• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.197-207
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• 2016

This paper seeks to measure the monetary value of technical development in the deep seabed manganese nodule mining by applying the compound option model (COM). The COM is appropriate for the project in terms of its decision-making structure and embedded uncertainty. The estimation results show that the deep seabed mining project has more economic potential than shown by the previously obtained results from the discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. In addition, it is reasonable to invest in the project taking the various uncertainty factors into consideration, because the ratio of the value to the cost of the project is far higher than one. This information can be utilized in national ocean policy decision-making.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.515-524
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• 2014

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology has acquired detailed biological, chemicophysical, and geological data in the northeastern Pacific through a manganese nodule program since 1983. Plenty of manganese nodules were collected to estimate the amount of resources by free-fall grab and box corer. The collected manganese nodules have been archived systematically in the rock and mineral storage section of the Library of Marine Samples (LIMS) since 2012. The LIMS provides essencial information on the stored samples including sample name, nodule type, sampling location, depth, and equipment. Although a high quality database of the information system is under construction, the samples have tagged information for manganese nodules like chemical composition, morphology, weight, size, abundance, and photograph. In this study, we attempted to provide information on the well-organized and easily accessible archived manganese nodule samples for future studies and to introduce the usefulness of the LIMS.

• 자원환경지질
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.477-486
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• 2012

북동태평양 대한민국 망간단괴 광구중 하나인 KR1 지역에서 망간단괴의 분포특성을 파악하기 위하여 정밀수심 측량과 망간단괴의 특성(외형, 조직, 크기, 금속함량) 분석을 수행하였다. 작고(<2 cm), 매끄럽고(s-형), 불규칙하고(I-형), Fe의 함량이 높은 망간단괴가 KR1의 북동부(KR1-2) 지역에 우세하게 분포하는 것에 비하여, KR1의 남서부(KR1-1) 지역에서는 상대적으로 Mn, Cu, Ni의 함량이 높고, 크고(2~4 cm), 거칠고(t-형, d-형), 원반형(D-형)의 망간단괴가 우세하게 분포하는 것으로 나타났다. 정밀수심 자료에 의하면 상대적으로 KR1-1 지역은 수심이 깊고(3,838~4,799 m; 평균 4,599 m), KR1-2 지역은 3,940~4,664 m (평균: 4,451 m)의 수심을 보이며 소규모의 해저산이 발달해 있다. KR1 지역에서 나타나는 이러한 수심과 망간단괴에 포함된 Mn, Cu, Ni의 함량과의 상관성은 태평양 전역에 걸쳐 나타나는 일반적인 특성과도 일치한다. 또한 망간단괴의 크기와 형태와 관련하여, KR1-2 지역에 분포하고 있는 소규모 해저산에서부터 망간단괴의 핵으로 사용되는 암편의 공급이 원활하기 때문에 작고 매끄럽고 불규칙한 초기 형태의 망간단괴가 주로 분포하고 있는 것으로 판단된다. 이러한 연구결과는 망간단괴의 분포특성에 있어서, 수심과 더불어 해저지형의 특성이 중요한 변수로 작용할 수 있음을 보여준다.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.423-435
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• 2014

Verifying the similarity of environmental characteristics between an artificial impact site and a preserved or reference site is necessary to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the environmental impact of mining activity. Although an impact site (BIS station) and a preserved site (called KOMO station) that have been selected in the Korea manganese nodule contract area may share similar environmental characteristics, similarities in terms of the water column environment between both sites has not been investigated. In this study, we compared the chemical properties of the water columns and sinking particle fluxes between BIS and KOMO stations through two observations (August 2011 and September 2012). Additionally, we observed particle fluxes at the KOMO station for five years (July 2003~July 2008) to understand long-term natural variability. Vertical distributions of water column properties such as dissolved oxygen, inorganic nutrients (N, P, Si), total organic carbon below surface layer (within the depth range of 200 m) were not considerably different between the two sites. Especially, values of water column parameters in the abyssopelagic zone from 4000 m to bottom layer (~5000 m) were very similar between the BIS and KOMO sites. Sinking particle fluxes from the two sites also showed similar seasonality. However, natural variation of particle flux at the KOMO site varied from 3.5 to $129.9mg\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$, with a distinct temporal variation originating from ENSO events (almost forty times higher than a minimum value). These results could provide valuable information to more exactly evaluate the environmental impact of mining activity on water columns.

