A scientific team from China has identified 11,700 previously unknown viruses located within the Clarion-Clipperton zone, a vast underwater region situated between Hawaii and Mexico. This area is recognized for containing immense quantities of metallic nodules rich in manganese, nickel, and cobalt, which some experts believe exceed the total mineral reserves found on land. Although commercial extraction operations have not commenced in this deep-sea environment, the International Seabed Authority has already granted 17 exploration permits for the territory. The discovery highlights the complex biological diversity present at depths reaching 6,000 meters, raising questions about the potential ecological impact of future deep-sea mining activities in this resource-rich oceanic plain.
Source : South China Morning Post
Photo : South China Morning Post
