Extraterrestrial Mining and Deep Sea Mining—Trends and Forecasts

摘要

This paper deals with the current status of extraterrestrial and deep-sea mining and outlines potential future developments. It gives a brief historical overview followed by comments on the legal framework for the exploitation of mineral resources in space and the deep sea. Mineral sources and deposits are discussed in conjunction with relevant mining methods. The outlook for future developments in both areas is provided, including a discussion of some of the main driving forces for meeting the challenges posed by mining in these environments.