Why in news?
India has recently secured exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in a 10,000 square kilometer area of the Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean by signing a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA). 
 
Key points about this achievement

• Polymetallic sulphides are mineral deposits formed by hydrothermal vents, containing economically valuable metals such as copper, zinc, iron, silver, gold, and platinum.
• The Carlsberg Ridge is a key tectonic boundary between the Indian and Arabian plates, known for its hydrothermal vents and rich mineral deposits.
• This milestone aligns with India’s Deep Ocean Mission, which focuses on seabed mineral exploration, mining technology development, and strengthening the Blue Economy initiatives.
• The acquisition expands India’s strategic maritime presence in the Indian Ocean and enhances national capacity for future resource utilization.
• India was already designated as a "Pioneer Investor" for polymetallic nodule exploration in other parts of the Indian Ocean, and this contract further consolidates its leadership in deep-sea resource exploration.

Polymetallic sulphides

• Composition: They contain economically valuable metals such as copper, zinc, lead, iron, silver, gold, and platinum.
• Formation: PMS form when seawater penetrates the oceanic crust, gets heated by magma, dissolves metals, and then releases them through hydrothermal vents where they precipitate as sulphides.
• Location: Commonly found at mid-ocean ridges, back-arc spreading centres, and volcanic margins; these deposits are usually associated with tectonic activity.
• Economic importance: They are rich sources of metals crucial for electronics, construction, and renewable energy industries, increasingly important as terrestrial mineral resources deplete.
• Environmental considerations: Mining these deposits poses challenges such as habitat destruction, toxic substance release, and sea floor disruption, necessitating environmentally responsible mining practices.
• Deposits vary in size from thousands to millions of tonnes, with some deposits still largely undiscovered due to limited exploration of oceanic ridges.

This contract is a significant step for India in asserting its leadership in marine science, technology, and the sustainable utilization of deep-sea mineral resources.

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