New insights into the marine minerals and energy resources of the Chilean continental shelf with an environmental approach

Chile is the world's leading producer of many terrestrial mineral resources; however, the potential of the country's marine mineral resources has been largely overlooked. Within its continental shelf (up to 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured), Chile has favorable geological characteristics for hosting and forming marine minerals and energy resources.

During the last decades, several novel studies have demonstrated the potential of gas hydrate reservoirs in Chile (between 33° and 56°S) as an energy resource and source of greenhouse gases, which has attracted the attention of the Chilean scientific community. In addition, some studies have highlighted the potential value of marine minerals in the Chilean continental shelf, mainly due to the increasing demand for minerals for low-carbon energy production, such as cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, polymetallic nodules, and massive sulfides on the seafloor.

The goal of this study is to review all information on the non-conventional energy and mineral resources of the Chilean continental shelf. Furthermore, we provide data (e.g., core samples, seismic profiles, or research from related papers) on marine deposits in the Chilean seabed. Here, we show unpublished seismic images of a previously unidentified massive hydrate deposit in the southernmost part of the 1960 Valdivia earthquake rupture zone, which was the largest earthquake recorded in history. We also present geological data that suggests the presence of nodules, sulfides, and crusts on the Chilean continental shelf. Collectively, these findings represent the most important but least explored resources for critical elements and base metals in the country.

This study provides a primer for policymakers to apprise them of future research needed to develop potential mineral and energy resources within prospective deep-sea areas. It also includes advice on developing an environmental baseline for future environmental impact assessment. The new understanding of mineral and energy resources presented here greatly expands Chile's position beyond that as a source of terrestrial minerals to include potentially vast marine-based energy and metal resources, which are highly valued by industry. Based on these considerations, we encourage decision makers to promote and support studying marine deposits to further protect and evaluate future exploration.