1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
[SCG52-P21] Prospecting areas for Mn-Nodules, Co-rich Crust and Gas Hydrates for Deep Sea Mining in Chile: a review
Keywords:gas hydrates, polymetallic nodules, deep sea mining
Chile has a maritory five times larger than its territory. It is one of the Latin American countries with more geophysical and tectonic information about its seabed, motivated mainly by the understanding of the important seismic activity along several geological features and by the subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate. Chile includes several features within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), such as a long submarine trench; submarine ridges (one of them intersecting the continent in front of the central zone and another that has originated from different magma sources); more than one hundred significant seamounts; the Chile Ridge active spreading center; several oceanic fracture zones in the Nazca plate; the downgoing Antarctic plate; an active margin associated with the surface upwelling of colder, nutrient-rich waters that contribute to the formation of new minerals; two microplates; extensive abyssal plains and several submarine canyons in the forearc.
Despite all this variety of geological features, which are often associated with the presence of marine minerals, the mineral and energy resources of the seabed in Chile have not yet been efficiently addressed. This is due to the fact that Chile is the world's largest exporter of copper and other terrestrial mineral resources, downplaying the importance of marine resources.
However, during the last decade, several novel studies showing the extent of gas hydrate reservoir in Chile (from 33-56o S), that serve as an energy resource as well as a source of greenhouse gases, have again attracted the attention of the Chilean scientific community. In this study, we add new seismic images related to a huge hydrate deposit not identified previously. In addition, we present new geological data associated with the presence of polymetallic nodules and cobalt-rich crusts in the Chilean EEZ, which represent the most important but least explored resource of critical elements and base metals in the country, crucial for the production of low carbon energy, electromobility and new technologies.
Furthermore, we compiled diverse geological and geophysical data to elaborate the first review of prospective areas of mineral and energy resources for deep sea mining in the Chilean EEZ, positioning Chile not only as a source of terrestrial minerals, but also as a great source of energy and metals prized by the current industry.
Despite all this variety of geological features, which are often associated with the presence of marine minerals, the mineral and energy resources of the seabed in Chile have not yet been efficiently addressed. This is due to the fact that Chile is the world's largest exporter of copper and other terrestrial mineral resources, downplaying the importance of marine resources.
However, during the last decade, several novel studies showing the extent of gas hydrate reservoir in Chile (from 33-56o S), that serve as an energy resource as well as a source of greenhouse gases, have again attracted the attention of the Chilean scientific community. In this study, we add new seismic images related to a huge hydrate deposit not identified previously. In addition, we present new geological data associated with the presence of polymetallic nodules and cobalt-rich crusts in the Chilean EEZ, which represent the most important but least explored resource of critical elements and base metals in the country, crucial for the production of low carbon energy, electromobility and new technologies.
Furthermore, we compiled diverse geological and geophysical data to elaborate the first review of prospective areas of mineral and energy resources for deep sea mining in the Chilean EEZ, positioning Chile not only as a source of terrestrial minerals, but also as a great source of energy and metals prized by the current industry.