/16/23) about mining on the deep-sea floor (aka the abyssal plain) for metallic nodules. This follows up on another article on the same site that discusses how countries are becoming “wary” of the process.

A bit of background: Originally referred to as “manganese nodules,” science has known about these wonders of the deep ocean floor for decades. They are reported in nearly all of the abyssal plains that have been explored, and an analysis of those that have been recovered for study indicate that they grow VERY slowly, on the order of two to ten millimeters in a million years.

We now call these things “Polymetallic Nodules” — the term “manganese nodules” simply isn’t sexy enough for today’s modern sensibilities. And who cares about manganese anyway? But cobalt and nickel! Those are another story!

And they are just sitting there on the seafloor, waiting to be brought to the surface and delivered into our stressed-out and ever-hungry supply chain.

The recent article in Mother Jones is likely correct when it claims that land-based deposits of the critical metals found in these nodules are becoming severely depleted. (It may be important at this point to pull out the traditional caveat concerning information from the internet: “ALWAYS consider the source!”)

But, with that being said, while MJ may take a somewhat left-leaning approach (do any of us even understand the difference between left and right in these polarized days — I mean, really, many self-proclaimed Republicans support Russia and its invasion of Ukraine), in this case my training (and guts) tend to support Mama Jones’ analysis.

Anyway, this is another one of the tough conundrums that the younger generation is going to have to consider (sorry to burden them again, but so it goes). One side says: “We need these metals for the critical technologies we want and need.” And yes, this includes the green technologies that are going to allow us to cut carbon emission, moderate the pace of climate change, and allow our progeny to have a future.

The other side says: “There is no way we can continue to rape and pillage the earth, just to power our electric toothbrushes.” It can easily be argued that this approach also will cut carbon emission, moderate the pace of climate change, and allow our progeny to have a future.

I am surely not going to solve this dilemma before the end of this rant. Like any thinking person, I, too, struggle with finding any traction one-way or the other. Technology vs. nature. Advancement vs. stagnation. Toilet paper vs. leaves. Climate controlled comfort vs. living in a cave.

Like Aragorn asked on the Paths of the Dead: “What say you?”