S. Korea to explore deep seabed minerals in South Pacific

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's marine ministry said Wednesday that it
will begin exploration of minerals such as gold and copper in the seabed off the
Pacific island of Tonga starting this week.
According to the ministry, a consortium comprising four South Korean companies
will start exploration in the economic exclusive zone (EEZ) of Tonga from
Thursday for about one month.
South Korea acquired a prospecting license for so-called seafloor massive
sulfides from the government of Tonga in March 2008.
Seafloor massive sulfides are poly-metallic sulfide deposits containing various
metals such as copper, lead, zinc and gold and found in hydrothermal waters
occurring along the seabed.
The South Korean government and the consortium are expecting to start commercial
production after 2012 after a series of surveys and feasibility studies.
The EEZ in the South Pacific is estimated to hold 6 million tons of minerals, the
ministry said.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)