Photos DSMM2008

Program (pdf)

Abstract Volume DSMM2008 (pdf)

"Marine Gashydrate:
Energiequelle und CO2-Speicher der Zukunft" (pdf)

Shaping the Future

Deep-Sea Minerals
and Mining

DSMM

March, 9 -12, 2008
Aachen - Germany 

The congress "Shaping the Future -- Deep-Sea Minerals and Mining" will take place from March 9-12, 2008 at the Institute of Mineralogy and Economic Geology of the RWTH Aachen University (responsible conveners: Prof. Dr. F.M. Meyer, Prof. Dr. P.N. Martens, Aachen and Prof. Dr. P.E. Halbach, Berlin).

Due to the strong increase in demand for metallic raw materials combined with enhanced metal prices, the marine ocean floor deposits (nodules, crusts and seafloor massive sulfides) are again in the centre of interest of many international raw material experts. This interest does not only focus on the base and precious metals but also on a number of strategically important metals which will play an increasing role in the field of semi- conductor technology and modern generations of solar cells.

Such metals are for example: Co, Ni, In, Ga, Mo, Se and Te. Research and development in this field will influence the industrial future and the economic technological potential of industrialized countries.

Thus, it is our aim to bring together geoscientists, engineers and raw material economists as well as students of the respective fields for lecturing and a following interdisciplinary discussion platform. The workshop is intended to consider the forthcoming development of this future field. Here, the congress in Aachen wants to give new impulses.

The following 4 target fields are in the focus of the Aachen event:

1. Manganese Nodules and Crusts

2. Seafloor Massive Sulfides

3. Mineral Economics of Deep-Sea Mining – Challenges and Opportunities

4. Deep-Sea Mining Concepts and Processing

In a workshop the future development of deep-sea mining will be discussed and for which future technological fields the metals of seafloor deposits can play an important role.