The ocean is a mysterious place. From its dark deep depths, to its strange sea-life, the ocean is full of mysteries waiting to be discovered. Now, it has been discovered that tons and tons of valuable gold and other precious minerals are found on the ocean floor. Minerals such as silver, copper, zinc, and lead are lying at the bottom of the ocean floor, with many uses to humans. These minerals are more valuable and have a higher grade than those found on the surface, which makes them in much higher demand. There are traditional ways of mining, such as standard drilling on the surface, and new technological advancements that make it possible to drill at greater depths beneath the surface. In the article, “There’s Gold in that Ocean”, it …show more content…
Firstly, if the undertaking goes wrong, or if there is a technical difficulty or error that arises during the mining project, it can potentially kill all sea-life near the vents it is mining near, as well as crucially damage the surrounding environment. As stated in the article, “Nautilus Minerals isn’t only concerned about surface-level sea life – it must take care to protect any sea-life that may be affected during the mining. Even though the seawater surrounding the hydrothermal vents is as acidic as battery acid, the area around the vents is a comfortable home to a diverse community of bizarre animals.” This shows that there are concerns about the harmful effects that may result from undertaking the mining project, and there are potential risks to mining near the vents for profit and valuable resources. Although it is mentioned that Nautilus Minerals will take care not to harm sea-life near the mining areas, there is no guarantee to the challenges that may arise from the undertaking, and they have not clearly delineated plans as to how they will protect sea-life, leading to the conclusion that some may be harmed in the process. In fact, as referenced in the text, “The company would extract the valuable deposits using 180-ton, remotely operated machines, which would pump a mixture of the deep-seawater and the minerals from the deposits up to a ship. The machines would