Possibility and Necessity of Deep-Sea Mineral Resources Development in Japan's EEZ and Continental Selves

Abstract

Japan has a manganese nodule mining claim in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zones, the Kuroko-type massive seafloor sulfide deposits (SMS) and cobalt-rich manganese crusts (CMC) in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the continental shelves. Japan needs to use these deep-sea mineral resources as future strategic metal and rare earth element supply sources. Furthermore, the development technologies have wide variations in applying for the other food and energy supply targets in EEZ and continental shelves and the same-type resources of Pacific island nations'.
Some current topics in deep-sea mineral resources development and the development technologies are introduced. Possibility and necessity of deep-sea mineral resources development for Japan are discussed.