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The Vertical Approach
Weixler Leonhard
12.12.2022
- Transitioning from Sampling to Sustainable Mining
Bauer Maschinen GmbH

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Deep Sea Resources – Massive Sulfides
Cobal-Rich Crust
Manganese Nodules
Massive Sulfides

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Why Massive Sulfides?
Quelle: BGR
Typ Massive Sulfides Manganese Nodules Cobald-Rich Crusts
Ore density per m² 30.000 kg/m² at 10 m
thickness
12 – 20 kg/m² 70 kg/m²
Necessary mining
surface fo 1 Million tons
33.300 m² 62.500.000 m² 14.300.000 m²
Surface factor 1 1875 429
Extracting Massive Sulfides allows the minimum possible footprint!

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Deep Sea Sampling – The Vertical Approach
▪ Technical feasibility study and
prove of concept
▪ Developing a new Technology
for vertical minimally invasive
Deep Sea Mining Method
▪ Joint research program with
universities supported by the
BMWK
• Ecologic and economic bulk
sampling method for deep sea
applications
The Vertical Approach
JV Seabed Mineral Services Research Project:
Deep Sea Sampling
Offering Campaigns for maritime Exploration
Bulk Sampling of Massive Sulfides
with the Vertical Approach Method

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Maritime Exploration Methods at Bauer Maschinen Maritime Technologies
Seabed Coring
MeBo 200.2
Bulk Sampling
The Vertical Approach
▪ Max. Water Depth
2500m
▪ Max. Coring Depth
200m
▪ Core Diameter 63,5 mm
▪ Single Core Length 3.5m
▪ Pressure Containers for
Storing Cores under in-
situ Pressure Conditions
➢ Small Volume/Cross
Section Sampling
➢ Core Samples with
detailed Information of
Rock Formation
Composition
▪ Max. Water Depth 3000m
▪ Max. Sampling Depth 7m
▪ Sampling Section
3200mm x 1500mm
➢ Large Volume/Cross
Section
➢ Cutting Samples with
Information about
quantitive Material
Composition of the Ore
Deposit
➢ Evaluation and economic
Analysis of the Mineral
Reservoir

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Vertical Minimal Invasive Sampling
Trench Cutter System for Offshore Bulk Sampling (Namibia, 1994) MV Geomaster with BAUER Trench Cutter System
➢ Exploration Campaign for Diamond Bulk Sampling
➢ Maximum Operating Depth of 200m
➢ Sampling Depth 5-6m
➢ Deployment through Moon Pool
➢ BC50 Trench Cutter Wheels Power Requirement 430kW
➢ 8in Suction Pump for 700 m3/h Pump Flow
Power Requirement 300kW
➢ Separation Process and Slurry Treatment on Vessel Deck

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Vertical Minimal Invasive Sampling
Trench Cutter System for Shallow Water Trench Cutter System for Deep Sea
➢ Continous Conveyor Process
with Separation on Vessel
➢ Hydraulic Driven Cutter System
➢ High Pumping Capacity required
for 200m Lift
➢ Discontinous Conveyor Process
with Separation on Sea Floor
➢ New Power Supply Concept (Vessel-Seabed Electric Line)
➢ Energy Saving through Substitution of the Riser System
with a Collector/Separator Bucket (2500m Lift)
Next Technology Step

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Vertical Minimal Invasive Deep Sea Sampling
Akteure/Interessensgruppen
Cutting Depth min. 7m
Technical System Specification and Performance
Feed Rate 2 cm/min
Material Extraction 5,8 m3/h
Operational Depth 3500m
Temperature 1,8 °C
Ambient Pressure 350 bar
Trench Cross Section
3,2mx1,5m
Electric High Voltage
Energy Supply
>4200 V
Collector Capacity of 51m3
for 33,6m3 (100t)
Sampling Material
Cutting Size up to 70mm
Estimated max.
Total System Weight 300t
Power Demand
150 kW Slurry Pump
350 kW Cutter Wheels
Campaign Profile:
• 1x Trench per Day
• 10x Trenches total during first Mission

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Deep Sea Resources – Massive Sulfide Deposits
Known areas of economic interest
▪ Graphical Material
▪ Rock Samples
▪ Topology and Surface Condition
Data required for new innovative
Deep Sea Sampling System Design
Vertical Approach will contribute to future
exploration of massive sulfide deposits
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Deep Sea Resources – Massive Sulfide Deposits
BGR License Area
Origination of Massive Sulfide Deposits
Investigated and measured Field Karei
Application Scenarios

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Vertical Minimal Invasive Deep Sea Sampling

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Outlook – Development of new Technology
In Progess 2028 Pilot Mining Test
First Field Trial 2023
Component Tests Pilot Mining Test
Electrification of Cutter

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Electrification and energy efficiency
Diesel
engine
1l
45%
Hydraulic
system
80% 3,6
kWh
KDK
1 Liter Diesel eq.
1 Liter Diesel
10 kWh
Diesel-hydraulic
Electric
Drive
90% 3,6
kWh
KDK
Batt
4 kWh eq.
1 Liter Diesel
4,3 kWh
Direct electric drive at
Consumer
(eBG all electric)
Electric
Drive
90%
Hydraulic
system
80% 3,6
kWh
KDK
5 kWh
5 kWh eq.
1 Liter Diesel
Electro-hydraulic
(Central electromotor,
eBG)
Total
efficiency
36%
72%
84%
Net
Net
93%
Direct electric drive offers the best efficency factor, safings of 17% of energy possible!

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1st Period:
Reconnaissance of large License Area
(Duration 5 years)
2nd Period:
Exploration and Deposit Assessment
(Duration 5 years)
3rd Period:
Pilot Mining Test and Environmental Studies
(Duration 5 years)
Total Exploration Contract granted by ISA = 15 years
License Lifetime can be extended
INDEX: Exploration Time Span

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Outlook – Massive Sulfide Exploration and Extraction
Geology
Metallurgy
Technology
Environment
2025
Start End
Core Sampling
with MeBo
Environmental
Base Line Studies
2027
Environmental
Impact Assessment
Resource Evaluation
Deposit Classification
Material Processing Method
Mining Feasability Study
2029
Exploration Campaign Pilot Mining Test
2026 2028
Proof of System Functionality
Admission of Extraction Procedure

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▪ Before anybody starts mining in the deep-sea, he needs
data from the ore body
▪ To get this data, we started a cooperation between Bauer
and Harren & Partner
▪ Usage of Bauer ´s cutter technology together with H&P´s
offshore experience
▪ Offering Seabed Mineral Services for the exploration of
SMS deposits
▪ Small scale core drilling with MeBo
▪ Bulk sampling with the “Vertical Approach”
▪ Results to be used for scaling the Vertical Approach to the
demands of mining
Bauer and Harren & Partner: what we stand for

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