The Clarion-Clipperton Zone was recently in the news due to Polymetallic Nodules related activities.
What are Polymetallic Nodules?
- Formed over millions of years as metals accumulate on seafloor debris.
- Rich in nickel, cobalt, manganese – vital for batteries, wind turbines & tech gadgets.
Clarion-Clipperton Zone: A Mining Hotspot 🏗️
- Located southeast of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.
- Mining companies eyeing it for future commercial extraction.
Deep-Sea Mining Timeline ⏳
- 1970s – Exploratory deep-sea mining begins.
- 1994 – International Seabed Authority (ISA) formed to regulate mining.
- 2022 – The Metals Company & Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. conduct first full-scale nodule collection test.
(Source: The Hindu)
