Since an American expedition on the research ship "Challenger'" succeeded in raising the first manganese nodules from the depths of the Pacific Ocean in 1973 to 1976, speculative proposals and more serious suggestions for the exploitation of these very large deposits of metals have continued unabated.
Sukela oko umhambi ngomcimbi othile wseMelika ekuphando ngenqanawa "umceli mngeni waphumelela ekuphakamieni imanganizi yokuqala ukusuka kumazantsi ePasifiki ngomnyaka ka 1973 ukuya 1976, izicelo eziqikelelweyo nengcebiso ezinondileka zokusetyenziswa kwedipozithi ezinkulu zeentsimbi ziye zagqhubeka zingadambanga.