China has successfully completed its first 118 days of deep sea manned submersible mining in the India Ocean. It has found large deposits of precious metal and has also found different hydrothermal areas.

China’s mission named as Jiaolong has discovered new hydrothermal deep-sea fissures that emit hot water. It is considered that the findings could pave way for more research in resources of seafloor sulfide deposits that are rich in different metals.

The hydrothermal sulfides are the deposits having copper, zinc, gold and silver. They are formed after the chemical reactions and remain on the seabed. The mission was a matter of concern for India. But China has taken approval for the same in 2012.

China took permission from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to explore 10,000 sq kms of polymetallic sulphide ore deposit for 15 years in the seabed. China has also taken approval to mine a 75,000 sq km polymetallic nodule ore deposit in the east Pacific Ocean in 2001.

Experts said that China is now the fifth nation in the list of nations that have developed deep-sea water technology. Other four nations are US, France, Russia and Japan. In June 2012, the mission reached the depth of 7,062 metres in the Pacific and then it started seabed exploration in the Indian Ocean.

India is considered to be decades behind when it comes to conducting similar deep-sea exploration. China already has 95% of rare earth metals, but it still looking for precious metals through deep-sea ocean mining.

This aspect has indeed raised concerns among its rivals, including India, Japan and the US. Experts think that rather than raising concerns against China’s Jiaolong mission, India should focus more on improving its seabed mining capabilities. Between June and August, Jiaolong will start a new expedition to the northwest Pacific.