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6) Discuss the major resources that can be obtained from ocean deposits and the reasons why their extraction is limited?(250 words)
Topic– Part of static series under the heading – “Ocean deposits”
6) Discuss the major resources that can be obtained from ocean deposits and the reasons why their extraction is limited?(250 words)
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain the major types of resources that can be obtained from ocean deposits and the issues and impediments that make their commercial extraction difficult.
Directive word
Discuss – Here your discussion should focus on explaining the major resources that can be obtained from ocean deposits and challenges faced in their commercial extraction
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain what ocean deposits are. Mention that ocean beds are rich in potential mineral and organic resources. Much of these resources, however, are not easily accessible, so their recovery involves technological challenges and high cost.
Body
- Highlight the major types of ocean deposits found – energy, sand and gravel, evaporative salts and manganese modules and crust. Explain them wherever needed
- Mention that Increasing world demand for minerals, plus technological advances, have combined to make deep-sea mineral extraction a possibility right now.
- Discuss the issues involved in their extraction – ecological challenges, lack of consolidated deposits, need for detailed site-specific and broader regional information about directions and strengths of current flow, and about where the new biological recruits come from (the source populations) and where they go (the sink populations). Because vent sites may act like “stepping stones” for dispersal of animals along a ridge, it is crucially important to understand the impact of mining activity at each site, the issues involved in issuance of licenses by International seabed authority etc
Conclusion – Highlight the immense economic potential of this resource but also the need to proceed with caution.