Exploration of deep sea to determine origin of life on Earth

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Last Updated08/04/2022

Under the recently launched Deep Ocean Mission, one of the objectives is focussed on studies on deep sea vent conditions and formation of life-friendly molecules and organismal components
It will attempt to throw some light on how life originated on Earth

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Its focus is on deep-sea mining, ocean climate change advisory services, underwater vehicles and underwater robotics related technologies.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-institutional mission.

A manned submersible with a set of scientific instruments and equipment will be designed to transport three persons to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean.
For mining polymetallic nodules at these depths in the central Indian Ocean, an Integrated Mining System will be designed.
Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services.
Development of a component for discovering deep sea flora and fauna, including microorganisms, and researching methods to use them sustainably.
It will also include a component to investigate and identify prospective sources of hydrothermal minerals, which are sources of precious metals generated from the earth's crust along the mid-oceanic ridges of the Indian Ocean.
It includes a section for researching and developing precise technical designs for offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)-powered desalination plants

It will spur additional expansion in the discovery and utilisation of ocean resources for clean energy, potable water, and, ultimately, the blue economy.
The expedition will aid attempts to investigate India's enormous Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf.
The initiative will allow India to enhance capacities for resource extraction in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB).

The UN International SeaBed Authority has granted India 75,000 square kilometres in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) for the discovery of polymetallic nodules.
Metal deposits such as iron, manganese, nickel, and cobalt can be found in CIOB reserves.
It is estimated that 10% of the recovery of that vast resource will be enough to supply India's energy needs for the next 100 years.

These are also known as Manganese nodules
These are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in the deep sea.
Composition: Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium, of which nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.

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