심해저 광물자원 - 향후 세계시장 및 전망

Abstract

Polymetallic nodules (PMN), seabed massive sulfides (SMS), cobalt-rich manganese crusts (CMC) are the representative marine mineral resources in deep-sea. The major 9 metals – copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, lead, zinc, gold, silver and platinum – except lead are the target metals from the deep-sea mineral resources. The needs of development of SOC, enhancement of energy efficiency and environment preservation require a stable supply of the industry mineral resources. The major land-based deposits are, however, restricted in several resource-rich countries. The monopoly and oligopoly in metal productions might cause significant problems in proper supply for global economy. On the other hand, marine mineral resources are deposited wide and rich either in EEZs and/or in open seas. PMN are affluently deposited in CCFZ. SMS are frequently found in the EEZs of SOPAC countries and in the ocean ridges of Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. CMC are covering the surface of numerous seamounts in thickness of several centimeters and even over 20cm (Halbach, 2008). The marine mineral resources in the open seas are handled by International Seabed Authority (ISA). In the case of PMN, ISA report (2008) says that internal rates of return for 12 alternative scenarios produced outcomes ranging from a low of 14.9% to a high of 37.8%. Not only the major target metals, but also the rare earth elements such as Neodymium, Lanthanide, Cerium, Yttrium, etc. under monopoly of China, are the promising elements for the future technologies, so called, ‘green technology’ (Germany, Oct, 2009). The land-based deposits are confronting the problems of resource scarcity, cost increase in production, destruction and pollution of environment, etc. Marine mineral resources, once classified as marginal resources, are emerging as the balance resources in the demand-and-supply process of strategy metals, and as the seeds for technology innovation of high-tech industry.