Deep-Sea Mining Could Cause Long-Term Ecological Changes, Study Finds

[allanberl]

Mining polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor has the potential to trigger significant and long-lasting ecological disturbances. The removal of surface sediments and associated marine life in mined areas, along with the redistribution of sediment across the surrounding seabed, raises concerns about the impact on deep-sea ecosystems.

A new study, published in Nature Communications, provides detailed insights into the spread and effects of sediment plumes created by deep-sea mining operations. Researchers from the MiningImpact project and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) monitored a large-scale industrial mining test in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the eastern Pacific, offering a comprehensive look at how mining plumes spread and settle over time.
The Environmental Challenge of Deep-Sea Mining

The abyssal plains, located between 3,000 and 6,000 meters deep, contain vast fields of polymetallic nodules, mineral-rich formations that accumulate over millions of years. These nodules are rich in nickel, cobalt, and copper, making them a highly sought-after resource as global demand for critical metals increases.

However, deep-sea ecosystems—home to a diverse range of sediment-dwelling organisms—are extremely sensitive to disturbances. Since 2015, the European JPI Oceans project MiningImpact, coordinated by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, has been investigating the environmental risks of deep-sea mining. Previous studies of decade-old mining disturbances in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and Peru Basin indicate that biodiversity loss and ecosystem damage could persist for centuries.

A major but poorly understood risk involves sediment plumes—clouds of suspended particles generated by mining operations that can spread far beyond the immediate mining zone, affecting marine life over large distances.
Tracking a Mining-Induced Sediment Plume at 4,500 Meters Depth

To better understand this process, researchers monitored a test deployment of a remotely operated pre-prototype nodule collector, developed by Belgian mining contractor Global Sea Mineral Resources. The study represents the first detailed analysis of how mining-induced sediment plumes spread beyond the mined area.

Key findings from the study:

The main sediment plume settled within a few hundred meters of the mining site.
However, small changes in sediment concentration were detected up to 4.5 kilometers away, showing that fine sediment can disperse over long distances.
Sediment concentrations near the mining site were up to 10,000 times higher than normal, returning to baseline levels after 14 hours.
A dense gravity-driven current carried suspended particles up to 500 meters downslope, after which natural deep-sea currents dispersed the remaining sediment.
Most particles remained within 5 meters of the seabed before settling back to the ocean floor.

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Using high-resolution 3D seafloor mapping, the team assessed the extent of seabed disturbance and sediment redistribution. Their findings revealed that in mined areas:

At least the top 5 centimeters of the seafloor were removed, along with the nodules.
In nearby areas, sediment redeposition reached a thickness of about 3 centimeters, completely covering the nodule habitat up to 100 meters away before thinning out with distance.

Implications for Deep-Sea Mining Regulations

This study provides critical data for the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which is currently developing global regulations for deep-sea mining. The findings highlight the importance of:

Advanced monitoring technologies to track mining impacts.
Improved strategies for managing sediment plumes and reducing ecological harm.
Stronger regulatory measures to protect deep-sea biodiversity.

MiningImpact researchers continue to analyze the long-term effects of seabed mining, aiming to connect physical impacts with ecological consequences. Their findings will be essential in shaping international policies to ensure that deep-sea mining, if pursued, minimizes environmental harm and protects fragile marine ecosystems.