Iron Ore Mining Case Study

1. Summary

The proposed iron ore mining project, which is being undertaken by Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTR). TTR are proposing to excavate approximately 50 million tonnes of sand on the seabed. The iron ore will be separated from the existing material and 90 percent of the existing material (sand) will be returned to the seabed. All this work is located in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, approximately 22 kilometres off the shore of Patea and Hawera, Taranaki.

Figure 1: Location of Project Area

2. Professional Roles

Below are the professional roles that the three main parties involved would need to help gather evidence to justify their reason for the seabed iron ore mining:

Objectors:

 Environmental Engineers – Evaluate the effects

 Coastal Engineers – Evaluate the evidence that TTR and Objectors have gathered on the coastal effects.
 Marine Geologists – Evaluate the evidence that TTR and Objectors have gathered on the ocean floor and coastal zone effects.

Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd:

 Marine Geologists – Investigate the effects that the work proposed will have on the ocean floor and coastal zone.
 Environmental Engineer – Evaluate the options for mitigation that TTR are proposing to counteract the environmental effects.
 Marine Engineers – Design and review the vessels needed for the project to succeed.
 Mining Engineers – Investigate a safe and environmentally friendly method to extract minerals from the ocean floor.
 Robotics Engineers – Design and operating the machines that will operate on the seabed floor.
 Mechanical Engineers – Design and maintain operational vessels required for the project.
 Electrical Engineers – Design and maintain operational vessels required for the project.
 Coastal Engineers – Evaluate the effects the project will have on the coast.

3. Environmental