The E-tech element potential of submarine ferromanganese crusts

High concentrations of technologically critical elements (such as Te, cobalt, REEs, Nb, Pt, W, Bi, Ni, Mn & Ti) occur throughout the global ocean basins where they are incorporated into thick crusts of ferromanganese oxide (otherwise known as Fe-Mn crusts). These crusts have attracted particularly interest because they are very rich in rare elements such as cobalt, tellurium and selenium. These elements are in short supply but they are critical to emerging new technologies including renewable energy and the 'green' economy. Recent estimates of the potential global tonnage of these metal rich crusts suggest about 200 billion tonnes exists on the seafloor. International interest is growing with China and Japan applying for mining licenses from the United Nations International Seabed Authority. Hence the need to address concerns about the sustainability of these crusts as a resource and their potential environmental impacts if exploited.

This proposal aims to establish a consortium of geological, biological and oceanographic researchers and industry specialists that will identify what processes control the formation, distribution, abundance and concentration of metal-rich crusts on the deep seafloor. By bringing together a team of specialists, we will also address technical issues surrounding the exploration of these crusts and environmental issues related to their exploitation.

Security of Supply of Essential Metals:

This proposal will address a novel and new supply source of E-tech elements such as tellurium from a marine resource perspective. it will engage with the off-shore survey, mining engineering industry as well as researchers in biology, geology, oceanography and marine chemistry. Only through a holistic multidisciplinary approach are we able to access the viability of this resource and its potential environmental impacts.

Tellurium is enriched in Fe-Mn crusts in the deep ocean by almost 10,000 times compared with continental crust. It is one of the E-tech elements that are considered critical to the emerging high-tech industries and the 'green' economy. For example, the renewable energy sector identifies a sufficient and secure supply of tellurium as the single largest barrier in its development and production of CdTe photovoltaic devices. These are the only thin film photovoltaic technologies to surpass crystalline silicon photovoltaic devices in both cost and efficiency in the provision of megawatt PV systems. Currently, the UK and European economies are strongly dependent on imports of strategic E-tech metals such as tellurium from politically and/or economically unstable countries (e.g. Zaire); a fact recognized by the European Commission in the priority given to the investigation of strategic mineral resources in European territories, including the seabed (European Commission, Horizons 2020). There is no primary source of tellurium. Its major supply is through by processing of copper ore from Zaire, which remains the major global supplier.

Environmental protection:
Our proposal is also aimed at assessing potential environmental impacts to ensure any future development of marine resources is sustainable and responsible. For example, our research will provide new and important information on the composition and evolution of sea floor metal-rich crusts and hence their potential environmental impact on adjacent ecosystems if they are mined. Ultimately, results from our research will enable informed decisions by non-governmental organisations and policy makers scrutinising the sustainability of future extraction of metal rich crusts on the sea floor. For example, this research is identified as a priority in the new ten-year science plan for InterRidge, which has observer status at United Nations International Seabed Authority, and of which PI Murton was chair (20010-2013). The importance of the environmental impacts is recognised by the current EU Framework 7 call on assessing potential environmental impact of deep-sea mining as well as in current draft legislation for the EC Horizons 2020 research framework.