Environmental impact of robotic miners and mining vehicle in mining of manganese nodules in the Pacific Ocean

The ecological consequences of deep-sea mining of minerals, in particular, manganese nodules, in the Pacific Ocean are evaluated. In view of a growing demand for metals and due to depletion of ground surface mineral deposits, it becomes increasingly more attractive to develop oceanic resources, which however exposes a fragile deepwater ecosystem to high risk. The article analyzes and compares two exactly opposite approaches: conventional heavy mining vehicle and innovative system ROY of independent robotic miners manufactured by domestic company GIKO LLC. The research methodology performs an integrated evaluation of three key criteria: physical, chemical and biological. The test area is the Clarion–Clipperton Zone as the most explored area of manganese nodules, with a unique and vulnerable biota of a high-level endemism. The results decisively prove substantial ecological excellence of ROY technology. On the basis of the obtained data, a conclusion is drawn that transition to robotic mining technologies is an indispensable condition for sustainable development of mineral resources in the World Ocean. The practical guidelines are recommended for technology designers and regulatory bodies, and the promising areas of the further research are identified, connected with integration of artificial intelligence and digital modeling for forecasting of ecological consequences.

Svintsov N. Yu. Environmental impact of robotic miners and mining vehicle in mining of manganese nodules in the Pacific Ocean. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(12):102118. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_12_0_102.

N.Yu. Svintsov, Assistant of Chair, Vladivostok State University, 690014, Vladivostok, Russia, e-mail: nikitakorolev92@mail.ru.

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