Marine Mineral Resources

Essay, Pages 5 (1010 words)

Views

This essay will discuss the marine mineral resources. Questions that are covered through out are: What are some of the marine mineral resources? What are the impacts on environment and society? As well as, what are the laws for mining resources? There will be a brief in debt of the resources, the main ones discussed will be phosphorite and manganese. These resources are used in many ways to sustain life on Earth. Phosphorite and Manganese are two of the marine mineral resources that contribute to environment and society.

Don't use plagiarized sources. Get your custom essay on

“ Marine Mineral Resources ”

Get custom paper

NEW! smart matching with writer

However, there are regulations to follow for the extraction of minerals that can benefit and complicate those accessing them.

As stated earlier, phosphorite and manganese are some of the many marine resources that exist on planet earth. Phosphorite is a sedimentary rock. Phosphorite can be used in many ways such as a fertilizer and animal feed (Phosphate). Phosphorite is beneficial when it comes to it used as a fertilizer due to it not being chemically processed.

It will help plants to sustain and gain nutrients necessary for growth. Therefore, it is an important agent for agriculture. Plants nowadays are being treated by different chemicals and the effects may be unknown for long-term. It is essential to use fertilizers that will help plants not only grow to be good quality food, but to help get good quality food to the people. Without good quality food, individuals may get sick or not get the right amount of nutrients that plants can provide.

It is extracted by surface which helps to prevent any harm to environment.

The method is called opencast dragline (Phosphate). This helps to steer from the dangers that comes with underground mining, such as spills. As well as the production is faster meaning that the mining of the resources is more efficient. This can boost economy due to it being an important resource to extract.

On the other hand, manganese is not as valuable, but it possesses usage to society as well. It is one of the polymetallic nodules, the others being, iron, cobalt, and nickel. It has a glassy luster and black in color. Manganese was popular until the incorporation of phosphorite. This was due to the increased amount of phosphorite in fertilizers (Pedas).

In addition, Manganese possesses benefits for society. This can be medical benefits and environmental. The medical benefits is that it helps with osteoporosis and post menopause in women. It was stated that women that took oral medication daily at about 5mg with calcium saw better health improvements (Manganese). This is beneficial to society and women, because once reaching menopause there are other complications or deficiencies such as bone density that leads to osteoporosis, and hormone deficiency. With the addition of manganese women may feel alleviated and cope with menopause better. As with osteoporosis, manganese helps with bone density deficiency (Manganese). As people get older their bones become more fragile. It becomes difficult for them to sit up or sustain themselves, and more susceptible to injuries. A fall or accident can be very dangerous. With the right medication and activity people with age can see less difficulty than people that do not take any medication or are active.

Marine minerals have regulations when it comes to research. It has value to the economy and importance to those trying to gain access to mine fields or areas. There was an Act placed on research for marine mineral resources back in 1968. It states that senate has responsibility when it comes to regulation and distribution of these minerals ranging from industries to students in universities. One of these regulations is the changes the environment undergoes. There is to be money granted towards research to test whether there are any environmental factors affecting marine life and resources (U.S Cong.). Research is valuable. This helps professionals know whether resources are low, or any danger should occur when extraction is being done. Take mining of oil for example. If oil was being extracted somewhere near the sea and there is a spill, the living organisms would be affected. Therefore, there are grants as well to educate and train those to conduct such research (U.S Cong.). Skilled and educated individuals can prevent any harm to the ocean while extracting resources. They are as well required to keep resources from excessive extraction. Another example, with creating research programs is as well conducting technology that will make access of resources easier. They can invent machines or come up with ways to not disturb life while as well gaining resources to help in commercial ways.

In conclusion, extracting minerals from ocean areas is not as harmful when done right. They provide benefits that help society and environment. Phosphorite extraction method about surface method, is fascinating due to not going underground and causing harm to marine life. As well as it is safer and more efficient than underground mining. It lowers incidents and both society and environment benefit. Manganese has a major contribution to medication. People can get oral medication in order to fulfill their needs. Such as the deficiency of manganese for postmenopausal women. This can prevent osteoporosis, one of the common things people with age struggle with. Minerals being valuable, also come with regulations. There are programs that help fund the research done on minerals. These researches help people know of the benefits as well as help regulate over extraction. There are many minerals around the world that people depend on for commercial value. However, limitations are placed to avoid any harm to life as well as incorporate new ideas that makes access to them safer and efficient.

Works Cited

Pedas, Pais. “Elevated Phosphorus Impedes Manganese Acquisition by Barley Plants” frontier in Plants Sciences, Accessed 6 May 2018. https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3355622/#!po=0.555556

Phosphate Rock, Minerals Education Coalition. Accessed 6 May 2018. https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals-database/phosphate-rock/

Manganese, Oregon State University. Accessed 6 May 2018. Lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/manganese

U.S Cong. Senate and House or Representatives, Marine Mineral Resources Research Act of 1996 Public Law 104-325, 19 October 1996. https://congress.gov/104/plaws/publ325/PLAW-104publ325.pdf