Deep sea mining

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/deep-sea-mining

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the geographical scope?International waters beyond national jurisdiction, primarily abyssal plains and seamounts
2. What is the primary mineral targets?Polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, seafloor massive sulfides
3. What kinds of minerals are found in the deep sea?The deep sea holds special rocks called polymetallic nodules that contain manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt. It also has crusts and sulfide deposits that can have copper, gold, silver, zinc, and other metals.
4. Why do people want to mine the deep sea?We need these metals for green energy and electronics, and the easy-to-reach rocks on land are running out, so the deep sea offers a big new source.

Common Heritage of Mankind: Principle that resources in international waters belong to all humanity, not individual nations.
Precautionary Principle: Approach where lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
Hydrostatic Pressure: The immense pressure exerted by the weight of water at great depths.