The progress in the investigation and study of global deep-sea polumetallic nodules

With the global economic development, almost all countries are faced with a serious strategic resource crisis, and the exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources including polymetallic nodules has become a reasonable and effective way to solve this problem. With the progress of China's ocean survey, it is necessary to review the progress, status and future of polymetallic nodules resources. Deep-sea polymetallic nodule resources have attracted much attention among experts all over the world because they are the most widely distributed and most abundant metal resources in the sea floor. The occurrence of bacteria in manganese nodules is recognized and there is a general understanding that their activity may influence the formation of manganese oxide minerals.However, whether microbial activity just modifies Mn nodules or whether their activity is essential for nodule formation is still a matter of debate. The importance of metals contained in polymetallic nodules for the world economy is reflected in their patterns of consumption, their availability as primary or by-product ores in land-based deposits, and their use for merging high-and greentech applications. The research on polymetallic nodules should be carried out effectively so as to make China the leader in this field.