The ocean is not only rich in oil, but also a treasure trove of various minerals. Currently, oil extracted from the seabed accounts for over 30% of the world's total oil production, highlighting its importance. Oceanic mineral resources are also reshaping the global mineral distribution map. In early 1991, the United Nations designated my country as a pioneering nation in seabed mineral exploration and designated the southeastern waters of Hawaii as my country's exploration area. Therefore, it is even more necessary for us to understand this treasure trove, to understand what mineral deposits exist on the seabed, and how they are distributed.
Based on current information, seabed mineral deposits can be broadly classified into three categories: manganese nodules, hydrothermal deposits, and drill shells.
Manganese nodules, also known as manganese granules or manganese ore spheres, are polymetallic nodules with manganese as the main component. They are widely distributed in the ocean floor at depths of 2,000 to 6,000 meters in all the world's oceans, with the largest reserves in the Pacific Ocean, estimated at 1.7 trillion tons, accounting for more than half of the world's total reserves of about 3 trillion tons.
Manganese lumps have been on the seabed for a long time, and due to different environments, they have different sizes and shapes. Most of them are between 1 and 25 centimeters in diameter, and some weigh tens of kilograms or more. They are piled up on the seabed in the deep sea like pebbles.
It is estimated that the total reserves of various metals contained in all manganese clumps in the ocean far exceed those on land. More importantly, manganese clumps are a regenerated sedimentary mineral, and their reserves are constantly increasing, with the Pacific Ocean alone adding 10 million tons annually.
Although manganese clumps are distributed throughout all oceans, the largest distribution area, highest enrichment, and highest metal grade are found on the seabed of the eastern Pacific Ocean north of the equator. In particular, a 4,600-kilometer-long and 900-kilometer-wide stretch of seabed extending from southwest Mexico to south Hawaii is densely covered with manganese clumps, with an average density exceeding 10 kilograms per square meter and a total grade of over 3% for nickel, copper, and cobalt—truly a treasure trove.
This area has relatively flat terrain and favorable sea conditions, making it ideal for mining operations. It is currently a major site for scientific research and mining experiments conducted by various countries. The mining area allocated to my country by the United Nations is also located in this region.
In addition, the southwestern waters of South Asia and the eastern Indian Ocean are also regions rich in manganese nodules. In the past, it was believed that high-grade manganese nodules were only concentrated on the deep seabed far from land, but recent surveys and explorations have shown that the waters around some small islands in the South Pacific also contain a considerable amount of manganese nodules.
Currently, mining vessels are generally used to extract manganese lumps. Mining machines equipped with deep-sea television collect manganese lumps from the seabed and then continuously suck the lumps to the surface mining vessel through a hose, much like a vacuum cleaner. The daily mining output can reach 3,000 tons.
