Environmental risks and prospects for the development of common mineral resources in the coastal-shelf zone of the Russian Arctic

The Russian Arctic continental shelf and adjacent coastal zone is primarily regarded as a strategic base of hydrocarbon resources; at the same time, its mineral resource potential is not limited to oil and gas. This zone is also rich in commonly-occurring mineral resources, including construction materials such as sand and gravel, as well as their mixtures, which can be used in the implementation of infrastructure and sea-port development projects. However, under Arctic conditions, the extraction of such materials is associated with a high load on vulnerable marine and coastal ecosystems, characterized by low recovery rates. This requires accounting for the cumulative effect of anthropogenic actions. In comparison with hydrocarbon extraction, there is a lack of studies covering the environmental aspects of developing common mineral resources in the Arctic shelf. This determines the relevance of reviewing existing data and analyzing promising approaches to reducing negative environmental impact in this zone.

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