The effect of mine tailing residue on marine microbial activities in Indian Ocean

Abstract

Most of Deep-sea minings(DSM) focus on three types of resources poly-metallic manganese nodule(MN), seabed massive sulfur(SMS), and cobalt crust. After the mining, the mined ores are grinded into fine particles so as to extract the sought-out resources, producing massive amounts of wastes powders called mine tailings in the process. This process would take place on the ship and the mine tailings will be disposed into the sea. Great economic benefits are anticipated while a serious damage to the marine environment by mine tailings is also expected.1. International Seabed Authority(ISA) was founded to regulate any exploitation of resources at seabed or subsoil on marine areas beyond national jurisdictions.2. The plans to proclaim its first regulations related to these exploitations are projected in 2020. Numerous countries are preparing for these by conducting various experiments pertinent to the environmental impacts of mine tailings. But there are only a few experiments regarding the effects of mine tailing on marine phytoplanktons. This study looks into the effects of SMS mine tailings and MN on activities of phytoplankton. The surface waters of the Indian Ocean were sampled and mixed with SMS residues and crushed MN (<20um) at 7 different concentrations, then were incubated up to 12 hours in a deck incubator with continuous flow of surface seawater the same conditions (temperature, light intensity)