China has tested deep-sea automatic mining equipment for extracting metals from the seabed
Chinese scientists have tested a prototype deep-sea submersible for exploring and developing cobalt-rich crusts (cobalt-iron-manganese nodules). According to the South China Morning Post, this self-mining robot completed a 2,000-meter-depth water test in the western Pacific Ocean.
The newspaper reported that the device demonstrated the ability to move autonomously on rugged seafloor and adjust its posture on its own. The robot is equipped with four independent tracks, each of which can independently adjust its height, and it moves at a speed of 20 centimeters per second.
The newspaper pointed out that China had previously developed prototypes of deep-sea mining equipment, but these projects were mainly limited to theoretical research and laboratory testing. The test mining machine was jointly developed by experts from the Changsha National Engineering Technology Research Center for Metal Mining, Central South University, and Tianjin University.
Cobalt-iron-manganese nodules contain the richest deposits of precious metals such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, and platinum. According to the South China Morning Post, in 2013, China received approval from the International Seabed Authority to explore and mine cobalt-rich crusts in a 3,000 square kilometer area in the western Pacific seamount region. This area is about 1,000 kilometers east of Guam.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848115492948996/
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