China's deep-sea mining vehicles usher in new breakthrough

According to the Shanghai Municipal Government Information Office, the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle engineering prototype "Kaituo II" independently developed by Shanghai Jiaotong University recently completed sea trials, breaking the 4,000-meter mark for domestic deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicles for the first time, reaching 4,102.8 meters.

What does 4,102.8 meters mean? The sea trial depth exceeded the 4,000-meter mark, which means that the depth required for seabed mining can basically be reached. Deep-sea mineral resources are generally found at 2,000 to 6,000 meters deep seabed, among which polymetallic crusts and sulfides are mainly distributed within 4,000 meters of water depth.