NorSeMin

NorSeMin - Unlocking Mineral Processes on the Norwegian Continental Shelf for Sustainable Exploration and Environmental Governance.

The NorSeMin project is led by Professor Sabina Strmic Palinkas with a focus on building a robust scientific foundation for future seabed mineral activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. It is one of three collaborative projects that in total received 48 million NOK from the Norwegian Research Council to support research on environmental and natural values related to seabed mineral activities. These projects address both ecosystem impacts and fundamental geological processes, contributing to a stronger knowledge base on the potential consequences of mineral extraction in marine environments.

“If we are to make good decisions about future activity on the Norwegian continental shelf, we must have solid knowledge. Research has been crucial to Norway's position as an energy nation – and it will become even more important in the future. Through collaboration, we build the knowledge, technology and innovation we need to ensure safe and sustainable resource utilization”, says Minister of Energy Terje Aasland.

The NorSeMin project investigates mineral-forming processes for seafloor massive sulfides (WP1 led by Professor Sabina Strmic Palinkas) and ferromanganese crusts (WP2 led by Professor Rolf B. Pedersen) to improve resource mapping and strengthen the basis for environmental risk analyses (WP3 led by Professor Ingunn H. Thorseth). The project combines field data, laboratory analyses, machine learning approaches and conceptual and process-based modelling.

By integrating geological, geochemical and biological perspectives, NorSeMin aims to deliver a science-based framework for evaluating seabed mineral systems. The outcomes will inform environmental risk assessments, guide sustainable exploration strategies and support the development of evidence-based policymaking for future seabed mineral resource management on the NCS.

Professor Strmic Palinkas says: “We are excited about the NorSeMin project because it allows us to deepen our understanding of how mineral deposits form and are preserved along the Norwegian Continental Shelf. By studying seafloor massive sulfides and ferromanganese crusts, the project will generate new knowledge that is essential for assessing future mineral resource potential and understanding possible environmental impacts. This research provides an important scientific foundation for informed and responsible decisions about seabed mineral activities.”