A REVIEW AND PROSPECTS OF EXPLOITATION OF DEEP SEABED MULTIMETALLIC NODULES

Multimetallic nodules are abundant at deep seabeds in the world. Elernents contained in thesenodules include Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, etc., which serve as future resources for the mankind. This paper dealswith the regimes governing the exploitation of international seabeds, embodied in the United Nations Convention of Laws, summarizes the art of the state of exploitation of nodules at seabeds across the world overthe past three decades and research accomplishments of China over the eighth Five-Year-Plan period. It isconducted that the nodules can only be exploited in a competitive way when the nodule metals competefavourably in prices and the deep seabed mining system offers adequate reliabllity.