Seafloor Mining Will Make Rich Countries Richer
Moon mining still falls under the “sci-fi” category. It is far more likely we will mine the ocean floor for manganese nodules. Billions of tonnes of ore (copper, cobalt, titanium, nickel, etc.) exist in four separate deposits spanning an area roughly 1 1/2 times the size of Europe. Although the International Seabed Authority has a mission to equitably divide these international natural resources to provide economic benefits to disenfranchised and marginalized countries, it is likely that rich countries will reap the benefits of manganese nodule mining.
Mine the Moon to Save the Seafloor!
Our cars have been powered with oil for roughly a century. Electric vehicles are powered with metals. The Democratic Republic of Congo has already been subjected to heinous human rights abuses during this mining frenzy, and many developers have turned their eye to the Pacific Ocean seafloor, between Hawaii and Mexico. Here, on the bottom of the ocean, lie huge deposits of manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper, and other metals we will need to decarbonize our economies and transportation sectors. But seafloor mining is moving swiftly, without proper environmental review and without a full understanding of feedback loops and unforeseen circumstances. It may be more prudent to mine the lifeless moon and spare the mysterious, life-filled ocean. The seafloor is, after all, the last bastion of untouched habitat.