Restoring sea floor after mining may not be possible, researchers warn

Kingston, Jamaica (AFP) -- Scientists present at the latest effort to hash out international rules for deep-sea mining say it's unclear if it's possible to restore damaged sea floor ecosystems -- or how long it would take. One of the last wild zones on the planet, the sea floor is a coveted frontier for companies and countries eager to access minerals that are in high demand for emerging technologies such as electric cars. Particularly coveted are potato-sized nodules containing cobalt, nickel, co...