Exploitation of Lower Grade Ores

All the rich mineral ores in readily accessible areas have already been found and exploited. Therefore, any rich deposits will be found in remote locations and hostile environments, such as locations deep under the ocean. One major possibility is Antarctica, a remote continent noted for its ice, wind, and generally hostile conditions. It is very likely that rich mineral deposits are buried beneath the thick Antarctic ice sheet. However, the probability of severe environmental damage 

Exciting possibilities exist for the extraction of minerals from very hostile places, especially at great depths. One possibility is ultradeep mining under conditions too sevae to enable human participation. It may one day be possible to use robots to mine deposits several kilometers deep, whae extreme pressures and heat would make it impossible for humans to work. 

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