1. Introduction

The interest for submarine mineral resources has expanded rapidly with improved understanding of the evolution of the Earth and the access of new technologies to explore the seabed, and due to the need for reposition of land resources (e.g., Lusty and Murton, 2018). This has allowed the development of the coastal and shallow water (<50 m depth) mining business, including exploitation of placer, lime, coal, gravel and sand deposits, among others (Lenoble et al., 1995; Rona, 2008). In deep oceanic areas, no exploitation is known, although large and high-grade ore bodies, such as volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits and Fe-Mn nodules/crusts have been explored and evaluated (Cronan, 1980, 2000; Rona, 2008; Hein et al., 2013; Lusty and Murton, 2018; www.nautilusminerals.com; http://deep.green/ (Last visit 25/12/2019)). Several countries have studied their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs, 200 nautical miles or ca. 360 km from the coast line) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has so far given 29 exploration contracts in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, for more than 390.000 square miles for 15 years each one (ISA, 2018). Apparently, these areas until today have not resulted in economically viable projects because of grade/tonnage relationship of ore-bodies, extraction/processing costs and environmental restrictions. The ecological impacts and regulation challenges of the future ocean mining have been recently discussed by Jones et al. (2018) and Lodge and Verlaan (2018), respectively.

The Chilean offshore includes a large variety of landscapes and geotectonic features (Fig. 1). The Chilean EEZ has an area of 3,681,989 km2, which is almost five times larger than the area of the continental territory (Figs. 1-2). At present, the knowledge about the potential for mineral resources, especially non-energetic, in this EEZ and surrounding sectors, is scarce and scattered, and exploration efforts have been few and poorly documented. This is largely due to the wealth of mineral resources being exploited on land and the high cost of marine geological exploration, which usually include access to deep drill holes, shallow gravity cores in sediments (<10 m length) and grab samples of seabed sediments or rocks. In the Chilean EEZ, 9 deep drill holes have been obtained from the Oceanic Drilling Program, in expeditions during years 1991-1992 and 2002 (Fig. 1; http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications (Last visit 01/04/2019)). The first expedition considered sites located at depths from 1,239 to 2,760 m b.s.l. and drilled holes up to 62 to 743 m long, whereas the second campaign considered sites at depths from 489 to 4,069 m b.s.l. and drilled holes up to 125 to 375 m long. These drill holes did not indicate relevant non-energetic mineral occurrences.

 

Fig. 1. Bathymetry of the eastern Pacific Basin (Amante and Eakins, 2009) and main tectonic features and boundary types of the Nazca, Antarctica and Pacific plates (Bird, 2003). Hotspots from Sandwell et al. (2005) and Rodrigo and Lara (2014). ODP sites from http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications (Last visit 01/04/2019). The  outline of the Chilean 200 nautical miles Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ, from United Nations Conventions, 1998) is also shown. RI: Rapanui island; SG: Salas y Gómez island; SF: San Félix island; SA: San Ambrosio island; AS: Alejandro Selkirk island; RC: Robinson Crusoe island.

 

Fig. 2. Fe-Mn nodule and crust samples and hydrothermal vent samples available in the Chilean offshore. Fe-Mn nodule sites from Rosato et al. (1975), Lyle (1981), Valenzuela et al. (1984) and Corvalán et al. (1996). Co-rich Fe-Mn-crust sites from Corvalán et al. (1996) and hydrothermal vent sites from ISA (2018). Sites of Corvalán et al. (1996) were taken from a map figure at 1:10.000.000 scale. Sites of Rosato et al. (1975) and Lyle (1981) were taken from map figures at approximate scale of 1:40.000.000. Location of the sites of Valenzuela et al. (1984) are from a table with coordinates (except sites 22 and 26 that were taken from a 1:8.000.000 scale map); the sites have the same labels as in table 1. For others symbols see legend of   figure 1. Figure 3 location is shown in the upper right corner.