• 자원환경지질
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• 제43권5호
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• pp.455-466
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• 2010

한국이 현재 탐사하고 있는 해저광물자원의 유형은 망간단괴, 망간각, 다금속황화광체 등으로 구분된다. 망간단괴에 함유되어 있는 주요 희소금속은 Pt로 지각함량 대비 최대 400 배까지 부화되어 있다. 망간단괴의 총 희토류 함량은 0.037~0.302 REO %, 평균 0.12 REO %를 보인다. 망간각의 주요 희소금속은 Te 및 Pt로 각각 10800 배, 150배 정도의 부화량을 보인다. 총 희토류 함량은 0.013-0.387 REO %, 평균 0.18 REO %로 망간단괴 보다 다소 높은 함량을 보인다. 다금속화황광체의 주요 희소금속은 Se 및 In으로 각각 1300 배, 110 배의 높은 부화량을 보이며, 금(0.8~26.3 g/t), 은(0.9~348.0 g/t) 등의 귀금속이 함유된다. 해저광물자원에 함유되어 있는 희유금속은 채광 예상 금속 종인 Co, Ni, Cu 등의 채광 경제성을 높여 줄 것으로 생각되며 첨단산업을 위한 희유금속 확보 차원에서 의미가 있다.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.505-514
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• 2014

The development of deep seabed manganese nodules has been carried out with the aim of commercial development in 2023. It is important to forecast the price of the four metals (copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese) extracted from manganese nodules because price change is a criterion for investment decision. The main purpose of the study is to forecast the price of four metals using the ARIMA model and VAR model, and calculate the MAPE to compare a goodness-of-fit between the two models. The estimated results of the two models reveal statistical significance and are in keeping with economic theory. The results of MAPE for goodness-of-fit show that the VAR model is between 0.1 and 0.2, and the ARIMA model is between 0.4 and 0.6. That is, the VAR model is better than the ARIMA model in forecasting changes in the price of metals.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.139-145
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• 2022

Manganese nodules were recovered within the deep subseafloor sediments (118.22 mbsf) at Site U1371 during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) expedition 329 from the South Pacific Gyre (SPG). Because most manganese nodules exist on the seabed surface, nodules present in deep sediments are uncommon. Therefore, the growth origin of manganese nodules was identified through mineralogical and geochemical analyses. The manganese nodule was divided into the concentric layer outside the manganese region and the inner part of the phosphatized region consisting of manganese oxide minerals and carbonate fluorapatite (CFA) minerals, respectively. The two-dimensional element distribution analysis of Mn, Co, Ni, Sr and Cu, Zn with low Mn/Fe ratio confirmed that manganese nodules were formed predominantly by a hydrogenetic process and a biogenic process in certain manganese layers. As a result, the manganese nodule was continuously precipitated in SPG environments of oligotrophic open paleoocean conditions and rapidly buried with siliceous ooze sediments when the SPG changed to a eutrophic environment. It has been confirmed that manganese nodules found within deep subseafloor sediments could be used as a new proxy for the reconstruction of paleooceanographic conditions.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.455-463
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• 2014

This paper presents data from performance tests carried out to assess a manganese nodule crusher. Manganese nodules should be crushed into smaller pieces in order to assure the slurry flow of the lifting system. Both artificial nodules and real manganese nodules are used to evaluate nodule breaking ability of the crusher. The crushing performance of the crusher depends on the flow rate and pressure of the power transmission device. The size of the crushed manganese nodules also depends on the shape of the crushing drum. In this paper, several comparative tests are carried out to evaluate and improve the crushing performance and find the optimal design point of the crusher.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.373-381
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• 2014

Korea contract Mn-nodule field in the NE equatorial Pacific is composed of seven sectors with average water depths of 4,513-5,025 m. Of the various factors controlling the properties of Mn-nodule, it seems that water depth is likely connected to the chemical composition and occurrence of nodules. To test whether such an assumption held in each sector, we reviewed previous research data accumulated since 1994 for one of the northern sectors (hereafter KR1) where there are stark contrasts in water depth. High-resolution seabed mapping clearly separates a northern part (KR1N) from a deeper southern part (KR1S), cutting across in the middle of the KR1. In addition, significant volcanic activities forming numerous seamounts are distinctive especially in KR1N. In terms of nodule occurrence, manganese nodules in KR1S are comparatively larger (2-4 cm) with a discoidal shape, while those in KR1N are generally small (<2 cm) with poly-lobate and irregular shapes. Nodules in KR1N also have lower Co, Cu, Mn and Ni, and higher Fe contents. The spatial separation in nodule characteristics might be caused by volcanic activities in KR1N rather than water depth contrast. During the formation of the seamounts in KR1N, rock fragments and volcanic ashes as new nuclei of the nodules would have been continuously generated. As a result, the nodules could not grow larger than 2 cm and display the shapes of a newbie (i.e., irregular and poly-lobate shapes). Moreover, significant Fe supply from volcanic activities probably decreases the Mn/Fe ratio, which may lead to the KR1 nodules being misinterpreted as a hydrogenic in origin compared to other sectors where a high Mn/Fe ratio is present.

• 자원환경지질
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.429-437
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to correct the nodule abundance of FFG (Free Fall Grab) sampler on KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) area in North-East Pacific Ocean. The image analysis of sea-floor photography was carried out for correcting the abundance of nodules, and the image enhancement techniques and edge detection method were used to discriminate between nodules and sediments. The trace of nodules on sediments was detected to reduce the fractionation effect in calculating the coverage of nodules. The three methods, using the coverage of nodules, using the volume density, and using corrected volume density, were utilized for the correction of the nodule abundance. The method using the coverage of nodules was more convenient and available for the correction of nodule abundance than the other two methods. The method using the corrected volume density had the highest confidence level compared with the other methods.