Workshop on Mining of CRFCs and PSDs - Technological and Economic Considerations

Agenda | Participants | Summary | Proceedings

The International Seabed Authority has scheduled a workshop on technical and economic considerations for mining cobalt rich ferromanganese crusts (CRFCs) and polymetallic sulphides (PSDs) resources of the international seabed area (“the Area”) in Kingston, Jamaica, from 31 July to 4 August 2006.

The background document incorporates relevant excerpts from workshop papers on cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts occurrences and deposits together with relevant prospecting and exploration maps extracted from data held by the Authority's central data repository.

Because of its relatively large size, it is suggested that the background document be downloaded to your hard-drive first. (right click on the link and select Save Target As)

Presentations

Monday, 31 July 2006

• Draft regulations on prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area(ISBA/10/C/WP.1).- Mr. Baidy Diene, Chairman, Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority
• Prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area – Framework established by the code.   Mr. Lindsey Parson, Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority
• Geologic characteristics and geographic distribution of potential cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts deposits in the Area.  Dr. James R. Hein, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
• Technological issues associated with commercializing cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts deposits in the Area.  Mr. Tetsuo Yamazaki, President, Japan Federation of Ocean Engineering Societies, Japan

Tuesday, 1 August 2006

• Prospecting and exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area.  Dr. James R. Hein, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, USA
• A Suggested Consideration to the Draft Regulation on Prospecting and Exploration for Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts. (The Size, Block and Number for Exploration).  Yang Shengxiong, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey
• Technological issues associated with commercializing polymetallic sulphides deposits in the Area.  Mr. Tetsuo Yamazaki, President, Japan Federation of Ocean Engineering Societies, Japan
• Review of the nickel, cobalt and manganese markets – Ms. Caitlyn L. Antrim, Director, Center for Leadership in Global Diplomacy, USA
• Review of the copper, lead and zinc markets –  Ms. Caitlyn L. Antrim, Director, Center for Leadership in Global Diplomacy, USA

Wednesday, 2 August 2006

• Review of the silver and gold markets.  Ms. Caitlyn L. Antrim, Director, Center for Leadership in Global Diplomacy, USA
• Demand for mineral resources in the People’s Republic of China – short, medium and long term projections.  Dr. Hongtao Zhang, Deputy Director-General, China Geological Survey, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
• Environmental aspects of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and polymetallic sulphides development framework established by the code.  Lindsay Parson, Member of the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority
• A cost comparison of implementing environmental regulations for land-based mining and polymetallic sulphides mining.   David Heydon, Chief Executive Officer, Nautilus Minerals Limited, Australia
• A hypothetical cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts mine in the Area.  Dr. Charles Morgan, Environmental Planner, Planning Solutions, Inc., Mililani HI, USA
• A hypothetical polymetallic sulphides mine in the Area.   Mr. Mike Johnston, Vice President, Corporate Development, Nautilus Minerals, Australia
• Global Exploration Models for Polymetallic Sulphide Deposits in the Area: Possible Criteria for Lease Block Selection under the Draft Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Sulphides. Presented by Dr. James Hein on behalf of Mark Hannington and Thomas Monecke, University of Ottawa