Energetic mineral resources have been studied in the continental shelf and slope off central-southern Chile. Petroleum and gas are exploited in the continental domain of the Magallanes area and these resources have been explored and evaluated in many offshore basins with at least 18 deep wells and seismic surveys; no economically positive results have been concluded (e.g., Mordojovich, 1981; González, 1989; Zanella et al., 2013). Methane hydrates have been sampled from deep drill holes (ODP 1991-1992 expedition; Behrmann et al., 1992; Bangs et al., 1993; Brown et al., 1996) and shallow-gravitational cores (Coffin et al., 2007), and important lateral extensions of these resources have been indicated from seismic reflection studies (Rodrigo et al., 2004, 2009; Vera and Díaz-Naveas, 2010; Vargas-Cordero et al., 2010, 2016, 2018; Villar-Muñoz et al., 2018).

Here, we present a review of the non-energetic mineral resources recognized in the Chilean EEZ seabed and their geotectonic and metallogenic setting, which is based on a georeferenced database and complemented with updated bathymetric information, provided by world radar data and oceanographic vessel surveys (e.g., Zapata, 2001; Amante and Eakins, 2009; Becker et al., 2009).

2. Geotectonic setting

The bathymetry of the Chilean offshore is controlled by the interaction of the Nazca, Pacific, Antarctic and the South American tectonic plates (Bird, 2003; Fig. 1). It includes a large part of the east Pacific Ocean basin, various submarine volcanic chains, several oceanic islands, submarine seamounts and plateaus, and the Chile-Peru trench, followed to the east by the continental margin (e.g., Amante and Eakins, 2009; Becker et al., 2009; Díaz-Naveas and Frutos, 2010). The continental margin is 10 to 120 km wide and formed by the slope and shelf, which are cut by submarine canyons, especially off central and southern Chile. The two major submarine volcanic chains are the Salas y Gómez Ridge and Chile Rise, oriented approximately E-W (Fig. 1). In between them, the Juan Fernández Ridge is located towards the continent. The Salas y Gómez Ridge continues to the NE, as the Nazca Ridge, and to the E, as the Iquique Ridge (Fig. 1).

The East Pacific Rise and Chile Rise are seismically-active and correspond to divergent plate margins characterized by an extensional tectonic setting, with abundant tholeiitic magmatic activity and high thermal gradients (Bird, 2003). In the Nazca plate, between the East Pacific Rise and the Chile-Peru trench, there are many volcanogenic intraplate environments. These include aseismic ridges, oceanic plateaus and seamounts, and deep-water abyssal conditions, up to 5,000 m depth, dominated by low sedimentation rates (Fig. 1; Bird, 2003; Becker et al., 2009; Díaz -Naveas and Frutos, 2010). The oceanic islands and some of the seamounts have been generated by typical exponents of tholeiitic and alkaline intraplate volcanism, associated in part with hot spots (González-Ferrán, 1987; Lara, 2010 and references therein; Rodrigo and Lara, 2014). Three Quaternary hotspots have been indicated in this part of the Nazca plate (Fig. 1; Sandwell et al., 2005). The Chile-Peru trench is the result of the convergence between the Nazca and South American plates that generates a compressive tectonic setting (Fig. 1; Bird, 2003; Sandwell et al., 2005). The continental shelf is characterized by shallow waters (up to 300 m depth) and moderate to high sedimentation rates. The global wind and marine circulation generates the Humboldt Current, which is cold and northward-directed, coming from the Antarctic Ocean (Montecino and Lange, 2009).

