Deep-Sea Mining: The Pursuit of Valuable Minerals on the Seafloor

Description

Dive into the fascinating world of deep-sea mineral deposits as  Dr. Kelley unveils the secrets of the ocean floor. 

The concept of mining the deep seafloor has existed for decades, but the technical challenges of operating commercial-scale equipment over 1,000 meters below the surface have proven difficult to overcome. However, deep-sea mining is likely to occur sooner or later, as terrestrial sources of cobalt, copper, and other valuable minerals are dwindling, and demand for these resources is increasing.

Discover the three primary types of mineral treasures hidden beneath the waves, their exotic locations, and the cutting-edge technology being developed to unlock these underwater riches. 

But that's not all – Dr. Kelley will navigate you through the complex regulatory landscape of deep-sea mining, shedding light on the delicate balance between resource extraction and environmental preservation. As we stand on the brink of a new frontier in ocean exploration, join us to understand the potential impacts and the critical importance of responsible development in this emerging industry. 

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the depths of our planet's last great frontier with one of the field's most respected voices! Coffee, tea, and dessert will be served at 4pm. Lecture to start at 4:30pm.


Dr. Christopher Kelley retired from the University of Hawaii in 2018 after serving 18 years as the program biologist for the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) and as graduate research faculty for the Oceanography Department at the University of Hawaii. His responsibilities included leading multiple deep water research cruises, conducting deep water fisheries projects, and running a video annotation laboratory that identified deep water fish and invertebrates recorded during submersible and ROV operations. He moved from Hawaii to Port Townsend, Washington in 2019 and has since been engaged in several volunteer activities including serving on the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee (MRC), making maps for the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, and maintaining wildlife cameras for the Jefferson Land Trust. Dr. Kelley still serves as an onshore scientist for marine research cruises in the Pacific and continues works on deep water glass sponge identification in his basement lab. 

Date & Time

Sat, May 3, 2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Venue Details

Rice NW Museum of Rocks & Minerals

26385 Northwest Groveland Drive
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124

Rice NW Museum