Undersea minerals: Protecting the ecosystems, mining the resources

摘要

Unlike hydrocarbons, deep-sea mineral resources have not yet been worked much, apart from certain minerals near coastal areas. Nor have al these resources been identified, but there is now no doubt about their economic interest. As technological progress is being made, these resources could help supply the world with raw materials in a near future under condition that precautions be taken to protect the environment... and, too, depending on trends in market prices.