3. Metallogenetic setting

Mero (1965), Cronan (1980, 2000), Rona (2008), Hein et al. (2013) and Lusty and Murton (2018) among others have presented complete summaries to explain the occurrence and distribution of the submarine mineral deposits in the world. They have shown up the relevance of deposits of Fe-Mn nodule/crust, volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), placer, phosphorite and salt. Fe-Mn nodules and crusts are precipitates that occur in abyssal environments on ocean floors, volcanic seamounts and plateaus (Cronan, 2000; Rona, 2008; Hein et al., 2013). Fe-Mn nodules can reach 20 cm in diameter, their dominant mineral phase is todorokite and occur predominantly on the surface of sediment-covered abyssal plains at water depths of approximately 3,500 to 6,500 m. Mn concentrations can be high (>30%) in diagenetic nodules, such as in the Peru Basin (Von Stackelberg, 2000; Hein et al., 2013). Nodules are abundant in areas with oxidizing bottom seawaters, low sedimentation rates, and abundant sources of nucleation. They acquire metals from seawater (hydrogenetic) and pore fluids (diagenetic). The Fe-Mn crusts occur mainly in areas where oxygen rich waters are cold and sedimentation rates are extremely low. The highest concentrations of crusts are found in equatorial areas of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean basins (Cronan, 2000; Hein et al., 2013; Lusty et al., 2018). They are normally found in depths between 400 and 7,000 m b.s.l., being thicker (<25 cm) and metal enriched at depths between 800 and 2,500 m b.s.l. Respect to the Earth mean composition, oceanic ferromanganese crusts are highly enriched in Co, Te, Mo, Bi, Pt, W, Zr, Nb, Y and rare-earth elements (REE). In contrast to Fe-Mn nodules, crusts acquire metals only from seawater (hydrogenetic), and have typically three to six times less Mn than Fe (Hein et al., 2013). Crusts are more enriched in Co and REE than nodules but less enriched in Cu and Ni. The diagenetic component of nodules increases their growth rates to about 2 to 50 times faster than those of Fe-Mn crusts. Hein et al. (2013) have highlighted that Fe-Mn nodules and crusts have more Tl, Mn, Te, Ni, Co and Y than the global terrestrial reserve base for those metals, and that the Fe-Mn nodules and crusts are strongly enriched in Cu, Mo, Bi, Pt, W, Zr, Li, Nb and REEs relative to the Earth’s lithosphere. At present in the world, the richer and larger Fe-Mn nodule/crust deposits are located in the NE and Central Pacific zones (Hein et al., 2013; http://deep.green/ (Last visit 25/12/2019)).

The VMS deposits are polymetallic, lenticular, stratiform massive bodies hosted in volcanic or volcano-sedimentary rock sequences deposited on ocean floors (Franklin et al., 1981, 2005; Cronan, 2000; Hannington et al., 2005; Rona, 2008). VMS deposits commonly contain Cu, Zn, Au, Ag, and Fe. The volcanic activity and water depth are two factors controlling hydrothermal development on the sea floor (Butterfield et al., 1997). In the oceanic ridges and volcanic intraplate seamounts-islands, the magmatic activity favors the hydrothermal activity and generation of VMS deposits. The origin of these deposits is related to submarine volcanic-exhalative processes, i.e., hydrothermal vents. At present, the most interesting underwater VMS prospects are located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean and western Pacific Ocean (Rona, 2008; www.nautilusminerals.com (Last visit 25/12/2019)).

Marine environments characterized by shallow waters and high sedimentation rates favor the formation of phosphate and other mineral deposits as a result of sediments and chemical components carried by rivers (Veeh et al., 1973; Riggs, 1979; Burnett, 1990; Rona, 2008). Phosphorite deposits consist of a variety of phosphorous-bearing minerals that distinguish from other sedimentary deposits or rocks by their high content of phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) (5-40%; Riggs, 1979). Phosphorite deposits occur on continental shelves, submarine plateaus and banks, formed by carbonate cementation and replacement, and on islands and atolls where the source of phosphorus is mainly guano and rock phosphate nearby. Most phosphorite deposits in the world have a Miocene age (Rona, 2008).

Placer type deposits are accumulations of valuable minerals formed by gravitational separation (or mechanical concentration) during transport in sedimentary processes by fluid flow, typically water. Marine placer deposits, of heavy minerals such as diamond, gold, tin, thorium, titanium, zirconium, monazite and others, have been exploited in continental shelves (<50 m depth). Underwater diamond placer mines are known in the southeastern coast of Africa, gold placer mines in Alaska and titanium-zirconium placer mines in India (Lenoble et al., 1995; Cronan, 2000; Rona, 2008).

