Gliwice (Poland) On October 7, 2022, IOM representatives T. Abramowski and P. Balaz met with a team of engineers from KOMAG (Institute of Mining Technology), represented by M. Kalita and K. Stankiewicz, who are developing a collector head for a prototype of hydraulic mining device for deep seabed mining. Tests of the functionality of the device were successful and the collection of artificial nodules (a mixture of artificial and natural nodule-like stones) for different movement speeds of the collector head was presented. Artificial nodules have a similar specific gravity and shape to natural nodules. An extraction rate of over 90% was achieved (collection tests in water without sediment).
The following tests will focus on the collection of artificial and natural nodules placed on the sediment for different nodule abundance and the speed of the collector head.
