MANGANESE NODULES
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Deep sea mineral exploration and mining technology is aimed at the efficient identification and
economic extraction of sea-floor mineral resources. To date, no actual mining of nodules (or
other deep sea minerals) has taken place. There have recently been significant advances made
in offshore technology, engineering, and equipment, predominantly fuelled by the offshore oil
and gas, dredging, and telecommunications industries. Much of this technology, especially the
trenching technology for laying pipelines, can be applied to deep sea mineral extraction, bring-
ing the deep sea mining industry closer to commercialization.