4. Ferromanganese nodules

In the Nazca Plate off Chile, Fe-Mn nodules have been sampled at least since 1960's (e.g., Mero, 1965). Sediments containing more than 12% Fe and a few Fe-Mn nodules are found on the East Pacific Rise (Böstrom, 1970). Rosato et al. (1975) reported 53 points with occurrence of Fe-Mn nodules in seabed sediments from the Nazca Plate off Chile (Fig. 2). These authors describe the nodules as “occurrence of manganiferous concretions, not including micronodules”. No more detail is indicated and chemical analyses are not available. Some tens samples of seabed sediments in the Nazca Plate off Chile were also recovered by Dymond (1981), who indicated a strong enrichment in Mn (>10%), Fe, Cu, and Zn in the East Pacific Rise as result of hydrothermal activity. Additionally, some samples of Fe-Mn basalt coatings and one sample of an “extensive nodule field” (off N Chile, at ca. 22° S) have been reported by Lyle (1981) (Fig. 2). The nodule sample contains low Mn/Fe ratio (ca. 1), high Ce and Co contents, and relatively low Cu, Ni, and Zn abundances, and is interpreted as formed by hydrogenous precipitation (Lyle, 1981). The metal source of the sediments of the eastern part of the Nazca Plate would have been originated by hydrothermal solutions derived from the interaction of seawater with basalt crust, during crystallization of solid phases at low temperatures (Kulm et al., 1983).

Valenzuela et al. (1984) selected and studied 38 oceanographic sites with presence of Fe-Mn nodules or micronodules, and Mn-bearing sediments, in the Chilean EEZ (Fig. 2; Table 1). These sampled sites proceeded from the Scripps Databank (ONU) and the “Instituto Oceanográfico e Hidrográfico de la Armada de Chile” Databank. A density of 4 to 5 kg/m² has been estimated for these nodules/micronodules (Valenzuela, 1986). Ten sites had 43 chemical analyses for major and some minor elements (Fig. 2; Table 1; Valenzuela et al., 1984). Interesting Fe-Mn nodule sites are present in an abyssal plain off northernmost Chile (Loa River latitude), around the Juan Fernández Ridge, near the Salas y Gómez Island, and south of Magallanes (Fig. 2). The most relevant sampled site is located at the latitude of the Loa River mouth (21.3° S), where a nodule site occurs at 4332 m depth and contains 0.65% Cu, 0.73% Ni and 0.81% Zn (combined Cu+Ni grade of 1.38%; site 10 in table 1 and Fig. 2). This site is situated at 217 km from the nodule field sampled by Lyle (1981) and at 122 and 140 km from two samples of Rosato et al. (1975) (Fig. 2) suggesting that all of this large area can contain metal bearing Mn nodules.

Around the Juan Fernández Ridge and completely inside the Chilean EEZ, a Fe-Mn nodule field is found at 3650-3953 m depth, with a combined Cu+Ni grades of 0.25 to 0.96% (sites 6, 7, 8, 35 and 36 in table 1 and Fig. 2; Valenzuela et al., 1984). In the Site 7, nodules are formed by cryptomelane, pyrolusite, Mn amorphous aggregates and limonites, and chemical data for 17 subsamples (cores, rims and different nodules) obtained by at least three different laboratories, indicate mean concentrations of Fe up to 19.8%, Mn up to 18.32% and Co up to 0.305% (Table 1; Valenzuela et al., 1984). In this site, Ni is overestimated at 2.6 times larger by one of the laboratories, due to probably problems in heterogeneity of subsamples or in analytical procedures. In the Site 6, the mean value of Mn is 36.7% (7 analyses), and in the Site 35, mean values of Fe is 19.25% and Mo is 0.048% (Table 1). In addition, in this area, Rosato et al (1975) also reported numerous sites with Fe-Mn nodules (Fig. 2). Near the Salas y Gómez Island, Site 37 (at 2,890 m depth) yielded 0.6% Cu+Ni and 18.8% Fe (Table 1 and Fig. 2; Valenzuela et al., 1984). South of Magallanes, samples at depths from 3,767 to 4,007 m indicate grades of Cu+Ni of 0.3 to 0.57% and mean values of Co of 0.163 to 0.532% (sites 2, 3 and 4 in table 1 and figure 2; Valenzuela et al., 1984); one analysis from the Site 3 yielded 1.51% of Co.

