Table of Contents
Introduction
Of the five oceans in the world, the Indian Ocean is the third largest. India’s economy can grow thanks to the variety of mineral deposits found on the seafloor of the Indian Ocean.
One of the two Blue Economy sectors that is most commercially viable is the mineral sector. An eventual global energy transition may be facilitated by the vital mineral found on the Indian Ocean’s seafloor.
Mineral Deposits
The polymetallic sulphides and nodules in the Indian Ocean are two significant mineral resources for the explorers. Polymetallic nodules consist of iron, manganese, cobalt, and nickel.
These are nodules the size of a golf ball to a tennis ball that were created over millions of years from seafloor sediment. The nodules need to be raised to the surface because they are typically located four to five kilometres below the surface on large plains.
Underwater volcanic ranges have highly localised sites where polymetallic sulphides form around hot springs. Their high mineral content defines the nomenclature precisely. Copper, iron, zinc, silver, and gold are all present.
Deep within the earth’s crust, cold, heavy seawater absorbs heat from the magma to form polymetallic sulphides. As heated water rises to the surface, metals are precipitated out of the seawater and minerals are concentrated in deposits on the seafloor and beneath it due to buoyant force.
India was granted the sole authority to investigate polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean basin in 1987. Since then, two mine sites spanning four million square miles have been established in India.
Companies are interested in these polymetallic massive sulphides because of their higher copper content and gold content. Because these nodules contain metals and rare earth elements, they could help the high-tech industries. The mineral is regarded as a fantastic source of copper and gold.
Manganese oxides and precipitated iron oxyhydroxides make up the majority of polymetallic nodules. Rare earth elements, cobalt, titanium, copper, nickel, and other metals are collected by either adsorption or absorption.
One distinctive feature that sets these nodules apart from terrestrial deposits is the presence of multiple commodities within a single deposit in deep ocean nodules. For example, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Co are present in nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone.
But their propensity for local concentration has made them difficult to explore, which has kept them from becoming economically viable. Compared to onshore deposits, those on the seafloor are substantially smaller.
Furthermore, the concentration of rare earth elements is substantially lower in deposits found in the deep sea. The development of polymetallic nodule resources requires the implementation of best practices that do not negatively impact the environment, as well as a precautionary approach and adaptive management.
India’s Deep Ocean Mission
Under the terms of a 2002 agreement, India was given 75,000 square kilometres for exploration and exploitation known as the “Deep Ocean Mission” by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). It is estimated that the designated area has approximately 380 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules. The search for and extraction of polymetallic nodules is one of the main objectives of this expedition.
Because they can be used in cellphones, electronics, batteries, and even solar panels, their extraction is important. They are essential components of the lithium-ion batteries found in the majority of electric cars.
As part of this mission, India has identified eleven possible locations for hydrogen sulphide exploration and has committed a multipurpose vessel to conducting in-depth surveys.
The reason hydrothermal vents rank first on the mission’s list of places to search and explore is that they create distinct ecosystems home to bacteria that are chemical synthesisers and get their energy from hydrogen sulphide.
These vents release superheated water into their surroundings that is rich in minerals. It cools to form towers of rare earth elements, copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, and gold. Modern economies depend on these minerals.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh further emphasised that the Deep Ocean Mission is a cornerstone of the Central Government’s Blue Economy initiative, which would mark a watershed in the development of India’s economy as a whole in the years to come.
Michael W. Lodge, the ISA Secretary General, has praised the Deep Ocean Mission. Additionally, he expressed confidence in India’s ability to lead the world in deep-sea mining. There is enough nickel and cobalt available in the Indian Ocean’s seabed to satisfy the country’s needs. It could propel India to the top of the world market for vital minerals.
Samudrayaan Mission
‘Matsya’ is a self-propelled vehicle that the National Institute of Ocean Technology announced in January 2023 would be sending a submersible to a depth of 6000 metres with three crew members on board. This mission would include monitoring previously uncharted deep-sea regions as well as evaluating the ecology and underwater environment in relation to the effects of seabed resource exploration and extraction.
The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), in Goa, would handle this.
RV Gaveshani, a research vessel of NIO, is ranked first on the institute’s merit list. It was able to extract polymetallic nodules from the western Indian Ocean at a depth of up to 4800 metres. The ISA designated India as a “Pioneer Investor” in recognition of this accomplishment.
Conclusion
India still views the Indian Ocean as strategically significant. The burgeoning Blue Economy initiative presents a novel avenue for augmenting India’s geopolitical significance in the maritime domain.
Additionally, it would assist India in fulfilling its commitment to a transition to green energy. An exploration and excavation strategy with a clear plan can help India achieve its objective of becoming self-sufficient in vital mineral supplies.
