国际海底区域关键矿产：资源禀赋、环境特征与开发前景

Critical minerals in the International Seabed Area: resource endowments, environmental features and exploitation prospects

摘要

随着全球能源转型，钴、镍、铜等关键金属需求激增，陆地高品位矿产资源加速枯竭，供应链地缘风险日益凸显，构建多元化可持续的关键矿产供应渠道迫在眉睫。国际海底区域蕴藏着多金属结核、富钴结壳和多金属硫化物等战略性矿产资源，有序开发利用该区域资源是保障未来关键金属供应安全、支撑可持续发展的重要战略路径。本文系统梳理了国际海底区域多金属结核、富钴结壳、多金属硫化物的资源禀赋及其赋存区域的生态与环境特征，从资源战略价值、勘探程度、开发技术成熟度、生态影响等维度，横向对比三者的商业化开发潜力、核心优势与关键制约，研判其开发前景与落地时序。认为这 3 类矿产的商业化开发大概率将遵循“结核先行、硫化物接续、结壳储备”的梯次时序，但受深海生态系统认知局限、国际海底开发监管规则尚未出台等因素制约，最终商业化落地节奏与规模仍存在不确定性。本文可为深海矿产开发战略的制定、差异化绿色开发技术体系的构建、深海矿产资源开发与生态保护的统筹提供决策参考。

Abstract

The global energy transition has significantly increased demand for critical metals, particularly cobalt, nickel, and copper. As high-grade terrestrial mineral deposits continue to decline, global mineral supply chains are becoming increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical uncertainties. The International Seabed Area hosts three major categories of strategic mineral resources：polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, and polymetallic sulfides. Their responsible development offers a vital pathway to securing long-term critical metal supplies and advancing global sustainable development goals. This paper systematically reviews the resource endowment of these three mineral resource types, as well as the ecological features of their host environments. The commercial development potential, competitive advantages, key constraints, and commercialization prospects are comparatively assessed based on strategic resource value, exploration maturity, technological readiness, and ecological disturbance intensity. The results suggest that the commercial exploitation of these mineral resources is likely to proceed in a phased manner. The polymetallic nodules are expected to be the first to achieve large-scale commercial development given their abundant reserves, the relatively mature exploration and mining technologies, and lower technical barriers. Polymetallic sulfides are likely to follow, whereas cobalt-rich crusts may remain a long-term strategic resource owing to the significant technical challenges associated with their extraction. Nevertheless, the pace and scale of future commercial development remain uncertain due to limited scientific understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and the unresolved regulatory frameworks governing exploitation in the area. This study can serve as decision-making reference for prioritizing deep-sea mineral development, establishing differentiated environmentally responsible mining technology systems, and coordinating deep-sea mineral exploitation and ecological protection.

关键词

海底矿产资源 / 深海采矿 / 关键金属 / 深海生态与环境 / 国际海底区域

Key words

deep-sea mineral resources / deep-sea mining / critical metals / deep-sea ecology and environment / International Seabed Area

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基金资助

浙江省“尖兵领雁+X”研发攻关计划项目(2024C03036)

国家重点研发计划项目(2021YFF0501304)

海底科学与划界全国重点实验室自主课题(SGLabZZKT2025-03)