More recently, based on bottom samples and photographies from numerous sources, 24 sites of Fe-Mn “recovered” nodules have been reported in the Chilean offshore (Fig. 2; Piper et al., 1987; Corvalán et al., 1996). Six of these sites are situated in the Chilean EEZ and close to sites of Rosato et al. (1975), Lyle (1981) and Valenzuela et al. (1984). Several other sites are in the proximities of the Chilean EEZ. A hundred of sea bottom photographs did not indicate nodules (Corvalán et al., 1996).

5. Ferromanganese crusts

In Chile’s EEZ, Co-rich Fe-Mn crusts and metalliferous sediments have been reported in the volcanic belt and oceanic floor around the Salas y Gómez and Rapanui islands (Figs. 1-2; Valenzuela, 1986; Flückiger and Valenzuela, 1994). The metalliferous sediment samples have yielded Mn contents greater than 10% and Cu+Ni contents of 0.25 to 0.3% (Valenzuela, 1986; Flückiger and Valenzuela, 1994). There, the sample depths vary from 2,089 to 4,720 m b.s.l. (Valenzuela et al., 1984). Additionally, 12 sites of Co-rich Fe-Mn crusts, with Co*(=Cox51.23/(Fe+Mn)) <1.0, have been indicated for the Chilean offshore, and 4 of these sites are located in the Salas y Gómez ridge (Figs. 1-2; Manheim and Lane-Bostwick, 1989; Corvalán et al., 1996). The results suggest that all of the submarine volcanic chain, from Rapanui Island to San Ambrosio Island, for more tan 3,000 km long at approximate mean depths of 2,000 m b.s.l., can be a favorable environment for formation and preservation of Fe-Mn crusts.

6. Phosphorite deposits

There is evidence of submarine phosphorite nodules in Holocene sediments of the continental shelf of Peru and northern Chile, based on sediment gravity core sampling, at seabed depths from 120 to 446 m b.s.l. (Veeh et al., 1973; Burnett, 1977; 1990). 15 samples were recovered, of which 6 are situated in the north Chilean EEZ (Fig. 3). The phosphorite nodules are mainly associated with laminated, organic-rich, diatomaceous ooze. The mineralogical and geochemical studies of samples, including microprobe analyses, show that the largest component of phosphorites is fluorapatite, and P2O5 contents vary between 6 and 29%, with an average content of 22.6% (Burnett, 1977). The phosphorite deposition off Peru and Chile is attributed to the seawater upwelling related to the Humboldt Current (Veeh et al., 1973; Burnett, 1990).

On the continental portion of northern Chile, specifically in the Mejillones and Caldera localities, Valdebenito and Gutiérrez (1979) have shown the existence of phosphate deposits (Fig. 3). These ore-deposits are hosted in Neogene sedimentary rocks accumulated in a shallow marine basin environment and crop today as uplift terraces. The phosphate deposit at Caldera has an average grade of 18% P₂O₅ in a horizon approximately 1 m thick (Valdebenito and Gutiérrez, 1979). The presence of these ore-deposits on land in Neogene sedimentary strata suggests continuation to submarine environments. Thus, as phosphorites occur in Holocene marine beds, it indicates a large potential for economic volumes and concentrations in the continental shelf of northern Chile (Fig. 3).

 

Fig. 3. Map of northern Chile showing presence of Holocene submarine phosphorite occurrences sampled and studied by Burnett (1977). Two Neogene phosphorite deposits are shown on land, at Mejillones and Caldera, from Valdebenito and Gutiérrez (1979).

