SEABED DEPOSIT MINING METHOD AND MINING UNIT FOR THE SAME

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seabed deposit mining method and a mining unit for the same capable of easily and surely mining a seabed deposit existing at deep sea and collecting a mineral from the same with high work efficiency.

SOLUTION: A mining machine, capable of interchangeably attaching/detaching an excavation device to excavate a seabed deposit and a mineral collecting device to collect a crushed mineral excavated by the excavation device and scattered on a seabed to/from an attachment boom which is swingable at least in a vertical direction and provided at a tip of a main body frame having a pair of crawlers at a left and a right side thereof, is onboard a mining mother ship afloat at a mining site. After the mining machine with the excavation device attached thereto is lowered to the mining site on the seabed to excavate the seabed deposit and to produce a prescribed amount of crushed minerals, the mining machine is pulled up onto the mining mother ship to exchange the excavation device for the mineral collecting device. Then, the mining machine is again lowered to the seabed where crushed minerals are accumulated to collect the crushed minerals produced by the excavation with the mineral collection device and to transport the same onto the mining mother ship through a submerged pump installed on the seabed.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT