China Plans To Mine the Yellow Sea Floor

eldavojohn writes "Details are limited but state media is reporting on $75 million being put into a new research facility in Qingdao, Shandong Province that will conduct research into mining the sea floor. From the article: 'Scientists believe sea beds at a depth of 4,000 to 6,000 meters hold abundant deposits of rare metals and methane hydrate, a solidified form of natural gas bound into ice that can serve as a new energy source.' The research center's first goal is to do surveying and exploration with a new submersible named 'Jiaolong' (a mythical aquatic Chinese dragon). Hopefully these quests yield energy resources to meet growing demand for resources like liquefied coal in China."

Comments

Re:Minerals on the floor

[dbIII]

Since we don't have free energy we don't do stuff like distillation unless we have to. We have incredibly cheap energy in the form of coal and oil but it's just not cheap enough.

Re:Methyl hydrate apocalypse averted?

[canajin56]

It breaks down into carbon dioxide after about 10 years (8 point something).