7. Placer deposits

In Chile there is evidence of gold and titanium accumulation in some beaches and channels along the coast. These placers are related to the coastal wave reworking of sedimentary deposits derived from the metamorphic-granitic basement rocks or glacial-alluvial-fluvial sediments. Artisanal exploitation of beach gold placers has historically occurred in Huentelauquén (Coquimbo Region, northern Chile) and southern Chile, particularly around the Chiloé island area (at Cucao, Carelmapu and Comau beaches) and in the islands and channels of the Magallanes Region (Ruiz and Peebles, 1988; Greiner, 1991; Portigliati, 1999; Cronan, 2000). In the western coast of Chiloé Island, the detrital gold is in black sands, with magnetite, ilmenite, zircon, garnet and monazite (Ruiz and Peebles, 1988). Underwater sampling from the erosional canyon offshore Cucao, at depths from 300 to 1,200 m, has demonstrated, with chemical analyses, gold anomalies and suggests probable extension of gold placer mineralization in the seabed (Carlos Gherardelli, 2008; personal communication to B.T.).

In the Magallanes Region, southernmost Chile, the littoral gold placer deposits are strongly related to reworking of Pleistocene moraine deposits (Greiner, 1991). In 1988-1991, in the Magallanes channel and Nassau bay, Anglo American Corporation detected anomalies of detrital gold in the seabed (Cronan, 2000, in Pineda et al., 2002). Thus, the submarine canyons and channels appear to be good concentrators of detrital gold. On the other hand, Rona (2008) suggests that all narrow western shelf of South America may have significant potential for gold placer deposits due to the presence of very large and rich, Mesozoic-Cenozoic gold deposits, which are epithermal-type and porphyry-type.

Titanium placer deposits have been identified locally in beaches and dunes along the Chilean coast (Fuller et al., 2004) in the so called “black sands”. For example, certain sectors of the beaches located in Caldera, in the Atacama Region in northern Chile, have a TiO₂ grade of 51.4 wt% (Valderrama et al., 2005). These placers may continue to the offshore with favorable exploration potential. Finally, regarding the platinum, some dragged and piston corer samples, collected in southernmost Chile, Magallanes Region (Beagle channel and Nassau bay), have yielded anomalous concentrations of this element, with 10 to 70 ppb, but no gold anomalies have been reported (Contardo, 2001; Pineda et al., 2002).

8. Polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits (VMS)

No samples of VMS mineralization are known in the Chilean EEZ to date. According to ISA (2018), 32 sites of “hydrothermal vents and sampling locations”, with potential for polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits (VMS), exist in the Chilean offshore and surrounding areas (Fig. 2). These sites are situated around the East Pacific Rise and Chile Rise, of which five are inside the Chile’s EEZ, to the east of Rapanui Island. The localities could contain polymetallic mineralization related to VMS deposits, but no more information is available. Outside the Chilean EEZ, 1,000 km approximatively to the northwest of Rapanui Island, Valenzuela et al. (1984) reported one sample from a hydrothermal vent (of 10x10x12 cm³), with massive sulfide mineralization, that indicates a primary mineralogical composition of chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite and bornite, and a chemical composition of 27.5% Cu, 33.8% Fe and 35.3% S (site 39 in Fig. 2 and table 1). Additional to oceanic spreading settings, in the Chilean EEZ several seamount and volcanic island chains, such as the Salas y Gómez (or Rapanui-San Ambrosio) and Juan Fernandez ridges, and three Quaternary hotspots close to oceanic islands (Fig. 2; Sandwell et al., 2005), are environments with high potential to host VMS deposits. In Chile’s EEZ, there are more than 118 seamounts (Yañez, et al., 2009) and the area around the Quaternary hotspots could host young polymetallic VMS type mineralization.

