The deepest paradox : seafloor mining and its future
Name
1080639446-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
1.51 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
4438d76e19da9800b3529b00a15816a2
Author(s)
Husain, Fatima
Advisor(s)
Marcia Bartusiak.
Alternative Title
Seafloor mining and its future
Date Issued
2018
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Metals mined from the seafloor could support tomorrow's technological and clean energy innovations. Though the mineralogical and geochemical significance of seafloor deposits, which lie thousands of meters below the water's surface in geological formations such as polymetallic nodules, ferromanganese crusts, and seafloor massive sulfides is well-established, the biological and ecological profiles of these sites are still actively developing. As a result, the two scientific disciplines - geochemistry and biology - have advanced at different rates. Regions of the seafloor including the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, the Prime Crust Zone, and inactive or waning hydrothermal vent systems have attracted attention for their unique concentration of metals used in electronics and strong magnets. With commercial mining activities set to commence in 2019 by Canadian company Nautilus Minerals, it is time to assess the paradoxical nature of seafloor mining: to mine the seafloor to support sustainable and efficient technological development on the land above.
Description
Thesis: S.M. in Science Writing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Comparative Media Studies/Writing, 2018.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 19-23).
Subjects
Comparative Media Studies.
Graduate Program in Science Writing.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Graduate Program in Science Writing
Terms of Use
MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.
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