Mining the Sea-floor for Rare Earth Minerals
This article is about the mining of minerals found on the bottom of the sea floor called manganese nodules. These minerals are rare, and highly valuable, and also very hard to obtain for the USA at the times. China controls about 95% of the Earth's supply of these minerals, which makes them even more rare for the USA. But, recently China has stopped their embargo to collect these minerals, which means it is a rush to get them for the USA. This could mean getting closer to China in the hunt for rare Earths.
My opinion is that it is a good thing China is done with the hunt, because it means we now have our chance. This will also give our country very rare metals. It is very important that the USA gets, and stays in front of China in this race. There will lots of money made with this, and the USA needs it.
1. Do you think this race is important? Why?
2. Do you think that the USA could make a lot of money with this?
3. How do you think the USA could better be spending their time?
I agree with Micheal, it is a good thing that China is not hunting as much as before because I don't think that it is fair that one country can have all of these valuable minerals. I do not think that America should become in full control of these minerals either, I think that everyone should have a relatively equal amount.
ReplyDelete1.) No not really for America right now, but maybe for other countries or collectors.
3.) I think the USA should probably be spending their time on trying to fix problems that they are having internally, such as fixing the unemployment rate, and the economy. We should also try and bring our troops home. America probably will not gain as much form the minerals than from fixing the problems I mentioned.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=strange-but-true-whale-waste-is-valuable
here is a website thats tells a bit about an valuable sea rock. It was made from whale poop and I thought it was interesting.
Like Katie and Michael said, I think that China should be ready to give up some of their claim to the Earth's minerals. I believe that one country should not be fully in control of the minerals, and they should be... somewhat equally divided among the countries.
ReplyDelete2. Potentially yes, finding some of these minerals could conceivably generate some wealth for this country, but in order for that to happen, we would have to put in a lot of time, money, and effort and, like Katie said, there are more important things that this country needs to focus on.
I agree completely with Katie, Michaela, and Michael. China definitely needs to learn how to share these minerals. Possibly, China and America could split the minerals 50/50. Or maybe, America could obtain slightly more of them at a given time than China, since for so many years China has had the upper hand.
ReplyDelete1) What makes these minerals so rare and valuable?
2) Why aren't other countries trying to obtain these minerals?
3) Do you think these minerals will ever go extinct?