9. Conclusions

Although the submarine mining in the world has not been developed yet, the local geological knowledge is crucial to explore and discover new mineral resources and to be prepared for an eventual future exploitation. The Chilean offshore has a variety of submarine landscapes and tectonic, magmatic, hydrothermal and oceanographic conditions, with potential to host different types of non-energetic mineral resources. The Chilean EEZ is almost five times larger than the continental area, and for example, this zone around the San Félix and San Ambrosio islands is similar to all of the Chilean “Norte Grande”. Available submarine geological information was compiled, standardized and integrated in a georeferenced database (in part, showed in table 1 and plotted in figures 2 and 3). Sampling in the seabed, for exploration of non-energetic mineral resources, has only included shallow cores on sediments and dredges, in some places of the oceanic area (Rosato et al., 1975; Burnett, 1977; Lyle, 1981; Dymond, 1981; Valenzuela et al., 1984; Corvalán et al., 1996) and in inner waters of southern Chile (channels and fjords; Valenzuela et al., 1984; Contardo, 2001; Pineda et al., 2002). The studies are very limited in terms of the geochemical and mineralogical analyses. Our review indicates that the most significant non-energetic mineral resources in the Chilean EEZ correspond, in order of importance today, to: Fe-Mn nodules and crusts, gold and titanium placers, phosphorites and, potentially, VMS deposits.

Fe-Mn nodule sites occur largely in abyssal plains, seamounts and around volcanic islands, at depths from 2,890 to 4,332 m b.s.l. The most interesting sites are located off northernmost Chile, around the Juan Fernández and Rapanui islands, and south of Magallanes, and they can have important concentrations of Cu and Ni (up to 1.38% Cu+Ni) and Co (mean values up to 0.53%). Co-rich Mn crusts have been reported around the Rapanui and Salas y Gómez islands with contents of Cu+Ni up to 0.3%; these could be extended in the submarine volcanic chain until the San Ambrosio island, for more than 3,000 km at approximate mean depths of 2,000 m b.s.l. Unfortunately, samples of Fe-Mn nodules and crusts have not been analyzed by minor, trace and critical elements such as Tl, Te, Y, Bi, Pt, W, Zr, Li, Nb and REE.  Phosphorite occurrences have been documented in Holocene submarine sediments, in the continental shelf of northern Chile, with average P₂O₅ content of samples of 22.6%. Phosphorite deposits also occur on land, in Neogene sedimentary strata of the Mejillones and Caldera areas, and these may have possible extensions offshore; therefore, a large potential for economic volumes and concentrations of these deposits in the continental shelf of northern Chile is indicated. Although, Cronan (2000) has estimated that submarine phosphorite mining would be unlikely in the near future due to the large reserves of this resource on land.

Artisanal exploitation of gold placer deposits in some beaches and channels of southern Chile, particularly in the western Chiloé Island and Magallanes Region, suggests that gold concentrations may also extend offshore. Titanium placer deposits have been evaluated in different beaches and dunes of Chile and could be continued offshore. Platinum anomalies have been found in channels and bays of southernmost Chile (Magallanes Region). No samples of VMS deposits are known to date in the Chilean EEZ. However, some samples of hydrothermal vents, with potential for polymetallic VMS mineralization, have been identified in the Chilean EEZ around the Rapanui Island and several seamount and volcanic island chains, as the Salas y Gómez and Juan Fernández ridges and East Pacific and Chile rises, are environments with high potential to host these types of ore deposits. Additionally, in Chile’s EEZ there are at least three Quaternary hotspots, which could host polymetallic VMS type mineralization and/or increase the metal input to the Fe-Mn nodule and crust mineralization-type. Therefore, further geological studies are needed in the large Chilean EEZ to assess its potential of non-energetic mineral resources.

Acknowledgements
This work was partially founded by AMTC (CONICYT/PIA Project AFB180004). We thank to the Engineer W. Rocher for initial motivation on the Chilean submarine mining subject. Fructiferous discussions were held with colleagues R. Fernández and C. Rodrigo. A preliminary version of this paper was reviewed by J. Díaz-Naveas and L. Lara. Edition was made by F. Henríquez and W. Vivallo.

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