This handbook summarizes the main advances in our understanding of marine minerals and concentrates on the deposits of proven economic potential. In cases where our knowledge may be too limited to allow defining of their economic potential, those minerals are covered regionally or by deposit type. Handbook of Marine Mineral Deposits is divided into three sections; Marine placers, manganese nodules and crusts, and deep-sea hydrothermal mineralization. All of these mineral deposits have great potential importance to economic geologists and marine mines. Edited by an acknowledged expert in the field, this handbook includes work by internationally renowned contributors. The new United Nations Law of the Sea, ratified by over 100 countries within the past two years, provides a framework and guidelines for deep-sea mineral exploration that increases international interest in this book. The Handbook serves as a platform from which to launch the more detailed evaluation studies that will need to take place in the 21st century before recovery can continue or commence. Handbook of Marine Mineral Deposits is useful to mineralogists, economic geologists, marine geologists, marine miners, and conservationists. Features

Discusses a proposal for hard mineral leasing in the Norton Sound lease sale area off the Seward Peninsula near Nome in northwest Alaska, for the recovery of gold and minerals. Includes assessment of potential environmental impacts on Nome, and on subsistence and commercial fishing.

Draft of probable environmental impacts of offshore oil and gas development in the Beaufort Sea off the north coast of Alaska, including oil spills and effects on marine mammals, and effects on commercial and subsistence fishing.