CONCEPT DESIGN OF MINING SYSTEM OF SEAFLOOR HYDROTHERMAL DEPOSIT

摘要

Japan Deep Sea Technology Association had carried out concept design of the mining system for seafloor hydro-thermal deposit from 2008 through 2009. Through this concept design, the economic evaluation of the system with parameter of annual production of the ore was discussed, and it was clarified that more than 500 thousand tons annually would enable us to get positive balance. The environmental effect by mining was also discussed and was concluded that the active hydrothermal vents are not the targets of mining, instead, the dead vents are the targets. Then, the technological feasibility of each subsystem was discussed which constitutes the mining system, from the digger to the surface transporter.Finally, it was concluded that the mining system for hydrothermal deposits is feasible using the state-of-the-art technology even in rough sea around Japan.