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Monitoring benthic plumes, sediment redeposition and seafloor imprints caused by deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining

Author

Listed:
  • Iason-Zois Gazis

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Henko Stigter

    (NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)

  • Jochen Mohrmann

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Karl Heger

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Melanie Diaz

    (NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)

  • Benjamin Gillard

    (Constructor University)

  • Matthias Baeye

    (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences)

  • Mario E. Veloso-Alarcón

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Kaveh Purkiani

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
    University of Bremen
    Now at Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency)

  • Matthias Haeckel

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Annemiek Vink

    (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources)

  • Laurenz Thomsen

    (Constructor University
    Now at the University of Gothenburg)

  • Jens Greinert

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
    Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel)

Abstract

A deep-sea (4500 m) trial of a pre-prototype polymetallic nodule collector with independent scientific monitoring revealed that a gravity current formed behind the collector channeled through steeper seafloor sections and traveled 500 m downslope. The prevailing bottom currents dominated sediment dispersion up to the end of the monitoring area at 4.5 km distance. The maximum suspended particle concentration recorded 50 m from mining lanes was up to four orders of magnitude higher than ambient values but decreased rapidly with increasing time, distance, and altitude. Most of the plume remained close to the seafloor, with the highest concentrations at 1 m monitoring altitude and reaching background concentrations at 50 m. Rapid particle flocculation was followed by fast and substantial sediment redeposition. A mm-scale photogrammetric seafloor reconstruction allowed quantitative estimates of the thickness of redeposited sediment next to mining lanes of ≈ 3 cm and a minimum erosional depth of 5 cm.

Suggested Citation

  • Iason-Zois Gazis & Henko Stigter & Jochen Mohrmann & Karl Heger & Melanie Diaz & Benjamin Gillard & Matthias Baeye & Mario E. Veloso-Alarcón & Kaveh Purkiani & Matthias Haeckel & Annemiek Vink & Laure, 2025. "Monitoring benthic plumes, sediment redeposition and seafloor imprints caused by deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56311-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56311-0
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