Deep-sea mining scars remain visible on Pacific seafloor after 44 years
University of Liverpool researchers found that deep-sea mining damage in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone remains visible forty-four years after Ocean Minerals Company testing in 1979.
Historical test site revisited
A team from the SMARTEX project investigated an area disturbed by mining operations conducted in 1979. They collected sediment samples at a depth of roughly 4,800 meters to compare disturbed and undisturbed locations.
Physical tracks still present
The physical tracks left by the heavy mining machine are clearly visible on the ocean floor today. Analysis showed that organic matter supporting life continues to be affected decades after the disturbance occurred.
Nutrient supply impacted long term
Researchers measured the quantity and quality of particulate organic matter within the sediments. These nutrients provide essential food sources for organisms living on and inside the seabed environment.
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