Rare Earth Metals Abundant in Deep-Sea Mud (Major Economic, Geopolitical Implications )

CBC ^ | July 4, 2011 | Staff

[11Bush]

I remember reading the Popular Mechanics that had a cover story on the operation. Kept thinking, what a great way to raise something, other than manganese, off the bottom.

Not far wrong.

[jongaltsr]

This is really not news. Good Geologists have known for a long time that these and other heavy elements are in the mud at the bottom of the ocean.

It is pure physics.

It Rains, elements are washed into the oceans, they settle to to bottom. “Physics” “Gravitational Pull”.

Thousands upon thousands of years of this action and someone today came up with the idea? I think they are dimwitted to not have realized this years ago.

[battousai]

How much trouble can there be recovering anything that is only two meters underwater?

I think they mean 2m below the sea floor, which was at depths of 5000 ft (or maybe meters ) according to anorther article on this topic.

[Mr. Peabody]

And how would the Law of the Sea Treaty affect our going after this?

[stylin19a]

no mud for anyone but the UN if LOST ever is approved

[Mike Darancette]

Much of it is found in the accessible surface layer of mud.

I wonder how the rare earths got into such young formations.

[Kozak]

So actually not so rare earths after all....

[Kozak]

Anyone who can't figure out that almost all of those areas are in "international" waters, outside of the reach of the Obamunist bureaucrats, doesn't deserve to make a dime.

And right smack in the domain of the UN bureaucrats and the "Law of the Sea" treaty...

[txhurl]

It’s not commodities (oil, grain, gas, rare earth) that are rare, it’s the futures contracts on commodities that are rare. That is, since nobody has to take physical posession, it’s just like tulips.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 7/04/2011. While we're at it, we should be wet-vaccing up the methane hydrates and clathrates. Thanks lbryce.