Korea Mn-nodule program

Abstract

To secure the future supply and self-sufficiency of major strategic metals including Cr, Cu and Ni, the Korean government launched a deep-sea research program in early 1990s. In 1994, Korea registered 150,000 km2 Mn-nodule field in the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone, the north-east equatorial Pacific, to the international sea-bed authority (ISA). Following the ISA exploration code, the final exclusive exploration area of 75,000 Km2 was assigned in 2002, based on results of eight-year researches of chemico-physical properties of nodules, bottom profiles and sediment properties. Since 2002, the research program was categorized to four technical parts: geophysical exploration to acquire detailed bathymetric information and to map the minable area environmental exploration to archive biologic, chemical, geologic and physical environmental base line data development of the integrated mining system and development of a smelting process system. At this time, all of the foundation techniques for commercialization are prepared. In particular, we prepared 25,000 scale mining maps of <5 m horizontal resolution in the priori area. Pre-pilot mining test was also successfully performed in water depth of ~1,500 m in 2013. In next five years, Korea Mn-nodule program will focus on the commercialization based on three strategic approaches: maintenance of exploration contract area acquisition of exploitation right and preparatioion-Clipperton fracture zone, the north-east equatorial Pacific, to the international sea-bed authority (ISA). Following the ISA exploration code, the final exclusive exploration area of 75,000 Km2 was assigned in 2002, based on results of eight-year researches of chemico-physical properties of nodules, bottom profiles and sediment properties. Since 2002, the research program was categorized to four technical parts: geophysical exploration to acquire detailed bathymetric information and to map the minable area environmental exploration to archive biologic, chemical, geologic and physical environmental base line data development of the integrated mining system and development of a smelting process system. At this time, all of the foundation techniques for commercialization are prepared. In particular, we prepared 25,000 scale mining maps of <5 m horizontal resolution in the priori area. Pre-pilot mining test was also successfully performed in water depth of ~1,500 m in 2013. In next five years, Korea Mn-nodule program will focus on the commercialization based on three strategic approaches: maintenance of exploration contract area acquisition of exploitation right and preparatio